Former Red Wings Star Blasts NHL Deputy Commissioner

Detroit Red Wings Hall of Fame defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov has a message for NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. And that message is mind your own business.

Asked by reporters about Russia’s chances of being reinstated in time to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympic hockey tournament, Daly was appearing to suggest that door was already shut and the case closed.

“The Summer Olympics, (the IOC) did not allow Russian team participation, unlike some of the other models that they’ve adopted in the past,” Daly said.

“I would expect that same rule will apply to the Winter Olympics in ’26.”

Two -time Soviet League player of the year, Slava Fetisov. pic.twitter.com/9QN23QlmRh

— The Hockey Samurai 侍 (@hockey_samurai) April 20, 2024

Fetisov, a member of the Russian State Duma and a former Russian Minister of Sport, didn’t think much of Daly’s assessment.

“What does Bill Daly have to do with the Olympic movement?,” Fetisov told Russian news agency Tass. “Does he run the International Olympic Committee?”

“And if he thinks so, then what do our hockey players play for him? Bill, deal with internal affairs, you have other things to do.”

Fetisov Three-Time Olympian

While dozens of Russians play in the NHL, Russia won’t be participating in next season’s Four Nations tournament. That event will feature Canada, the USA, Sweden and Finland. The NHL will pause the season in February for the tourney.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly speaks on Russia not being included in the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off. pic.twitter.com/dhdgqtprcK

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 2, 2024

Russia was banned by the IIHF following the country’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine. If the Russians aren’t cleared to participate in the next Olympiad, France will take their place in the men’s hockey tournament.

The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Opening ceremonies are slated for February 6, 2026.

A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Red Wings (1996-97, 1997-98) and one of Detroit’s famed Russian Five, Fetisov also won two Olympic gold and one silver medal.

He’s a member of both the Hockey Hall of Fame and IIHF Hall of Fame. Fetisov was named to the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team. He’s also among the members of the Triple Gold Club. That is people who’ve won the Stanley Cup, World Championship and an Olympic gold medal.

However, due to his Russian political affiliations, Fetisov is on a list of Russian people who are banned from traveling to the USA and Canada.