National Hockey League (NHL) - "My contract ended and I decided to return back home. I don't want to sign a two-way contract and most likely they wouldn't offer me a one-way deal" - these the words of Alexander Nikulin (Phoenix Coyotes) after he signed a deal with CSKA Moscow. The young center played two seasons in America, mostly in the AHL farm teams of the Ottawa Senators and the Phoenix Coyotes. He did play in the NHL, but just three matches, without scoring a single point.
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Алексей Черепанов навсегда в наших сердцах
Two names that will go down in history with the likes of Martin Podlesak, Goran Bezina, Severin Blindebacher, Kiril Safronov, Brad Ralph, Ramzi Abid, Randall Gelech, Joe Callahan, Matthew Spiller, Patrick DesRochers, Roman Tomanek, Tavis Hansen, Tyler Redenbach, Jeff Taffe, Jakub Koreis, Lance Monych, Richard Lintner, Wyatt Smith, Erik Westrum, Pier-Olivier Pelletier, Jason Jaspers, and Liam Lindstrom.
Who? You had to be there. Three cheers for Bobby Smith! Three cheers for Mike Barnett!
Meh, I wish him luck. It's not like he trashed the team or something. He probably just realizes that making and staying in the NHL is beyond his talent or effort level and decided to go home, keep playing the game he loves and still earn a nice paycheck.
Two names that will go down in history with the likes of Martin Podlesak, Goran Bezina, Severin Blindebacher, Kiril Safronov, Brad Ralph, Ramzi Abid, Randall Gelech, Joe Callahan, Matthew Spiller, Patrick DesRochers, Roman Tomanek, Tavis Hansen, Tyler Redenbach, Jeff Taffe, Jakub Koreis, Lance Monych, Richard Lintner, Wyatt Smith, Erik Westrum, Pier-Olivier Pelletier, Jason Jaspers, and Liam Lindstrom.
Who? You had to be there. Three cheers for Bobby Smith! Three cheers for Mike Barnett!
I saw a couple flashes from him that suggested he has the ability to be a regular NHL player. I seem to recall Jeff noting his lack of consistency in SA.
Yeah, but our ten picks in the best draft in a decade('03) that have a combined total of ZERO NHL games played are all Barnett, baby!
SEMI OT: You guys thought we were bad, last season? The New York Islanders had both Matthew Spiller and Joe Callahan play in NHL games for them, last season.
Now if you blame Barnett for Wheeler's back-stabbing decision then I'll know you're Bickley.
In 2005 you can add Hanzal & Yandle; 2006: Mueller, Summers, Ahnelov, Frank & Ferreiro.
Even if you drop out Wheeler, Hanzal, & Mueller (if you want to assume players drafted in the top 20 are sure things, although look at the players drafted around Hanzal), Barnett is responsible for Lisin, Porter, Kolarik, Winnik, Yandle, Summers, Ahnelov over the period of 3 years. Nothing to scoff at.
I'm all for bashing Bobby Smiths lame drafting, but if you judge Barnett over his whole body of work he actually drafted 10-15 players that will contribute directly or indirectly to the Coyotes for the next 20years as compared to Smith's 1....who by the way is still contributing indirectly in some form of Lombardi and the conditional first from the Flames.
Last edited by Devils Advocate: 05-22-2009 at 12:49 PM.
Sports.ru: After two years in North America, why did you return? Wasn’t there any chance to stay with Phoenix, or to try and make it with another NHL team?
Alexander Nikulin: I went to North America having a two-year deal with Ottawa. My goal was to make the team in that time, after which it would’ve been possible to think about further perspectives. But this past season everything went wrong. After that, I’m not sure I could’ve counted on some new deal, much less a one-way contract. So next season I’ll be playing in Russia.
Last edited by PhoPhan: 05-25-2009 at 10:59 PM.
Reason: fair use please
It sounds as though Nikulin doesn't like North American style hockey (I can't say as I blame him - I personally prefer the European speed/skill game). That's all well and good, but it sounds like his attitude was pretty egotistical and arrogant for a guy trying to break into the league.
He'll be happy in Russia playing with his pals and playing Russian hockey. Good for him.
Damn, I ran out of emoticons. Where's the one where you laugh so hard you puke? Preferably on David Hale. That would be classic.
