Komarov - Leafs Most Interesting Man

[mr grieves]

Going into next season, there are only 28 active Russian players in the NHL, thought that was an interesting stat.

Down from 60 Russian players ten years ago.

I've noticed that the Leafs roster is down to one or two players who aren't North American. My initial reaction was that Carlyle and Nonis (and the way he was drafting, Burke) have got some Don Cherry in them after all -- but is the decline of Europeans a league-wide phenomenon?

 

[Highlander]

Komarov has grenade named after him...maybe more effective in the KHL than the NHL. What a drag it is getting old.

 

[KoHo]

Going into next season, there are only 28 active Russian players in the NHL, thought that was an interesting stat.

Down from 60 Russian players ten years ago.

I've noticed that the Leafs roster is down to one or two players who aren't North American. My initial reaction was that Carlyle and Nonis (and the way he was drafting, Burke) have got some Don Cherry in them after all -- but is the decline of Europeans a league-wide phenomenon?

Just quickly, here's the comparison of Europeans in the NHL by country compared to 10 seasons ago. Data from NHL.com.

Russia
02/03: 59
12/13: 22

Sweden
02/03: 54
12/13: 54

Finland
02/03: 32
12/13: 22

Czech Republic
02/03: 68
12/13: 40

Slovakia
02/03: 35
12/13: 10

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Is that a matter of players deciding not to come or a matter of skill levels going down in those countries. I mean, Slovakia and the Czech's haven't been really competitive for a while. Not since Hasek and Jagr were in their primes.

 

[bustaheims]

Is that a matter of players deciding not to come or a matter of skill levels going down in those countries. I mean, Slovakia and the Czech's haven't been really competitive for a while. Not since Hasek and Jagr were in their primes.

A lot of the 2nd/3rd tier type Russians, Czechs and Slovaks are choosing to stay in the KHL, because they get paid better there and get larger roles. With the difference in the overall talent levels, they're stars in the KHL, whereas they'd be secondary scoring types in the NHL. Before the KHL existed, they were getting paid better here because, well, the previous Russian national league was a mess and the smaller European leagues don't pay anywhere close to what the NHL does. So, yeah, a big part of it is players choosing to stay home rather than the talent level dropping all that much. The Slovaks and the Czechs are still pretty competitive - Slovakia lost the Bronze medal game in Vancouver and won silver in the 2012 World Championship,  and the IIHF currently has the Czechs ranked ahead of Canada, thanks to their results in international tournaments over the last 4 years.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

the IIHF currently has the Czechs ranked ahead of Canada, thanks to their results in international tournaments over the last 4 years.

I never realized that..thanks. I don't think anyone would agree with that ranking, but thanks.

 

[bustaheims]

I never realized that..thanks. I don't think anyone would agree with that ranking, but thanks.

Well, it's not really a subjective thing. Countries get points awarded to them based on where they finish in the Olympics and in the World Championships. Other than the Olympic win in 2010, Canada's been pretty mediocre on the world stage (in fact, the only time our men's team has medalled in the last 4 years was at the Olympics), whereas the Czechs have medalled in 3 of the last 4 WCs, including gold in 2010.

 

[Corn Flake]

Going into next season, there are only 28 active Russian players in the NHL, thought that was an interesting stat.

Down from 60 Russian players ten years ago.

I've noticed that the Leafs roster is down to one or two players who aren't North American. My initial reaction was that Carlyle and Nonis (and the way he was drafting, Burke) have got some Don Cherry in them after all -- but is the decline of Europeans a league-wide phenomenon?

Funny how so many jump to the immediate conclusion the Leafs are doing something that is against what everyone else is.  Your second question (per Koho's stats) should have come first.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I never realized that..thanks. I don't think anyone would agree with that ranking, but thanks.

Well, it's not really a subjective thing. Countries get points awarded to them based on where they finish in the Olympics and in the World Championships. Other than the Olympic win in 2010, Canada's been pretty mediocre on the world stage (in fact, the only time our men's team has medalled in the last 4 years was at the Olympics), whereas the Czechs have medalled in 3 of the last 4 WCs, including gold in 2010.

Like I said..Thanks teach.

 

[drummond]

Going into next season, there are only 28 active Russian players in the NHL, thought that was an interesting stat.

Down from 60 Russian players ten years ago.

I've noticed that the Leafs roster is down to one or two players who aren't North American. My initial reaction was that Carlyle and Nonis (and the way he was drafting, Burke) have got some Don Cherry in them after all -- but is the decline of Europeans a league-wide phenomenon?

Just quickly, here's the comparison of Europeans in the NHL by country compared to 10 seasons ago. Data from NHL.com.

Russia
02/03: 59
12/13: 22

Sweden
02/03: 54
12/13: 54

Finland
02/03: 32
12/13: 22

Czech Republic
02/03: 68
12/13: 40

Slovakia
02/03: 35
12/13: 10

The main reason is the expansion of the KHL into both Czech and Slovak Republic. Lev Prague (Czech) and Slovan Bratislava (Slovak) employing mostly Czechs and Slovaks not only did pretty well, but got almost the highest attendance in the whole KHL and became instant hit. It is a very lucraive option, get paid very well (compared to Czech/SLovak Extraleague) but to stay at home despite playing the KHL. By being present in both countries the KHL got good exposure, other games were televised and to many players the KHL became reasonable option. Language also plays an important role. Czech/Slovak differs from Russian but both languages are definately closer to Russian than to English.

 

[drummond]

Is that a matter of players deciding not to come or a matter of skill levels going down in those countries. I mean, Slovakia and the Czech's haven't been really competitive for a while. Not since Hasek and Jagr were in their primes.

I believe we still produce top end talent (Krejci for example - even Jagr despite all his achievements has not won playoffs scoring and Krejci already did twice in both Bruins Stanley Cup runs) the thing is that second tear players opt for KHL.

 

[KoHo]

I never realized that..thanks. I don't think anyone would agree with that ranking, but thanks.

Well, it's not really a subjective thing. Countries get points awarded to them based on where they finish in the Olympics and in the World Championships. Other than the Olympic win in 2010, Canada's been pretty mediocre on the world stage (in fact, the only time our men's team has medalled in the last 4 years was at the Olympics), whereas the Czechs have medalled in 3 of the last 4 WCs, including gold in 2010.

I never understood why Canada has started to fail so miserably on the world stage.

From 2003-2009 Canada won gold or silver in 7 straights IIHF World Hockey Championships. Over the last 4 years we haven't even won a bronze.

From 2005-2009 Canada won 5 straight world junior golds. In the 4 years since in a tournament we used to dominate we haven't won the gold, only winning the silver twice.

What happened?

 

[caver]

Other countries have caught up. The U.S. hockey program, for example, has grown and is producing hockey talent at a high rate. I'm sure it's the same in many other countries.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Is that a matter of players deciding not to come or a matter of skill levels going down in those countries. I mean, Slovakia and the Czech's haven't been really competitive for a while. Not since Hasek and Jagr were in their primes.

I believe we still produce top end talent (Krejci for example - even Jagr despite all his achievements has not won playoffs scoring and Krejci already did twice in both Bruins Stanley Cup runs) the thing is that second tear players opt for KHL.

I'll give you Krejci, but it's not exactly a list of up and coming NHL players:

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/nationality/active-czech-nhl-players-career-stats.html

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Is that a matter of players deciding not to come or a matter of skill levels going down in those countries. I mean, Slovakia and the Czech's haven't been really competitive for a while. Not since Hasek and Jagr were in their primes.

I believe we still produce top end talent (Krejci for example - even Jagr despite all his achievements has not won playoffs scoring and Krejci already did twice in both Bruins Stanley Cup runs) the thing is that second tear players opt for KHL.

I'll give you Krejci, but it's not exactly a list of up and coming NHL players:

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/nationality/active-czech-nhl-players-career-stats.html

In a few years that list could look a little better once Barkov, Granlund, and Teravainen break into the NHL though.

edit: You know, assuming that we're talking about Finns and not Czechs.

edit2: Which we obviously aren't.

 

[drummond]

Is that a matter of players deciding not to come or a matter of skill levels going down in those countries. I mean, Slovakia and the Czech's haven't been really competitive for a while. Not since Hasek and Jagr were in their primes.

I believe we still produce top end talent (Krejci for example - even Jagr despite all his achievements has not won playoffs scoring and Krejci already did twice in both Bruins Stanley Cup runs) the thing is that second tear players opt for KHL.

I'll give you Krejci, but it's not exactly a list of up and coming NHL players:

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/nationality/active-czech-nhl-players-career-stats.html

In a few years that list could look a little better once Barkov, Granlund, and Teravainen break into the NHL though.

edit: You know, assuming that we're talking about Finns and not Czechs.

edit2: Which we obviously aren't.

Hertl (San Jose) is highly touted so is Jaskin (St. Louis), Mrazek (Detroit) is very promising goalie winning Calder Cup last year... there is young talent, although I agree the numbers are going down.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Is that a matter of players deciding not to come or a matter of skill levels going down in those countries. I mean, Slovakia and the Czech's haven't been really competitive for a while. Not since Hasek and Jagr were in their primes.

I believe we still produce top end talent (Krejci for example - even Jagr despite all his achievements has not won playoffs scoring and Krejci already did twice in both Bruins Stanley Cup runs) the thing is that second tear players opt for KHL.

I'll give you Krejci, but it's not exactly a list of up and coming NHL players:

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/nationality/active-czech-nhl-players-career-stats.html

In a few years that list could look a little better once Barkov, Granlund, and Teravainen break into the NHL though.

edit: You know, assuming that we're talking about Finns and not Czechs.

edit2: Which we obviously aren't.

Hertl (San Jose) is highly touted so is Jaskin (St. Louis), Mrazek (Detroit) is very promising goalie winning Calder Cup last year... there is young talent, although I agree the numbers are going down.

So my question remains...Is talent level going down in those countries? Iget that the 3rd and 4th liners are staying home but you don't see an abundance of 1st liners either.

 

[Mot the Barber]

Also keep in mind that in the KHL, European players are less likely to be pulverized by a concussion-inducing hit.  Not to mention that they don't have to deal with all the various cheap interference tactics employed in the NHL.  Oh sorry, I mean "forechecking" and "backchecking". 

In other words, yes they have more prominent roles, worry less about career-ending injuries, play actual hockey (not this garbage interference), make more money, live in beautiful Europe (not in a violent and culturally dead country)...they'd be stupid not to play in the KHL. 

Once the KHL gets a hold of its shady past and questionable characters, there won't be any downsides left to playing there.

 

[Kin]

live in beautiful Europe (not in a violent and culturally dead country)...they'd be stupid not to play in the KHL. 

Sure. Who would live in New York, Chicago or the Bay Area when they could live in Siberia?

 

[bustaheims]

live in beautiful Europe (not in a violent and culturally dead country)

No, instead they can live in a violent, culturally backwards country like Russia.

Once the KHL gets a hold of its shady past and questionable characters, there won't be any downsides left to playing there.

This is, and for the foreseeable future will continue to be, an 'if', not a 'once'. If anything, given the trends in Russian politics and Russian society, this is going to get worse, not better.