Five NHL players called up to the Russian national team

Russian national team coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov has called up five players from the NHL for the next round of preparations for the World Cup.

Goaltender Semyon Varlamov (Colorado Avalanche), defensemen Nikita Nikitin (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Alexey Yemelin (Montreal Canadiens), as well as forwards Alexander Burmistrov (Winnipeg Jets) and Nikolay Kulemin (Toronto Mayple Leafs were among the recruits.

The current squad does not include any juniors from the affiliate clubs or the veterans, like Yevgeny Nabokov.

The NHL contingent in the Russian team may increase later, depending on the results of the Stanley Cup playoff matches.