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jpv · 05-19-2008, 08:02 AM

I think you're mixed up. More Russians are leaving to play in the NHL. The Russian Premier league, like the Scandinavian leagues, are basically feeder programs for the NHL. You are right in saying that the quality of play is rising; however, when (if) those players get good enough they leave for North America. I haven't researched it, but I recognized a number of Russian players from NHL squads.
One thing that is starting to happen, and it's great for Russian pro hockey: Many former NHLers are returning to play here. The highest profile one being Alexei Yashin, who actually plays for Lokomotiv now. You can see by his success here that the level of play is noticeably lower than the NHL, apart from some of the stars.
It's great. I hope hockey gets better and better here...I watch at least two games a week (although I'm royally pissed that Vladivostok doesn't have a team)!

05-19-2008, 08:02 AM	#16 (permalink)
jpv Redshirt Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 146 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	Re: Russian hockey team makes World finals! I think you're mixed up. More Russians are leaving to play in the NHL. The Russian Premier league, like the Scandinavian leagues, are basically feeder programs for the NHL. You are right in saying that the quality of play is rising; however, when (if) those players get good enough they leave for North America. I haven't researched it, but I recognized a number of Russian players from NHL squads. One thing that is starting to happen, and it's great for Russian pro hockey: Many former NHLers are returning to play here. The highest profile one being Alexei Yashin, who actually plays for Lokomotiv now. You can see by his success here that the level of play is noticeably lower than the NHL, apart from some of the stars. It's great. I hope hockey gets better and better here...I watch at least two games a week (although I'm royally pissed that Vladivostok doesn't have a team)!