then they would have played in Russia in a defensively-minded league (USHL, Zharkov playED)... What's the usual knock on Russian forwards? "Crappy defensively" - Zharkov was able to improve his D to a point where it is not a major concern. "Finally starting to look like he did in Russia"? I sure hope not - his skating, his shot, his physicality has improved by leaps and bounds - due to him playing in the USHL. Take a look at this year's U-18... Did Parfenov ever use Zharkov the way he is FINALLY using him? NO! Zharkie is on PP and PK.
As for Dikushin playing in the USHL vs the CHL - he is only 17 - not eligible for the CHL import draft yet. He will be fine in the CHL.
As for the "Russian" developement style - what happened to Apalkov, Gogolev, Grigorenko? Look at the U-18 team - majority of the players had a similar skillset to Zharkov's - who is a more polished player now???
I don't want to knock any system, but at 16, a player is fully developed as far as his "dangle" game is concerned - time to start polishing up habbits and certain aspects of the game. That's where NA comes in.