Hockey

Bill Daly: "Best Russian Players Still Want To Play In NHL"

Published: Oct 18, 2024, 12:02 PM
4 min read
Updated: Jul 8, 2025, 7:19 AM
Fact checked by:
Sergey Demidov

 

After he was surprisingly released from his KHL contract this past June, Philadelphia Flyers rookie forward Matvei Michkov is already being mentioned as the leading candidate for the Calder Trophy. While the fact that Michkov is currently plying his trade in the NHL this season may still be surprising to some, that is not the case for NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.

There has been plenty of speculation that given Russia’s persona non grata status with the IIHF and no transfer agreement for the KHL with the NHL, many have speculated that NHL teams would try to find alternative methods of bringing over their Russian prospects.

In a recent one-on-one interview with RG, though, Daly made it clear that he doesn’t believe NHL clubs have made or will make any side deals to facilitate any unofficial transfers of NHL prospects from the KHL to the NHL.

“No, I don’t think so because there have still been players from Russia entering the NHL even though officially we’re not communicating with [the KHL] on any kind of commercial or business basis,” Daly told RG last week. “The fact of the matter is that the best Russian players still want to play in the best professional league in the world, and everybody knows that’s our league. So, they find ways to get here that don’t involve direct participation by the NHL or any of our clubs. I don’t believe there’s been any reduction in the number of players that entered the league during this period of time.”

There’s also a belief that once a Russian prospect’s intentions to bolt for the NHL are made public, that player is being punished by his KHL head coach with less playing time despite his performance dictating more.

“Look, yes, there are ways for teams there to enforce or extend their contractual terms with Russian-born players,” Daly acknowledged. “Is that any different than it’s been since we haven’t had a transfer agreement with the KHL? No, I don’t believe it’s any different. There’s still ways that the Russian KHL players can buy themselves out of those contracts, and they’re exercising those ways that they’ve always exercised those rights.

"Are there instances where a club perhaps leans on a player a little heavier? I’m sure there are, but as a practical matter, it’s not something that we think, at this point, is flawed in any way. We think we’re still getting the players we’re supposed to be getting. Are they a little bit delayed? Sure, but ultimately, they’re getting here.”

From afar, that appeared to be the case with Montreal Canadiens prospect Ivan Demidov this season, as, after winning the KHL Rookie of the Month in September, his playing time decreased dramatically.

However, in a recent interview with RG writer Marco D’Amico, SKA head coach Roman Rotenberg made it clear that Demidov’s playing time has been and will continue to be based on merit.

“We’re considering the opinions of our colleagues [in Montreal], but we are focused on our own needs, our tactics, and how our players are feeling,” Rotenberg told D’Amico. “There are a lot of factors. We are no less interested than Montreal in making sure that Ivan – just like our other young players – develops well. Players like Demidov are the future of Russian hockey.”

NHL Reporter
James Murphy is a veteran sports journalist with 25 years of experience covering the NHL, NCAA and CHL, including two decades on the Boston Bruins beat. His work has appeared on NHL.com, NESN, ESPN Boston and more, and he’s made regular TV and radio appearances on NESN, ESPN, TSN and SiriusXM. A familiar face in the hockey world, Murphy has covered multiple Stanley Cup Finals, NHL drafts and playoffs, and now co-hosts The Eye Test podcast with Pierre McGuire, interviewing top NHL executives, coaches and players. He joined RG in 2024 after stints with Boston Hockey Now and LiveBarn.
Interests:
NHL

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Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria Tuboltseva has worked as a sports journalist since 2014 and has specialized in hockey coverage since 2016. She’s reported from some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Olympic Games (Beijing 2022), the FIFA World Cup (2018), the IIHF World Championships (2016–2019, 2021), the IIHF World Junior Championship (2019), and every Gagarin Cup Final since 2017.

Her work has appeared in leading Russian sports outlets like Championat.com and Sport24, as well as on the official websites of the KHL and the Women’s Hockey League (WHL). Daria has conducted exclusive interviews with some of the sport’s most recognized names, including Alex Ovechkin, Jaromir Jagr, Kirill Kaprizov, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Igor Shesterkin.

Beyond her writing, Daria brings extensive on-camera experience. She hosted NHL Today on Yandex.Efir and has produced powerful long-form projects such as the documentary Lokomotiv Crash and the series Hockey Country, featuring stars like Ovechkin, Malkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy, and Panarin. Her work has taken her to NHL games across North America and international events like the NHL Global Series in Europe.

In addition to her media career, Daria is a certified integrative nutritionist with a focus on sports nutrition. She works one-on-one with KHL players, helping them optimize performance and recovery through tailored nutrition plans. Her ability to blend media expertise with athlete support gives her a unique presence in the professional hockey world.

Daria publishes in both English and Russian and is the creator of the Telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth, where she shares insights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the hockey world.

Based in: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Languages: English, Russian

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