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Don Draper
Registered User
I'm not surprised. I've heard rumours of a rift between Bure and Fedorov dating back to 1995, when, after the Canucks acquired Mogilny, Bure said, in reference to the Canucks acquiring Fedorov (and I'm paraphrasing here), that they don't need Sergei.
Also, I'm not expecting many of the veteran Russians to play. Bure isn't the most popular guy out there with the older players. He has fairly close ties to the Russian mob, and the Russian mob has made life a living hell for a lot of the older Russian players and their families. The combination of the politics in Russian hockey and Bure's involvement will be a detriment in recruiting the veterans.
What you will see is the younger Russians - Datsyuk, Kovalchuk, Malkin, Ovechkin - lining up in droves to play for their country. Bure's electrifying moves certainly inspired them growing up, and the chance to play for the man they grew up admiring will be an attraction.
Also, I'm not expecting many of the veteran Russians to play. Bure isn't the most popular guy out there with the older players. He has fairly close ties to the Russian mob, and the Russian mob has made life a living hell for a lot of the older Russian players and their families. The combination of the politics in Russian hockey and Bure's involvement will be a detriment in recruiting the veterans.
What you will see is the younger Russians - Datsyuk, Kovalchuk, Malkin, Ovechkin - lining up in droves to play for their country. Bure's electrifying moves certainly inspired them growing up, and the chance to play for the man they grew up admiring will be an attraction.
God Bless Canada said:
Yeah. All that plus the fact that Bure once screwed around with Fedorov's woman, Anna Kournikova.
Slitty
Registered User
- Oct 23, 2005
- 3,875
- 8
Do you honestly think that one of the alternatives in: Vikotr Kozlov, Brylin, Kaigorodov, Zvinovjev, or Mozyakin is a better choice? Federov has been playing well, just not producing I heard.
Anyways, contrary to popular belief, Bure won't be deciding anything or playing a major role. He is the Russian style general manager, his duties are making hotel reservations and catering at team dinners, ect. In fact, the RSL national team is currently preparing for the Rosno Cup.... and fans and management alike are wondering where Bure has dissappeared to.
There was talk of Zubov finally playing this year. Damn that womanizing Steblin in 1997, he robbed Russian hockey with whatever he did to Zubov's wife.
Anyways, contrary to popular belief, Bure won't be deciding anything or playing a major role. He is the Russian style general manager, his duties are making hotel reservations and catering at team dinners, ect. In fact, the RSL national team is currently preparing for the Rosno Cup.... and fans and management alike are wondering where Bure has dissappeared to.
There was talk of Zubov finally playing this year. Damn that womanizing Steblin in 1997, he robbed Russian hockey with whatever he did to Zubov's wife.
Jazz
Registered User
He always thought that he was under Yzerman's shadow. He's now had 2 seasons to make a name for himself as THE star.....and nothing...arrbez said:
Jason MacIsaac
Registered User
Kozlov has been much better then Fedorov this year and would be better choice. Fedorov is wayyyyy overweight and really has slowed down.Slitty said:
Diaboli
Registered User
I know that Zubov hasn't played for a long time for team Russia, but can anyone tell me why? I remember reading it from somewhere, but can't remember what it was 
Diaboli said:I know that Zubov hasn't played for a long time for team Russia, but can anyone tell me why? I remember reading it from somewhere, but can't remember what it was
something that happened off the ice in 1997. nobody knows.
Some of the comments on Fedorov in this thread are down right humorous.
Have some of your people even watched Fedorov play this year? If so you would have seen that the guy has not "slowed down" and is not "overweight".
For all you stat junkies just wait until Fedorov gets Nash on his wing - I think alot of you will begin to sing a different tune. Until then here are some things to consider when looking at Feds game to this point:
• The Blue Jackets were 5-13 before Fedorov’s arrival. They’re 4-7 since, including 4-2 in their past six games.
• The Blue Jackets’ power play, the bane of their existence, produced 10 goals and was sputtering along at 9.3 percent in 18 games sans Sergei. In 11 games with Fedorov, the power play has produced 10 goals and is clipping along at a respectable 17.5 percent.
• Nikolai Zherdev was a troubled artist with three goals and a minus-10 rating before Fedorov. Zherdev has five goals and an even plus/minus since.
Feds is just scratching the surface. He took a year off and missed a good chunk of the season with a groin pull. His is just now starting to round into game shape.
Have some of your people even watched Fedorov play this year? If so you would have seen that the guy has not "slowed down" and is not "overweight".
For all you stat junkies just wait until Fedorov gets Nash on his wing - I think alot of you will begin to sing a different tune. Until then here are some things to consider when looking at Feds game to this point:
• The Blue Jackets were 5-13 before Fedorov’s arrival. They’re 4-7 since, including 4-2 in their past six games.
• The Blue Jackets’ power play, the bane of their existence, produced 10 goals and was sputtering along at 9.3 percent in 18 games sans Sergei. In 11 games with Fedorov, the power play has produced 10 goals and is clipping along at a respectable 17.5 percent.
• Nikolai Zherdev was a troubled artist with three goals and a minus-10 rating before Fedorov. Zherdev has five goals and an even plus/minus since.
Feds is just scratching the surface. He took a year off and missed a good chunk of the season with a groin pull. His is just now starting to round into game shape.
I still think Fedorov provides a good amount to any team. He won't put up high point totals and he's not worth his contract any more, but this is still a solid player. His defense has always been underrated to me.
If I were a Blue Jacket fan, I'd be heartened by his stated intent to rest up to help his team down the stretch, though I can see where Team Russia fans would consider that slim consolation.
If I were a Blue Jacket fan, I'd be heartened by his stated intent to rest up to help his team down the stretch, though I can see where Team Russia fans would consider that slim consolation.
octopi said:
Yeah but he's still playing for the Jackets, ain't he? That's what pisses me off. He'd rather take a break to completely heal his injury in order to play for the the "Columbus Blue Jackets" instead of his own country at the biggest hockey tournament in the world.
In the past he complained about the fact that he wasn't liked in North America as he would have if his name were Sam Jones. Okay, but when he gets the chance to play for his country, where people love him no matter what, he walks away.
Thumbs down!
I think Fedorov could have been a strong fourth liner for this team. His offensive touch has been lacking this year, but he's still quick, he's still defensively reliable, and he has been in the big games before.
Any word on the goalie situation? Haven't heard anything on Khabibulin or Nabokov. (Nabokov is eligible to play for Russia thanks to IIHF rule changes). If they're not there, it doesn't matter who they send. Playing against Canada with Brodeur/Luongo/Turco, Finland with Kiprusoff, or the Czechs with Vokoun, you'll be in trouble.
BTW, Kovalchuk, Frolov, Datsyuk and Ovechkin are the top four scoring Russians this year. Malkin and Samsonov are young, too. A. Markov, Kalinen and Tyutin would do well on the blue-line. After that, it's a matter of finding enough quality Russian elite leaguers who can keep up with the NHLers (the Czechs filled nearly half their 1998 Olympic roster with players in Europe at that time) and finding enough veteran NHLers who will put aside their disdain for Bure.
Any word on the goalie situation? Haven't heard anything on Khabibulin or Nabokov. (Nabokov is eligible to play for Russia thanks to IIHF rule changes). If they're not there, it doesn't matter who they send. Playing against Canada with Brodeur/Luongo/Turco, Finland with Kiprusoff, or the Czechs with Vokoun, you'll be in trouble.
BTW, Kovalchuk, Frolov, Datsyuk and Ovechkin are the top four scoring Russians this year. Malkin and Samsonov are young, too. A. Markov, Kalinen and Tyutin would do well on the blue-line. After that, it's a matter of finding enough quality Russian elite leaguers who can keep up with the NHLers (the Czechs filled nearly half their 1998 Olympic roster with players in Europe at that time) and finding enough veteran NHLers who will put aside their disdain for Bure.
Slitty
Registered User
- Oct 23, 2005
- 3,875
- 8
Mogilny just officially said that he wasn't going to play due to nagging injuries, he was set to make a comeback to the Russian team, too bad for him, probably wouldnt have been choses anyways.
In all honesty mate, I dont think Bure has alot to do with vetrans not wanting to play. Mogilny + Zubov havent played internationally since 1996 and Federov since 2002. Zubov apparently was never considering playing due to the already mentioned 1997 incident. Mogilny wanted to play this year, but alas, injuries. Federov wasnt sure, and I think its either that he didnt want to play or the coach told him wouldnt make it so he could pull out himself and save some embarassment.
In terms of NHL vetrans (guys over 30), plenty are going to be there.
Locks:
1. Khabibulin
2. Gonchar
3. Yashin
4. Kovalev
5. Nabokov
6. Zhitnik
Might make it:
1. Kasparitis
2. Zhamnov
3. Viktor Kozlov
4. Brylin
Expect maybe the 3rd goalie and about 3-4 forwards including Malkin from the RSL.
In all honesty mate, I dont think Bure has alot to do with vetrans not wanting to play. Mogilny + Zubov havent played internationally since 1996 and Federov since 2002. Zubov apparently was never considering playing due to the already mentioned 1997 incident. Mogilny wanted to play this year, but alas, injuries. Federov wasnt sure, and I think its either that he didnt want to play or the coach told him wouldnt make it so he could pull out himself and save some embarassment.
In terms of NHL vetrans (guys over 30), plenty are going to be there.
Locks:
1. Khabibulin
2. Gonchar
3. Yashin
4. Kovalev
5. Nabokov
6. Zhitnik
Might make it:
1. Kasparitis
2. Zhamnov
3. Viktor Kozlov
4. Brylin
Expect maybe the 3rd goalie and about 3-4 forwards including Malkin from the RSL.
Even with all of Russia's top players, I would still put them around 5th behind Canada, Czech R., Sweden and Finland. Maybe if they had a better shot at winning more of their guys would want to play.
As a fan it sucks that the Russian's do this every year, but I'm used to it now.
It's interesting that generally all of the top players from Canada, Sweden, Finland and the USA want to play, whereas Russia (Federov, Zubov, Mogilny), Slovakia (Palfy), and the Czech Republic (Holik, Nedved) always have players decline.
As a fan it sucks that the Russian's do this every year, but I'm used to it now.
It's interesting that generally all of the top players from Canada, Sweden, Finland and the USA want to play, whereas Russia (Federov, Zubov, Mogilny), Slovakia (Palfy), and the Czech Republic (Holik, Nedved) always have players decline.
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