Former Russian national team striker Maxim Sushinsky weighed in on the decision to admit disqualified CSKA goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov to KHL matches, warning that the move could strain relations with the National Hockey League. His remarks underscore the delicate balance between national leagues and major international leagues in today’s hockey landscape.
He questioned which international federation decisions could still be accommodated for Russian players and teams. The veteran forward remarked that the country is not competing in the World Cup of Hockey right now, so where will the next opportunities come from? The core concern, he stated, is preserving ties with the NHL. If the pattern continues, players may depart on NHL contracts, leaving domestic teams with fewer options to retain talent or sustain competitive rosters. This point was emphasized as a warning about potential long term consequences for Russian ice hockey relations with the North American league (source: sports commentary).
At present, Fedotov is involved in a game against Kazan based Ak Bars, continuing his participation in competitive action while the broader regulatory situation unfolds.
On August 14, the IIHF imposed a one season international transfer ban on CSKA, barring the club from certain international activities and restricting Fedotov from playing in the Continental Hockey League until December 31, 2023. Subsequently, on August 27, the Russian Hockey Federation granted Fedotov permission to resume play starting January 1, 2024, effectively delaying his availability for the opening weeks of the new season. As a result, CSKA will begin the season without him, navigating the early schedule with a reshaped goaltending plan.
From July 2022 to July 2023, Fedotov fulfilled military service commitments, a period during which he remained under NHL contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. This fact underscores the complexity of player movements when national obligations intersect with professional leagues abroad, and it further explains the timing challenges surrounding Fedotov’s return to top level competition.
Vladimir Plushev, a former coach of the Russian national team, remarked that the Fedotov incident involved a broader misalignment between the KHL and IIHF actions. In Plushev’s view, the enforcement steps taken by the KHL against the IIHF created added friction within the sport’s governance structure, amplifying questions about how international transfers should be managed when national interests and league calendars collide. The interpretation suggests that sanctions and eligibility rulings will continue to influence the trajectory of players who are bound by multiple authorities within the hockey world (source: coaching commentary).