{"id":155066,"date":"2025-08-11T08:59:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T08:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/155066\/"},"modified":"2025-08-11T08:59:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T08:59:10","slug":"red-wings-legend-critical-of-nhl-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/155066\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Wings Legend Critical of NHL Decision"},"content":{"rendered":"

As US President Donald Trump prepares to meet with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to discuss Russia\u2019s war in\u00a0Ukraine, former Detroit<\/a> Red Wings icon Viacheslav Fetisov<\/a> appears to be lobbying for a summit with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.<\/p>\n

Fetisov is furious that Bettman isn\u2019t allowing Russian NHL players with the Florida Panthers to have their day with the Stanley Cup in their homeland.<\/p>\n

Winning the #StanleyCup<\/a> is the hardest championship to win in professional sports. See the true story of how the @DetroitRedWings<\/a> pulled it off after 42 years of disappointment. #therussianfive<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/wWcQFtnDnZ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Russian Five (@RussianFiveFilm) April 17, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are written rules that say that a hockey player who wins has the right to spend two days with the trophy in his home country and show it off at charity events,\u201d Fetisov told Russian state media site RIA Novosti<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand what\u2019s happening now. The NHL is showing tolerance and following sporting principles, not allowing discrimination against Russians. But at the same time, it introduces some restrictions on the use of a trophy that is won with blood and sweat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is outrageous.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red Wings Brought Stanley Cup To Russia in 1997<\/p>\n

The NHL isn\u2019t giving Panthers players Sergei Bobrovsky and Dmitri Kulikov the opportunity to bring the Cup home this summer. A year ago, former Red Wings player Vladimir Tarasenko<\/a> was a Cup winner with the Panthers. He would wind up spending his day with the Cup in Florida.<\/p>\n

When the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1997, the Russian Five played a significant role in that victory. Three of the players who were part of that unit \u2013 Fetisov, Igor Larionov<\/a>, and Vyacheslav Kozlov \u2013 banded together to bring Lord Stanley\u2019s mug to Russia for the first time in history.<\/p>\n

The undertaking of that journey came following a showdown between Bettman and Fetisov.<\/p>\n

The Stanley Cup made history 21 years ago today in its first-ever trip to Russia. I was there in Red Square with Igor Larionov, Slava Fetisov and Slava Kozlov \u2014 3\/5 of a very special #RedWings<\/a> unit. Vladdie was still fighting for his life; Sergei was a bit preoccupied. #LGRW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/S0RsrBItUX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Keith Gave (@KeithGave) August 18, 2018<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI won my first Stanley Cup,\u201d Fetisov recalled. \u201cAfter which I went to Gary Bettman and told him, \u2018I want to bring the trophy to Moscow.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cHe replied, \u2018No, you have bandits everywhere there. You won\u2019t get the Stanley Cup.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I wanted to bring the Stanley Cup to Moscow, and I eventually brought it. I got permission from the NHL.\u201d<\/p>\n

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