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How the war in Ukraine is impacting Russian players in the NHL and beyond

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Russian-born players in the NHL have dealt with uncertainty, concern for the safety and well-being of loved ones back home, and harassment by fans, while being expected by some to speak out against their home country.

The league has also faced complex issues, including precarious cross-border travel and managing international relationships.

Simply put by one NHL GM: "It's the elephant in the room right now."

Added another GM: "This is a complicated situation that, quite frankly, a lot of us aren't qualified to speak on. And so out of respect for those players, we've kept the conversation out of the public sphere.