The Calgary Flames ended the 2018-19 season with six Swedish-born players on their National Hockey League and American Hockey League rosters. But suddenly, the Russians are catching up with the Swedes in terms of organizational prominence.
What’s going on?
The Flames have been a bit light on Russians over the past decade. The last Russian to sign with the team was Andrei Zyuzin prior to the 2006-07 season, and he was the last Russian to play a game for the team as well. In the interim the team has drafted two Russians – Rushan Rafikov in 2013 and Pavel Karnaukhov in 2015 – but neither ended up signing with the team and both are currently toiling in the Kontinental Hockey League.