Calgary Flames defenceman Nikita Zadorov says he and fellow Russian NHLers tried to come together and make a statement against the war after their country invaded Ukraine in early 2022, but could not come to an agreement.
In a wide-ranging interview with Russian YouTuber Yury Dud (who has over 10 million subscribers), the Moscow-born defenceman says that Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky organized the group chat.
"He said we need to stick together, it's a tough situation, we need to decide what we do now," Zadorov says in the two-hour-long Russian language interview with Dud. "We started to offer various solutions, I don’t remember who, maybe I proposed that we come out with a statement from all the Russian players because we’re all following the situation. We didn’t know if they would cancel our visas, especially the Canadian ones. Canada was more against the war compared to the U.S."
The 28-year-old, who is married with two daughters, says the initial debate was between an "anti-war statement or 'no politics in sports' statement."
In the end, no statement was made, as the group could not come to an agreement.
"We divided into two camps," he said. "Propaganda camp and sane camp."
Zadorov, who is heading into his third season with the Flames, settled for a "NO WAR" post of his own on his personal Instagram account.
"I spoke out before, and continue now. I hope someone will hear my words and will think otherwise."
Most NHLers have stayed quiet on the subject of the invasion and subsequent war in Ukraine, though Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin has supported the war in the past and still has an image of himself with Russian president Vladimir Putin as his Instagram profile photo.
Asked about his relationship with Ovechkin and his support for the war, Zadorov said: "It’s his opinion and it’s not my business. It’s his choice. I respect him as one of the greatest Russian hockey players, we are colleagues, but on political and life views, we disagree.”
Zadorov says the pressure in Russia stops players from speaking out and acknowledges he is able to because of the privilege of living and playing in North America.
"I'm sure there are guys in CSKA who don't support the war," he says, referring to the sports club and hockey team affiliated with the Russian military. "They would never say this. ... Unfortunately, people have to give up on their morals to feed their families."
On the subject of CSKA, Zadorov says it was its interference that has kept Flyers goalie Ivan Fedotov from joining the NHL team. Fedotov was drafted in 2015, but has yet to play in the league.
"I've heard that he was offered a contract by CSKA and he declined it. They said they wouldn't let him go to the NHL. He said he would go. And one person sent him to military service."
Fedotov subsequently served a year of service at a remote military base in northern Russia, according to ESPN, despite having a one-year deal with the Flyers. The NHL club tolled that contract, meaning it would not start until this season, but CSKA now claims to have signed a new two-year deal with the 26-year-old. The matter remains in dispute.
Fedotov's situation is what has prompted many Russian players to not return home, according to Zadorov, though some initially paid for a military exemption before those became too well publicized.
Zadorov says he has not been back to Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, partially because "I don't want to get called to serve and miss the season," but also because of how he feels about the war.
"It's disgusting," he said. "Would I go to a restaurant at Patriarch Ponds (in Moscow) while people are being bombed? I can't do it. I feel ashamed."
