Random rumours

[Jalili]

What's to be discouraged about?  As that link I posted shows, he's right in the same points range through his first 53 games (when that list was done) as the majority of the last 10 1st overall picks.

Absolutely no reason to let a handful of games this season discourage you about a player like that.

Not discouraged with the player, but with the organization. The management there is too dumb for its own good.

 

[Kin]

I like that you used the word somewhat, because I feel there are two reasons that russians are more inclined to return home. Thats number one, its home...family can come watch you succeed as one example of many comforts of being back where you grew up. Number two...and this is the one that concerns me a bit about Yakupov, bigger ice. Finesse players have more room to be finesse-y. He can take a handful of skate strides without worry that hes gonna end up on his behind. Russian players grew up with the bigger ice surface (some not all obviously)...Anyway my point being its not exactly Cherry-esque prejudism to assume a Russian player may go back to Russia.

I think you sort of misinterpreted why I used the word "somewhat" though. You're right in that it's not necessarily unreasonable to think that a Russian player might, at some point, choose to play in the KHL I would just disagree that eschewing their current team for one closer to their home is something exclusive to, or especially more common in, Russian players. In the exact same way, it wouldn't have been ridiculous to think Kessel might have liked to have played closer to his home or that Phaneuf might want to go back out west this summer. Teams have to eventually deal with every player as a free agents regardless of where they're from and I don't think Russians are any more or less inclined to go with geography or sentimental reasons than anyone else. Heck, the Leafs signed one of the summer's biggest free agents to a deal that was reportedly not his highest offer because he wanted to go closer to home too.

The reason I said that it's somewhat irrelevant has more to do with just the simple fact that because KHL teams don't have to pay attention to RFA compensation teams have less control and may have to bargain with players in a genuinely competitive market sooner than they would if the KHL were an option. Add in the way the KHL and NHL handle player compensation and there's a financial incentive as well.

However there are counters to that. The KHL is closer to home, the NHL is generally considered to be a better league. There's a financial incentive in the KHL but everything I've read suggests that the perks of the NHL are significantly better. So while I'd say that a player being Russian might make the possibility of leaving for a team closer to home more damaging all things being equal I don't think it increases the risk of it happening necessarily.

Honestly, I think a far more relevant question is the actual choice that these players have in terms of where they can play physically. The two examples given in this thread of players who chose the KHL over the NHL chose Russia over Winnipeg and Binghamton, New York(or, best case scenario, Ottawa). Kovalchuk chose St. Petersburg over New Jersey. Radulov went with Moscow over Nashville. Jagr, as a UFA, turned down Edmonton by most reports. No offense to any of those places but it's not exactly as if players are fleeing Miami Beach, The Bay Area and Manhattan, is it?

Honestly, Komarov is probably the only real example of a player choosing the KHL over the NHL despite playing in one of the NHL's largest markets and he A) tripled his salary in doing so and B) isn't even from Russia. 

 

[gilmourthegreat]

..I would just disagree that eschewing their current team for one closer to their home is something exclusive to, or especially more common in, Russian players. ..I don't think Russians are any more or less inclined to go with geography or sentimental reasons than anyone else..

Two quick points:

1) Out of all European leagues, only the KHL offers comparable pay. This makes it more attractive than other local leagues. Assuming all European homesickness is equal, Russian players have the best reasons to go home.

There's a financial incentive in the KHL but everything I've read suggests that the perks of the NHL are significantly better.

2) Assuming a tax-free paycheque is a perk, I would disagree. There are fundamentally different perks to playing in Russia, particularly for stars. Whether they are better or not is a subjective assessment.

 

[Kin]

Two quick points:

1) Out of all European leagues, only the KHL offers comparable pay. This makes it more attractive than other local leagues. Assuming all European homesickness is equal, Russian players have the best reasons to go home.

I don't really understand what that point is in response to. I think I repeatedly acknowledge the financial incentive the KHL offers to players. I still don't think that Russian players are any more or less inclined to make decisions based on a desire to play closer to home. That doesn't mean none of them will be, just that signing for your hometown or home state or home country team seems to be something that's relatively widespread among all athletes.

2) Assuming a tax-free paycheque is a perk, I would disagree. There are fundamentally different perks to playing in Russia, particularly for stars. Whether they are better or not is a subjective assessment.

I think that would fall under the financial incentive I mentioned as opposed to a perk. That being said everything I've read about the KHL says that the general conditions the players live, play and travel in are nowhere near the class of the NHL. I don't really think that is subjective.

 

[Rebel_1812]

The problem here is that he doesn't fit Carlyle's psych profile, as noted in the bomb pic posted awhile back.  Which is the big problem I have with fitting a team around a current coach rather than vice versa.  But I suppose this is what Nonis wants too, so probably my carping has no basis.  Still.

Maybe I missed it but what is Carlyle's psych profile? What notable attributes does Teemu Selanne have that Yakupov doesn't? I mean, we all seem to accept that Randy Carlyle is alright with Phil Kessel on the team despite him not being a world class defensive player or forechecker.

but he has a world class baseball swing.

 

[Champ Kind]

Chalk it up to 'Kyrpeos being Kypreos', but during the second intermission last night he mentioned that 'sources' have indicated that a) the Flyers are entertaining moving Brayden Schenn, and b) that the Leafs are interested.  He went on to say that the cost would be Jake Gardiner.

I'm pretty sure I make that deal.

 

[Jalili]

I'd probably pass on that deal.

If it were for Ryan O'Reilly though, I'd be on board.

 

[nutman]

I too would pass on that deal. Gardner is going to be one of them players you don't deal.

 

[drummond]

Chalk it up to 'Kyrpeos being Kypreos', but during the second intermission last night he mentioned that 'sources' have indicated that a) the Flyers are entertaining moving Brayden Schenn, and b) that the Leafs are interested.  He went on to say that the cost would be Jake Gardiner.

I'm pretty sure I make that deal.

Gardiner is a better player IMHO

 

[bustaheims]

Chalk it up to 'Kyrpeos being Kypreos', but during the second intermission last night he mentioned that 'sources' have indicated that a) the Flyers are entertaining moving Brayden Schenn, and b) that the Leafs are interested.  He went on to say that the cost would be Jake Gardiner.

I'm pretty sure I make that deal.

It was discussed in the GDT last night, and the general consensus was "no thanks." Schenn's stock has fallen, his future appears to be on the wing and the Leafs don't need another winger (and Schenn's not really an upgrade on the top 6 wingers the Leafs have). So, you know, pass.

 

[Redleaf]

Chalk it up to 'Kyrpeos being Kypreos', but during the second intermission last night he mentioned that 'sources' have indicated that a) the Flyers are entertaining moving Brayden Schenn, and b) that the Leafs are interested.  He went on to say that the cost would be Jake Gardiner.

I'm pretty sure I make that deal.

It was discussed in the GDT last night, and the general consensus was "no thanks." Schenn's stock has fallen, his future appears to be on the wing and the Leafs don't need another winger (and Schenn's not really an upgrade on the top 6 wingers the Leafs have). So, you know, pass.

I'm not sure I agree. I'm a huge fan of Gardiner. However, Brayden Schenn may turn out to be the better of the two players, and with Rielly quickly moving up the ranks and the Leafs short on young quality centremen, it just might be the right move for the Leafs.

 

[bustaheims]

I'm not sure I agree. I'm a huge fan of Gardiner. However, Brayden Schenn may turn out to be the better of the two players, and with Reilly quickly moving up the ranks and the Leafs short on young quality centremen, it just might be the right move for the Leafs.

Sure, but, you know, Schenn's future really appears to be on the wing. His face-off percentage is abysmal and even the Flyers seem to prefer not to play him down the middle. If he looked like he was going to stick down the middle, that would be one thing, but on the wing, not so much. He's not an upgrade on current top 6 wingers.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

That might be an even trade... if it was included in the JVR for Schenn deal.

JVR for Schenn LOL

 

[Bender]

That might be an even trade... if it was included in the JVR for Schenn deal.

JVR for Schenn LOL

Easy up on the ether use

 

[Zee]

I have my doubts that the Flyers would trade Schenn to the Leafs after the way the JVR deal has blown up on them.  Imagine if B. Schenn comes to Toronto and becomes the #1C for 10 years or more with JVR patrolling his wing, that would look really bad on Philly.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I have my doubts that the Flyers would trade Schenn to the Leafs after the way the JVR deal has blown up on them.  Imagine if B. Schenn comes to Toronto and becomes the #1C for 10 years or more with JVR patrolling his wing, that would look really bad on Philly.

You're assuming that the Flyers are thinking more than 3 weeks ahead when making trades though.

 

[Zee]

I have my doubts that the Flyers would trade Schenn to the Leafs after the way the JVR deal has blown up on them.  Imagine if B. Schenn comes to Toronto and becomes the #1C for 10 years or more with JVR patrolling his wing, that would look really bad on Philly.

You're assuming that the Flyers are thinking more than 3 weeks ahead when making trades though.

My bad.

 

[Corn Flake]

I'm not sure I agree. I'm a huge fan of Gardiner. However, Brayden Schenn may turn out to be the better of the two players, and with Reilly quickly moving up the ranks and the Leafs short on young quality centremen, it just might be the right move for the Leafs.

Sure, but, you know, Schenn's future really appears to be on the wing. His face-off percentage is abysmal and even the Flyers seem to prefer not to play him down the middle. If he looked like he was going to stick down the middle, that would be one thing, but on the wing, not so much. He's not an upgrade on current top 6 wingers.

Yeah, like the Brendan Morrow comparable from back around the draft.  Somewhere between Morrow and Alex Steen (no not the goal machine Steen, the regular one).

 

[Courtnall]

I just heard from a friend of mine who's a red wings fan about a rumour coming out of Detroit. Apparently and take this as you will, but the red wings are starting to tune out Babcock. shannahan and Babcock are apparently very good friends from his playing days, so the rumour is that if Babcock can't turn things around he may be the coach for the leafs next year. I have nothing other them hearsay to back this claim up.

 

[jdh1]

I just heard from a friend of mine who's a red wings fan about a rumour coming out of Detroit. Apparently and take this as you will, but the red wings are starting to tune out Babcock. shannahan and Babcock are apparently very good friends from his playing days, so the rumour is that if Babcock can't turn things around he may be the coach for the leafs next year. I have nothing other them hearsay to back this claim up.

I've felt that way myself about Babcock coming....you don't fire the assistants and keep the coach,that's to Ballard like...Carlyle will get the boot sometime during the season and one of the new assistants will take over till Babs gets here.