With the current state of things, can't rationalize taking any Russian players higher than 20OA at most... it's just too risky to waste a top 10 pick on a guy that will never even make his way to NA...

Depends on the attitude of the player. I don't know Ivan Miroshnichenko's take on the Ukraine war. If he's pro Putin in any regards I would stay away. But I am not for discriminating against Russians who are caught up in Politics they have no control over or do not want. Ivan Miroshnichenko might be very keen to get away from Russia and come to North America as soon as possible. His treatment was done in Germany, not Russia. Perhaps he stays there and plays a year in the DEL?

It doesn't even matter what their views are, there is a VERY strong likelihood they would face significant visa issues, not to mention Russia might not LET them leave. Just too much risk to gamble on 8OA.

He wouldn’t be playing for the Wings next year. There are immigration professionals employed by the Wings who will work out Visa stuff. Russia might not let him leave? He wasn’t even in Russia. He’s in Germany. I’d honestly be good with him playing in the DEL and be close to his doctors for the next year. The attitude and views of the player are extremely important. If the kid blows you away in the interview, is driven to battle back from health issues and play in the NHL. Draft him. He’s a top 5 talent easy.

Plus Russian players to the NHL was a slippery slope even before current events.

He *was* in Germany. He has been back in Russia for a bit now. He's not going to play in the DEL, he'll likely play in the VHL again, if not KHL. Once again, the player is not my concern, it's the geopolitical landscape of it all. It's simple too risky.

If the Wings win the lottery and got 2nd overall next year. I doubt you'd say the same thing and pass on Michkov...Politics are ever changing. The situation could be completely different this time next year. And we passed on an elite talent because of what the landscape looked like today. This guy was once in discussion about being in the top 3. He's worth the risk at 8. For the most part the Russian factor is overblown. It can take them a couple extra years to come over but in the end the vast majority of these guys want to be in the NHL. Not the KHL.

It's an unjustified stereotype.

This isn't the same. We're entering a whole new phase and possibly a new cold war. I doubt things will be the same anytime soon and that includes what it may mean for Michkov. Agree to disagree.

It’s not though. Kaprizov stayed in the KHL for 4 years before making his way to the show. Some of it is due to playing time, sometimes more $ opportunity in the KHL, and sometimes a lack of opt out in KHL contract. For sure there’s some stereotype to it, unjustified though no. Current events make it worse.

I doubt the Wild care that Kaprizov took 4 years to come over and would have taken somebody else who may have come a couple years sooner but not be as good.
I doubt the Rangers care it took Shesterkin 5 years to come over and would have taken somebody else who may have come a couple years sooner but not be as good.
I doubt the Penguins care that it took Malkin 3 years to come over and would have taken somebody else who may have come a couple years sooner but not be as good.

But on the flip side

I believe every team in the NHL kicks themselves for not using a pick to draft Panarin because he didn't want to leave Russia at the time.

Who cares if Miroshnichenko spends the next 3 years in Russia. He'll be playing in arguably the second best league in the world that whole time. He'll be a force when he arrives. He's an elite skater, has an elite shot and loves to hit people. Alex Ovechkin lite. Right about time when Detroit will be on the rise and ready to compete for the cup again.