Gary Bettman delays decision on Russia entering 2028 World Cup of Hockey
National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman says a decision on whether Russian players can compete at the 2028 World Cup of Hockey will not be rushed.
The global tournament is scheduled to take place across Calgary, Edmonton, and Prague in February 2028.
However, the participation of the national team remains highly uncertain following the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
International ban continues
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) currently enforces a ban on Russian teams across all age groups due to ongoing security concerns.
Bettman told reporters at the general manager meetings in Florida that the North American league is in no hurry to finalise its stance.
“We’re going to see how things develop. Time will tell,” Bettman said.
He added that without immediate urgency, executives will comfortably wait to see how geopolitical events play out.
Best-on-best debate
Excluding the European nation deprives the prestigious tournament of several marquee superstars.
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, and Los Angeles Kings attacker Artemi Panarin are currently among the top scorers in the sport.
The country also boasts an elite stable of goaltenders, headlined by Igor Shesterkin, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Ilya Sorokin.
Despite this undeniable talent pool, integrating these athletes into an NHL-led event presents severe diplomatic challenges.
Strong opposition from countries like Finland previously forced organisers to scrap the planned 2024 World Cup in favour of the recent four-team 4 Nations Face-Off.
Following the Olympic lead
The league is not strictly bound by IIHF rulings for its own privately run international events.
However, the executive hierarchy has indicated they will mirror the broader athletic community’s approach.
“I don’t see any need for us to weigh in separately,” Bettman confirmed during a recent news conference.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently oversaw Winter Games hockey tournaments in Milan that featured neither Russian nor Belarusian representation.
Potential pathways to return
There are subtle signs that international sports bodies are exploring a gradual reintegration of banned athletes.
Late last year, the IOC advised that youth competitors from those nations could participate under their full national identities.
Following that guidance, the IIHF is now considering allowing under-18 participation during the 2027-28 season as a first step.
NHL Players’ Association executive director Marty Walsh has publicly expressed his desire to see a true best-on-best competition return.
“They’re incredible hockey players. The issues are political. Not political as far as the NHLPA; it’s world politics we have to get through,” Walsh stated.
