I believe it's only worked with 2 teams consistently the last 6 years. Prior to that, the Red Wings were lucky to find a Nik Lidstrom in the draft, decent depth player but for the most part, their Cups both pre and after cap area were built on trades and signings (Shanhan, Chelios, Rafalski, Hossa, Hull, Robitaille Hasek). Red Wings have done nothing since signing and losing Hossa.
- SuperSchennBros

IMO, The fact that they scouted Russia heavily at a time when the rest of the NHL shunned them was what led to their cups. They were finding first round talents in rounds 5 & 6 because everyone else had either not seen them play or were afraid they couldn't get them to the US/Canada.

How many red wings players were smuggled into north america and claimed asylym?

The Russian 5 were the key to the red wings in the 90's. Even Datsyuk, who the red wings drafted in the 6 round of 1998 wasn't on anyone's radar.

The Red Wings went beyond conventional wisdom in their drafting back then and it paid huge dividends. If the draft picks hadn't paid off, none of the free agents would've mattered.