Czech Republic Bans NHL from Future Events Unless Gary Bettman and Co. Resign
So Dominik Hasek has been incredibly outspoken over the whole ~Russia~ situation, right? Recently, the Hockey Hall of Famer took his stance to a new level, warning the NHL not to bring any Russian or Belorussian players to the Czech Republic.
The NHL went ahead as planned, and basically called the Czech government's bluff. Well, according to Hasek the NHL is now barred from holding any events in the country until Gary Bettman and the current leadership resign. Whoa.
Hasek writes, ''During the weekend 2 NHL games were played in Prague. The leadership of the NHL did not respect the position of our MFA that Russian players should not play. Until the current leaders of the NHL resign and the new apologize to our country, the NHL is no longer welcome in the [Čzech Republic].''
The NHL decided to just bulldoze its way through the Czech government's wishes and now got itself entangled in a philosophy war with the supplier of 3.5% of its talent. As a result, any future global series ventures will not be held in Czechia as long as Gary Bettman runs the show.
What a weird situation.
Bettman has always been a shrewd negotiator, but this one seems intense, even for him. So far, in Bettman's soon-to-be 30-year tenure the NHL has undergone three lockouts (almost a fourth in 2020) and now they are banned from the Czech Republic.
Veteran numbers from Bettman, if you ask me.
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