Canucks Daily: Ovechkin Says ‘Let Russia Play’; Pacific Division Goalie Trade

European hockey is cranking. One of Vancouver Canucks forward Andrey Kuzmenko’s former teams, CSKA Moscow, opens the Kontinental Hockey League schedule on Thursday against Metallurg Magnitogorsk. It’s a re-match of the 2022 Gagarin Cup championship final won by Moscow in seven games and the traditional way the KHL opens the following season. Kuzmenko’s later team, also the former home of Canucks teammate Vasily Podkolzin, SKA St. Petersburg, opens its season on Saturday against the team from Ufa, Salavat Yulaev.

The intraleague Champions League tournament, the separate season within the European season, starts its play this Friday. The Swedish SHL, that country’s top league featuring former and future Vancouver Canucks and NHL’ers, opens its regular season on September 17th.

A cherry on top of summer hockey – the #GreenRivalry in final day of #KHLPreseason, pic.twitter.com/MWZuITSlt1

— KHL (@khl_eng) August 29, 2022

A Morning Skate Around North America

In news that definitely ties into VHN’s recent story and reader reaction to how the NHL and Vancouver Canucks should treat the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin says we should ignore it to the point of allowing Russia to play in the NHL’s planned 2024 World Cup of Hockey. Ironic, considering some of the more extreme concepts VHN was tossing around for feedback.

Russian players should definitely be allowed to play in the NHL, but Team Russia in international tournaments? Detroit Hockey Now tells us that former Red Wings great and Russian loyalist Slava Fetisov has a different solution; sue the IIHF.

“The Russian team is always the draw of the World Cup,” Fetisov told Russian TV program RBC Sport. “It is outrageous that the team with the most victories is missing from international tournaments.”

Yes, isn’t it outrageous?

Pacific Division

— We have a trade to report: Well, at least Vegas Hockey Now does. Get the full report and analysis. Division rivals hooked up Monday when the San Jose Sharks traded goalie Adin Hill to the Vegas Golden Knights.

— Apparently Calgary Hockey Now and Flames GM Brad Treliving are pretty darn happy with their summer dealings. The sensational summer?

Have a great day!