More serious headcanon
Ilya is the one MLH player (other than the Admirals) who might as well be called a regular at the Kingfisher. He makes it a point to go any time he is in town, and sometimes during longer breaks, he makes a point of purposely going to New York just to visit the Kingfisher.
The bar is one of the safer places for him to grab a drink. The company is not bad either, even if it's usually Admirals, people dating Admirals, or Admiral fans. Ilya is usually treated well there regardless.
One night though there's someone who's not a regular. Someone who's had a few too many drinks and is a bit handsy, and when Ilya politely turns them down, they don't react well. Even get a little angry.
And Ilya's bracing himself to perhaps take a few hits while trying to calm it down verbally. Funnily enough, fighting on ice was fine for his career (he's a baiter- not a fighter, but still - it doesn't hurt him much) but getting into a fist fight outside of game hours could be a possible issue with the league or with his visa, and he's not willing to risk either right then.
So he's getting ready. He can take it. But just as quickly, there's no issue. Because there's Scott Hunter, Carter Vaughn, Eric Bennett, and Kip Grady already standing in front of him like the Avengers. Scott's got his hands on the person who was just invading Ilya's space and is warning them off.
Meanwhile, a grip on his arm- not too tight but firm- is suddenly dragging him backwards, and a quick glance over his shoulder tells him it's Kyle Swift who is suddenly determined to have Ilya right behind the bar with him.
And Ilya should be pissed or annoyed. He's a hockey player himself. He's a captain. He's not some tiny little rookie who needs to be looked after.
But also, as Kyle pulls him all the way into the staff only area, and Kip follows to make sure Ilya is sandwiched between them. And as Scott, Carter, and Eric all give some very colorful descriptions of what will happen to the person if they return to the bar, Ilya can only stand there and wonder just what made them all decide he was worth that kind of care.
