Outpoll | Gavrikov on possible Olympic participation: It would be great.

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Gavrikov on possible Olympic participation: It would be great.

Gavrikov on possible Olympic participation: It would be great.

2 days ago7 min read7 comments

So, the news just dropped that the Russian national team got the boot for the 2026 Italy Games, with France swooping in to take their spot, and honestly, it’s a gut punch for the hockey world. Vladislav Gavrikov, the steady defenseman for the Rangers, just laid it all out there in a chat that felt more like a late-night locker room rant than a formal interview.'It would be great,' he said, with that mix of hope and frustration every athlete knows when politics sidelines the game. But then he really got into it, pointing out the sheer absurdity of guys like Artemy Panarin and Nikita Kucherov—legit superstars who light up the NHL every night—never having sniffed an Olympic stage.Like, come on, we’re talking about Panarin, whose silky mitts and playmaking genius have made him a highlight reel staple, and Kucherov, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s offensive engine with a Hart Trophy and multiple Stanley Cups to his name. These dudes are walking legends in the league, yet they’ve never had that moment under the five rings, and Gavrikov’s disbelief is totally justified.He did give a nod to Kirill Kaprizov, who managed to sneak in before the banhammer fell, but even that feels like a tease when you consider the depth of Russian talent currently dominating the NHL. Gavrikov’s own journey adds layers to this—a reliable, stay-at-home D-man who’s carved out a rep for shutting down top lines, and now he’s stuck watching from the sidelines when he could be battling for gold.He didn’t hold back on the bigger picture either, emphasizing that any chance to go best-on-best in an international tourney is what hockey’s all about; it’s the purest form of the sport, where national pride and raw skill collide, and missing out on that? It’s like the NBA playoffs without LeBron or Steph—just doesn’t hit the same. The context here is messy, with geopolitical tensions spilling onto the ice and leaving players as collateral damage, and it’s not just about the Olympics.Think back to the World Championships and other events where Russian squads have been sidelined, and it’s a recurring theme that’s starving fans of epic matchups. Experts I’ve chatted with say this void could reshape the international landscape, maybe pushing more talent toward the KHL or other leagues, but let’s be real—the NHL’s the pinnacle, and seeing these guys barred from representing their country feels like a foul.Gavrikov’s comments tap into a broader sentiment among players: the hunger for that Olympic glory isn’t just about medals; it’s about legacy, about testing yourself against the absolute best, and right now, that’s being denied to a whole generation of Russian stars. As the hockey community debates the fallout, one thing’s clear—the game’s poorer without these showdowns, and guys like Gavrikov are left dreaming of what could’ve been, all while we count down to 2026 with a little less excitement.