Russian Players Miss NHL Draft 2023: Insights from SKA Veteran Sergey Cherkas

The former SKA coach, **[Sergey Cherkas](https://www.sovsport.ru/hockey/articles/1045386-cherkas-ob-otsutstvii-rossijskih-igrokov-na-drafte-nyu-jork-jankiz-nichego-udivitel-nogo-net)**, commented on the absence of selected Russian forwards in the first round of the NHL draft, marking the first time since 2005.

«I don’t think this is worth worrying about. In reality, there are only a handful of young players with clear talent that stand out. So, it’s not surprising. The top players have already left for a long time; Demidov was the last. On the other hand, there are many promising players in Russia, both in SKA’s system and in other teams. So, it’s not the end of the road. There’s nothing to be concerned about. If our young players weren’t picked in the draft, it just means they’ll continue to play in Russia,» Cherkas said, as reported by «Sovetsky Sport.»