RW Yegor Chinakhov (2020, 21st, CBJ)

[CLW]

My understanding is that unless they're starting in the NHL as teenagers, in which case UFA comes after 7 years in the league, it's 27 for everybody. So after age 20, every year your guy is in the KHL is one less year you have him. Artemi Panarin started at age 23 and was UFA after four years in the NHL. The ELC is also shortened to one or two years.

I see. CBJ have a great eye for talent, but that arrangement doesn't make it easier for them.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

They might not have plans to have him in the lineup in the next two years, we don't know their assessment, but there is undoubtedly a baseline anxiety to get all of these guys signed and playing in Columbus/Cleveland.

That’s exactly how you ruin these players. Why do people still not understand this?

 

[majormajor]

That’s exactly how you ruin these players. Why do people still not understand this?

I'm with you on 18-20 year olds, I do take culture shock seriously. But by 21+, it becomes a big problem to the draft team if the kids aren't coming over. Dmitri Freakin Voronkov doesn't need to play in Russia until he's 22 or 23 years old, he'd be far overripe and if anything he'll be more appreciated playing North American style hockey. Marchenko might need the extra time, I'm not sure. Right now it doesn't look like Chinakhov would need much more time.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I'm with you on 18-20 year olds, I do take culture shock seriously. But by 21+, it becomes a big problem to the draft team if the kids aren't coming over. Dmitri Freakin Voronkov doesn't need to play in Russia until he's 22 or 23 years old, he'd be far overripe and if anything he'll be more appreciated playing North American style hockey. Marchenko might need the extra time, I'm not sure. Right now it doesn't look like Chinakhov would need much more time.

I agree, but I’d rather see them in the KHL than AHL. The contracts lengths are an issue, but what can be done? I’d rather they stay a year too long than ruin their development by throwing them in the AHL. This is why it’s important to speak with the players beforehand, and make sure the NHL team and player agree about their development timeline in the KHL.

 

[majormajor]

I agree, but I’d rather see them in the KHL than AHL. The contracts lengths are an issue, but what can be done? I’d rather they stay a year too long than ruin their development by throwing them in the AHL. This is why it’s important to speak with the players beforehand, and make sure the NHL team and player agree about their development timeline in the KHL.

If it was just one extra year there wouldn't be much anxiety over it. It seems for some players it's an extra three or four. Voronkov could play in the NHL right now, and he's signed in the KHL until 2023.

 

[Caser]

If it was just one extra year there wouldn't be much anxiety over it. It seems for some players it's an extra three or four. Voronkov could play in the NHL right now, and he's signed in the KHL until 2023.

Umm, no. I mean, possibly he indeed could play as the 4th line plug, but not very successfully, which would mean a rather quick return back home and I'm not sure if the CBJ organization would be interested in that.

As for Chinakhov, he clearly needs more time too, not sure how much more though, I think here the development curve situation is pretty much similar to Marchenko.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Whene every GM in the NHL would have picked Puljujärvi at #3, Jarmo took PLD. How did that pan out? Jarmo is a GM, but he is also a scout who has a lot of experience

okay but PLD was the top ranked NA skater in that draft. Not some crazy off the board pick.

 

[Atas2000]

I don't get the itch for getting a 21y.o. over as opposed to 23y.o. complete player. In case of Chinakhov that might be exactly the proper development timeline.

 

[majormajor]

Umm, no. I mean, possibly he indeed could play as the 4th line plug, but not very successfully, which would mean a rather quick return back home and I'm not sure if the CBJ organization would be interested in that.

As for Chinakhov, he clearly needs more time too, not sure how much more though, I think here the development curve situation is pretty much similar to Marchenko.

Does Voronkov just struggle with the puck too much? He seems like he would be overwhelming to deal with physically even in the NHL.

Do you have a read on how well rounded Chinakhov and Marchenko are? I've heard all sorts of things. Supposedly Marchenko's defensive game is atrocious. Chinakhov is a one-way guy too. Or Chinakhov is two-way, that's why he's trusted by Hartley with so many minutes!

 

[Flynn84]

Another goal.

 

[Flynn84]

 

[Caser]

Does Voronkov just struggle with the puck too much? He seems like he would be overwhelming to deal with physically even in the NHL.

Do you have a read on how well rounded Chinakhov and Marchenko are? I've heard all sorts of things. Supposedly Marchenko's defensive game is atrocious. Chinakhov is a one-way guy too. Or Chinakhov is two-way, that's why he's trusted by Hartley with so many minutes!

Voronkov's thing is dominating around the crease with his physical game and good hands, also decent two-way component, but other things are either mediocre or not exactly there yet. I like him, but to say he is NHL ready wouldn't be correct, imo.

Marchenko's defensive game maybe not exactly atrocious in my definiton (as I can't say he is a liability or something), but he sure is a one-way guy.

Not easy to tell about Chinakhov, but I can see he is at least trying to show some signs of that two-way game though. Still his goalscoring abilities are more noticeable.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

 

[Caser]

Recorded 3 assists today including this one:

 

[Evgeny Oliker]

With 12 points in 17 KHL games he is definitely not slowing down. Maybe Jarmo is onto something here after all.

 

[Sticktape]

This guy is the real deal.

 

[lawrence]

I do take culture shock seriously.

What's so shocking about the American Culture that it seems like only Russian players seem to have a problem with? The rap? Music? Crazy drives? Taylor Swift? not having dash cams in their cars? The ability to vote? What's so shocking about it. Please kindly answer.

 

[wings5]

What's so shocking about the American Culture that it seems like only Russian players seem to have a problem with? The rap? Music? Crazy drives? Taylor Swift? not having dash cams in their cars? The ability to vote? What's so shocking about it. Please kindly answer.

It's more the language barrier than anything , English is so different than Russian that its harder for them to learn than Swedes for example. This makes it harder to do most things. Imagine you go to Russia you're living with a billet who doesn't speak your language or in an apartment. In that apartment you need a repair done but can't communicate the issue. Navigating the city, food is different , culture is different as well. At the rink you can't communicate with teamates and coaches, players won't always want to hang out with you outside of the rink because you can't communicate with each other so you are basically alone at a young age, certainly not easy for anyone.

 

[93LEAFS]

It's more the language barrier than anything , English is so different than Russian that its harder for them to learn than Swedes for example. This makes it harder to do most things. Imagine you go to Russia you're living with a billet who doesn't speak your language or in an apartment. In that apartment you need a repair done but can't communicate the issue. Navigating the city, food is different , culture is different as well. At the rink you can't communicate with teamates and coaches, players won't always want to hang out with you outside of the rink because you can't communicate with each other so you are basically alone at a young age, certainly not easy for anyone.

The issue is more that Sweden, Finland, etc are smaller countries with smaller media centers and dedicated websites in their native language. So, they are more inclined to learn a new language to consume news, sports and entertainment in their non-native language. The internet massively helped in this regard as a significant amount of early web-sites where in English. Whereas Russia has a massive population with media/entertainment that is representative of that, so they have less of need. Also, most Nordic countries also had parents and relatives who also learned English, which is much more uncommon in Russia due to how closed off it was pre-fall of the Soviet empire. I think the lack of English speaking in Russia is more cultural than an inability due to their native language. It just isn't as encouraged or needed.

 

[lawrence]

It's more the language barrier than anything , English is so different than Russian that its harder for them to learn than Swedes for example. This makes it harder to do most things. Imagine you go to Russia you're living with a billet who doesn't speak your language or in an apartment. In that apartment you need a repair done but can't communicate the issue. Navigating the city, food is different , culture is different as well. At the rink you can't communicate with teamates and coaches, players won't always want to hang out with you outside of the rink because you can't communicate with each other so you are basically alone at a young age, certainly not easy for anyone.

I don't find language barrier is a legit excuse for these young Russians to have some sort of Culture shock In North America. In my opinion not knowing a language has nothing to do with "Culture shock" especially the ones that come over here to play in the CHL or come here when drafted at a young age. Again, just an opinion.... nothing more.

 

[wings5]

I don't find language barrier is a legit excuse for these young Russians to have some sort of Culture shock In North America. In my opinion not knowing a language has nothing to do with "Culture shock" especially the ones that come over here to play in the CHL or come here when drafted at a young age. Again, just an opinion.... nothing more.

Eastern European culture in general has alot of differences compared to North America and Russian philosophies when it comes to hockey is way more different than it is in Canada, probably moreso than any other hockey Nation, not hard to understand

 

[Hanji]

What's so shocking about the American Culture that it seems like only Russian players seem to have a problem with? The rap? Music? Crazy drives? Taylor Swift? not having dash cams in their cars? The ability to vote? What's so shocking about it. Please kindly answer.

Go listen to the Spittin Chiclets podcast for your answer. They frequently interview North Americans who play/played in the KHL.
Sure Whitney and Bissonnette love to exaggerate the 'crazy Russia' angle for entertainment value; but one thing is a constant, every interviewee says that Russia is a thoroughly different animal than NA or W. Europe. Adaptation can be completely overwhelming. Everything is different, across the board; life and hockey culture. A fish out of water.

We tend to take for granted the effort a lot of these Russian dudes put forth to play in the NHL. They must take on added obstacles other players don't contend with.

 

[blancot]

I wasn't a huge fan of Chinakhov last year (2018/19). He was too weak with the puck and wasn't very productive, I mostly just noticed him consistently for his shooting, he has a stinging wrister.

 

[SoundAndFury]

I don't find language barrier is a legit excuse for these young Russians to have some sort of Culture shock In North America. In my opinion not knowing a language has nothing to do with "Culture shock" especially the ones that come over here to play in the CHL or come here when drafted at a young age. Again, just an opinion.... nothing more.

Well, as long as it's your opinion you can take anything as a non-legit excuse. But it all adds up. From the sense of humor to everyday interactions, the difference between NA and Russia are there. Some people are impacted more by one thing, some by the other and some aren't at all.

 

[lawrence]

Well, as long as it's your opinion you can take anything as a non-legit excuse. But it all adds up.

this is the first I’ve personally heard about young Russians athletes coming to North America to play junior pro or the ahl to have some sort of negative effect to their hockey development because of “culture shock”.