Igor: so he still needs an interpreter after 3 years here?

[Pavel Buchnevich]

This isn't accurate. He doesn't need an interpreter. He chooses to use one when its on camera. He does interviews with the media in English without cameras.

He's taken after Panarin's media strategy. Igor has even done a few interviews with cameras in English, which I don't think Panarin has ever done.

If you watch these interviews he does with an interpreter, most of the questions he doesn't even ask the interpreter to explain what was asked because he understood exactly what was asked.

For now, he speaks to the media less because he doesn't do English interviews on camera, and his words don't come off poorly articulated due to a lack of great vocabulary. It's a good strategy for a player who doesn't want to have to deal with backlash for what he says in the media. I don't once remember anything he's said since he's come to the team that has generated any backlash. It may have been different if he had been speaking in broken English the whole time.

You can debate if it's good for a leader on the team to not be speaking to the media in English. Long-term, I think it's going to need to change. Buchnevich in year 5 started doing a good number of English interviews on camera probably because he sensed he was a leader on the team and needed to be taking upon an important role in the media.

Do I think Panarin's strategy is influencing Igor's strategy for now? Yes, but I sense that eventually Igor will see the need to disconnect from the Panarin strategy. Panarin is a very talented player, but not a leader and has struggled in the playoffs. He may be a good guy, but we don't want him rubbing off too much on Igor.

 

[ViD]

He's taken after Panarin's media strategy. Igor has even done a few interviews with cameras in English, which I don't think Panarin has ever done.

Yeah, Panarin’s compete lack of desire to really learn English is weird, he even admitted it himself, he tried to get a tutor but nothing came out of it

 

[Tobias Kahun]

He’s paid to stop the puck, not speak English

 

[charliemurphy]

JFC, these types of close minded comments are exactly why the sport of hockey is where it is. Hoping the original poster is still in middle school... has a lot to learn about the real world.

 

[The Macho Man]

Yeah, Panarin’s compete lack of desire to really learn English is weird, he even admitted it himself, he tried to get a tutor but nothing came out of it

Eh not really weird? I'm assuming he knows enough to get by in day to day life (order at a restaurant, communicate enough with teammates, etc.). I don't really care if foreign players are fluent. Shit I don't care if native players are fluent. It's not like they say anything interesting in interviews most of the time anyway.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Totes thread-worthy.

 

[WarriorOfGandhi]

English is a very hard language to learn

whomst says? What sesquipedalian phenomenon makes you so nonplussed, with a language featuring words of such conviviality like golf, colonel, and knight? They're not difficult, their functionality is there. To you there is too much of two languages? Perchance, your palate prefers a pallet of words presented in a practical palette?

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I would only be worried if he was unable to communicate with his teammates on the ice (potentially off the ice). Based on his level of play and how the Rangers play around him, I think it's probably fine.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

First of all, how many language do you speak?
I speak three

Second, you know how many American/ Canadian players who play overseas for years but never pick up the local language?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Yeah, Panarin’s compete lack of desire to really learn English is weird, he even admitted it himself, he tried to get a tutor but nothing came out of it

I think he speaks English well enough to answer questions in front of the media, but doesn't want to say something that doesn't come off well.

 

[Statto]

Hmm...on ESPN's game 7 NYR-Carolina game, I learned that Igor has been here about 3 years, yet still needs an interpreter. I don't closely follow the Rangers, so wasn't aware.

Is this disappointing, or only somewhat disappointing (if at all) to the Rangers, their fans and the NHL that any player, esp. a star, hasn't learned enough English after 3 years to engage in a quick intermission interview?

I realize some or many Russian NHL players (and maybe others?) have thick accents even after many years in North America, but after 3 years, don't most or all seem to be able to function in simple interviews without an interpreter?

Is this common in MLB or the NBA? I do recall interpreters, maybe even currently, in other sports, but isn't it usually for the player's first year or so, not three years later?

I am American, and sadly only know English despite foreign language courses in high school and even a few advanced French courses in college, decades ago. I do realize how hard it is as an adult to learn a new language if not immersed in it, which I never was. But hockey players are indeed immersed in English in the NHL, so isn't three years too long to still need an interpreter?

Any current pro stars in other North American sports require an interpreter?

...

Oh, and Canes fans never serenaded Igor tonight (or all series?) unlike Pens fans. They should have started at puck drop! No excuse.

Most English speakers (as first language) will be worse at learning Russian than he is at learning English.

Languages are not easy. I can design computer systems with my eyes shut but basic French makes my brain explode… German was even worse. Maths, Sciences etc came really easy and I put in zero effort whereas I properly tried with languages but my brain just wasn’t wired for it. Its something I really wish I could do.

It may also be that he’s learned some English but is not confident enough to do interviews. Let’s face it, if he got a few words mixed up it’d instantly become some sort of internet meme/joke.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Eh not really weird? I'm assuming he knows enough to get by in day to day life (order at a restaurant, communicate enough with teammates, etc.). I don't really care if foreign players are fluent. Shit I don't care if native players are fluent. It's not like they say anything interesting in interviews most of the time anyway.

Can I ask about the Russians on Tampa?

How many years in did Vasilevskiy and Kucherov start doing on-camera interviews with the media in English without an interpreter?

 

[CycloneSweep]

The thing with interpreters is they let him say what he actually wants to say with less of a language barrier.

 

[Hanji]

I've read like 90% of Russian players return home after their NHL stint.

They come here to play hockey. If they can communicate with teammates, who cares.

 

[The Macho Man]

Can I ask about the Russians on Tampa?

How many years in did Vasilevskiy and Kucherov start doing on-camera interviews with the media in English without an interpreter?

They barely give interviews, and when they do they barely talk unless they just won the Cup and want to talk shit about Montreal and/or Marc Andre Fleury.

Honestly I don't know - it's never something I tracked or gave a shit about.

 

[YippieKaey]

Alot of american/canadian players go overseas and never learn the language. I think this is a perspective thing that comes from english being a dominant language in the western world. It is expected that people speak it.

I once saw a tourist review of a hotel in Spain where british people complained about cab drivers not being able to speak english. Kinda the same thing but in reverse.

Although, i believe everyone should attempt to learn the language of the nation they live in. Many people don't/can't though.

 

[Hanji]

English is a very hard language to learn

Basic conversational English isn't that difficult. In-depth mastering of the language can be difficult though. So I've heard from my Romanian wife.

 

[YippieKaey]

If it means avoiding American media and the weirdo extreme politics they force into everything, I wouldn't learn the language either.

Yes im sure Russian media has less weirdo extreme politics forced into everything. That is my perception of russian media aswell.

 

[TGWL]

He corrects the translator when they translate it to English wrong. He corrects them in Russian. He's able to understand some English.

 

[YippieKaey]

Podkolzin needed a translator in training camp after just arriving in North America. 8 months later he did his end of year press conference in his own and killed it. He also shared in that press conference that he and his wife were taking English lessons. It’s about priorities and effort.

It’s not a big deal, Igor doesn’t have to learn English if he doesn’t want to. But to say “English is hard!” I mean cmon. Lots of things in life are difficult. I would argue that there is perhaps no easier way to learn English than to be placed into an English speaking society and be on a team where you’re shooting the shit with your buddies all day.

Do you speak another language than english?

 

[GrizzGreen]

Some players don't necessarily want to assimilate, which is totally fine. Look at Ovi's English vs. Malkin's.

 

[rangersfansince08]

there isnt a day that goes by where i wish igor was more like podkolzin

 

[stealth1]

Hmm...on ESPN's game 7 NYR-Carolina game, I learned that Igor has been here about 3 years, yet still needs an interpreter. I don't closely follow the Rangers, so wasn't aware.

Is this disappointing, or only somewhat disappointing (if at all) to the Rangers, their fans and the NHL that any player, esp. a star, hasn't learned enough English after 3 years to engage in a quick intermission interview?

I realize some or many Russian NHL players (and maybe others?) have thick accents even after many years in North America, but after 3 years, don't most or all seem to be able to function in simple interviews without an interpreter?

Is this common in MLB or the NBA? I do recall interpreters, maybe even currently, in other sports, but isn't it usually for the player's first year or so, not three years later?

I am American, and sadly only know English despite foreign language courses in high school and even a few advanced French courses in college, decades ago. I do realize how hard it is as an adult to learn a new language if not immersed in it, which I never was. But hockey players are indeed immersed in English in the NHL, so isn't three years too long to still need an interpreter?

Any current pro stars in other North American sports require an interpreter?

...

Oh, and Canes fans never serenaded Igor tonight (or all series?) unlike Pens fans. They should have started at puck drop! No excuse.

You would be surprised how many need an interpreter. Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians still needs one and he's played for them for years.

 

[PuckG]

This is one side of it. Another is that not all people are equally comfortable speaking in public, let alone in a foreign language. I'd guess he's picked up enough English to get by, but maybe he's just more comfortable with an interpreter when doing press conferences and the like.

Spot on. I even have family members that have moved over and are clearly able to speak English to get their point across, but they are not comfortable at all and self-conscious about it. I imagine that gets multiplied by 100 if you have to do it on live television or in front of tens of thousands of fan.

 

[Love]

Do you speak another language than english?

Have you ever played on a sports team?