Europeans in NHL on decline, survey says

By Steve Keating

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (Reuters) - The number of Europeans playing in the National Hockey League (NHL) is on the decline according to a survey released by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) on Saturday.

There were fewer Europeans than a year ago playing in the just completed NHL regular season but more American-born players, it said.

Canadians continued to dominate rosters, providing more than half the league's talent.

Europeans accounted for 243 (25.8 percent) of the 941 players appearing in at least one NHL game this season, down from 266 players a year ago.

The fall can be traced directly to the refusal of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation to be part of a player transfer agreement with the NHL.

Russia has long been a prime producer of top NHL talent, such as scoring champion Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin.

However, without an agreement NHL teams have become reluctant to sign or draft Russian players.

At last year's entry draft only two Russians were taken in the first two rounds. Overall the number of Russians in the NHL dipped from 37 to 31.