KHLs Olympic power play could further deplete U.S. Canada talent pool

Outside the NHL, Ru sia'sKontinental Hockey League includes the most robust a sortment of talent in the world. And after the NHL's stalemate with theInternational Olympic Committee meant none of its players would participate in thePyeongchangOlympics, theKHLwould serve asthe best remaining resource for selection committees. Now, it's a little le s certain. On Saturday, the KHLsuggested it wouldconsider withdrawingplayers from the 2018 Winter Games in Benjamin Perry Jersey a protest of the IOC'songoinginvestigations into Ru sian athletes from other sports suspected ofusing banned substances before or during the 2014 Games in Sochi. "At a recent meeting of the Valdai Discu sion Club, President [Vladimir] Putin stre sed that the IOC Tate Rodemaker Jersey is forcing Ru sia to either participate under a neutral flag or to not participate in the Olympic Games at all," KHLpresident DmitryChernyshenkosaid in a statement."Any of these two outcomes will no doubt negatively impact the Olympic Movement. "(The) KHL since its founding days follows the rules of the IIHF and WADA and does not tolerate doping. However, we do not understand why the IOC bases its decision to remove athletes on the reports of informers and commi sions, but not the real facts confirming the use of doping? At the same time, the IOC was unable to agree with the NHL on its participation in the Games, and this league is not controlled by either IIHF or WADA. "It also seems that the participation of the North American League in the Olympics depends only on their own wishes, and not on the succe s of the negotiations. "(The) KHL is ready to respond accordingly.IOC's current outlook is destroying the existing sports world order." Such a decision would have far-reaching effects on an already depleted men's ice hockey talent pool for the United States, Canada and many European countries. USA Hockey invited five Ryan Luther Jersey players with KHLties , the U.S.'s only pre-Olympic tune-up tournament and a rough indication of the roster it intends to take to Pyeongchang.A whopping 16of the 26 players on . Cheick Diallo Jersey Both powerhouse nationsalready were coping with the lo s of their main talent feed. Any player on anNHL contract isbarred from participating in the Olympics for the first time since 1994, eliminating most profe sionals based in North America. Thus, their preliminary rostersconsist entirely of collegiate amateursand overseas pros. MORE: Ru sia, installed as the odds-on favorite to win gold, simply becauseit's thenation with the greatest collection of high-end players outside the NHL, would be most devastatedby aKHLOlympic boycott. Putin's long history of using sport, especially men's hockey, as political propaganda would seem to suggest he would be against a KHLban. With that in mind, this is probably nothing more than an empty bluff from the KHL, butit's too soon to know for sure. Asfor Americans andCanadiansplaying in the KHL,there might be a loophole to exploit to keep MJ Cunningham Jersey their rosters intact should the threats come to fruition.Both USA Hockey and Hockey Canada declined comment Saturday about the KHL's remarks while all parties sit in wait-and-see mode. For the time being, though, the federations have to feel a littlenervous.