DENVER – The NHL has confirmed that the Stanley Cup will not travel to Russia or Belarus this year as a result of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Tampa Bay has three Russians — Andrei Vasilevskiy, Mikhail Sergachev and Nikita Kucherov — while the Colorado Avalanche has one in Valeri Nichushkin. Neither team has a player of Belarusian descent.
NHL deputy commissioner said the league could allow for the Cup to travel in the future, as it did during the past two pandemic-affected championships, but there is no set time for this to take place.
Russian and Belarusian players will still be allowed to enter the NHL draft in July.
