I think the reasonable question in all of this is just how close is Voynov from making the NHL? I mean, really, when we look at the depth chart he's still got a ways to go--and that's barring trades. I don't blame him for taking the money. As a hockey player he's got maybe 15 more years to make his living at this game before he has to transition to something else when he has no skills other than hitting a piece of rubber with a stick. The KHL offers an awful lot of money and if you don't think you'll make it to the NHL then why not? All this paying your dues stuff... I don't know how many of us wouldn't have taken the easy job that paid millions of dollars at 20 instead of holding out and hoping for a chance at a more prestigious (but by no means better paying) job. That's what Voynov's up against, and just because we're Kings fans doesn't mean that the team is anything more than an employer to him. He doesn't share our sense of sacrifice.
i have no problem with this and theres no way i'm going to question his character because of it when he MADE it known this was his plan. this won't be the last of him we hear if he does go back to the KHL. Next summer he'll be in training camp again.
An intended trip to the KHL tells me the NHL is not his only priority and that is unfortunate. It is partially a character issue and partly financial. A player with his skill set (I am higher on him than any other defensive prospect we have) should be patient and pay his dues. He is not dominating the AHL. He isn't in a situation akin to Bernier where he has nothing left to prove there.
Unfortunate for who?
We are talking about Voinov, and if he doesn't have a preference between the KHL and the NHL (saying he likes both equally, as they both present different and equally beneficial options), why is it unfortunate he elects to return to the KHL rather than spend another year in the minors? Unfortunate for LA maybe, but not him.
Also, what is the character flaw in going home?
As many have said before, he can go to the KHL for a year and be fine still. It seemed to work for Grebeshkov. We can bring him back in a year if he wants. We don't cater to him, nor should we, so why should he cater to us?
Of course it's about character. If your goal is to play in the NHL, and you are this close, you sacrifice and put the work in to get there. If you mostly care about making a few extra dollars in the short term, then by all means, give up your "dream" and go play for pay. Maybe we just live in a generation of low character people who would sacrifice their ideals for a big screen tv and an over priced vehicle. It's not always about the money for everyone, but by your argument, I must assume that it is for you.
Who said the NHL was his ideal? Playing pro hockey is his ideal I'd imagine, and that's what the KHL offers.
Also, it isn't about the money for me, but I do believe strongly is security, both for myself and for my children and my extended family, something money can bring. Fortunately I'm in a career where my physical well-being doesn't dictate how long I can do it. Voynov's does, so if he wants to gain that long term security financially, he only has a set time frame to get it done.
We are talking about Voinov, and if he doesn't have a preference between the KHL and the NHL (saying he likes both equally, as they both present different and equally beneficial options), why is it unfortunate he elects to return to the KHL rather than spend another year in the minors? Unfortunate for LA maybe, but not him.
Also, what is the character flaw in going home?
As many have said before, he can go to the KHL for a year and be fine still. It seemed to work for Grebeshkov. We can bring him back in a year if he wants. We don't cater to him, nor should we, so why should he cater to us?
Unfortunate for those that have invested time and money on him. Do you think if he told the Kings his intent at the time he was drafted or before that the Kings would have drafted him or paid him to develop? Also unfortunate for the fans, including me who was looking forward to his continued development.
If he didn't have a preference between the NHL and KHL, I doubt he would be in the AHL now or before. He obviously wants to play in the NHL.
Character flaw is the failure to finish what he started especially at such a young age. It's a lack of maturity at play. Also, the KHL is the equivalent of the AHL, some may argue even lower, in terms of competition so it is at best a lateral move.
Grebeshkov...yeah, there is a model.
He is a Kings' prospect. His job is to cater to us, develop, mature and make his best efforts to make the NHL. What the hell do you think a prospect's role is? The Kings are his employer.
I think the reasonable question in all of this is just how close is Voynov from making the NHL? I mean, really, when we look at the depth chart he's still got a ways to go--and that's barring trades. I don't blame him for taking the money. As a hockey player he's got maybe 15 more years to make his living at this game before he has to transition to something else when he has no skills other than hitting a piece of rubber with a stick. The KHL offers an awful lot of money and if you don't think you'll make it to the NHL then why not? All this paying your dues stuff... I don't know how many of us wouldn't have taken the easy job that paid millions of dollars at 20 instead of holding out and hoping for a chance at a more prestigious (but by no means better paying) job. That's what Voynov's up against, and just because we're Kings fans doesn't mean that the team is anything more than an employer to him. He doesn't share our sense of sacrifice.
I think that is a very good question in regards to him playing in North America or not. When will he be ready? He's got the best shot from the point of any D prospect we have right now. You could argue that Martinez can unleash it, but Voinov's shot is heavy and accurate. He has some moves and ability with the puck, but could greatly improve on his quickness and defensive awareness. To me, this is a vital developmental year for Voinov, where he should be pushing for a spot in LA or becoming a top defenseman for the Monarchs. To me he is not far away, but if he somehow retards his development by going back to Russia, I doubt he makes it back. The Russian system isn't producing many good D men as it is. There is no way that league is going to better prepare him to make an NHL squad. More like help to instill bad habits, and soft zone play.
I also think that any player on the cusp of making any NHL team, and there are only 30 of them, is looking at this opportunity as more than just having an employer. Making the NHL is a pretty big frickin deal for any hockey player in the world. It's the playground reserved for the best in the world. If your competitive spirit goes only as deep as your pocket book, then you're not much of an athlete.
I think that is a very good question in regards to him playing in North America or not. When will he be ready? He's got the best shot from the point of any D prospect we have right now. You could argue that Martinez can unleash it, but Voinov's shot is heavy and accurate. He has some moves and ability with the puck, but could greatly improve on his quickness and defensive awareness. To me, this is a vital developmental year for Voinov, where he should be pushing for a spot in LA or becoming a top defenseman for the Monarchs. To me he is not far away, but if he somehow retards his development by going back to Russia, I doubt he makes it back. The Russian system isn't producing many good D men as it is. There is no way that league is going to better prepare him to make an NHL squad. More like help to instill bad habits, and soft zone play.
I also think that any player on the cusp of making any NHL team, and there are only 30 of them, is looking at this opportunity as more than just having an employer. Making the NHL is a pretty big frickin deal for any hockey player in the world. It's the playground reserved for the best in the world. If your competitive spirit goes only as deep as your pocket book, then you're not much of an athlete.
If he is making a statement that he makes the Kings or else, might as well just use him in a trade and get an asset for him if DL and TM do not think he's ready to be brought up. Ultimatums tend to backfire anyway.
I'd like to see him play out and mature but if he wants to go and he's not ready, then let him go. I'd hate to start losing games because a player is not capable to keep up with everyone. Then they become a liability.
Unfortunate for those that have invested time and money on him. Do you think if he told the Kings his intent at the time he was drafted or before that the Kings would have drafted him or paid him to develop? Also unfortunate for the fans, including me who was looking forward to his continued development.
If he didn't have a preference between the NHL and KHL, I doubt he would be in the AHL now or before. He obviously wants to play in the NHL.
Character flaw is the failure to finish what he started especially at such a young age. It's a lack of maturity at play. Also, the KHL is the equivalent of the AHL, some may argue even lower, in terms of competition so it is at best a lateral move.
Grebeshkov...yeah, there is a model.
He is a Kings' prospect. His job is to cater to us, develop, mature and make his best efforts to make the NHL. What the hell do you think a prospect's role is? The Kings are his employer.
He was drafted two years ago. People do change their opinions in that amount of time. I'm sure plenty of people on these boards have changed jobs in two years. Maybe his intent was to make the NHL full-time within three years and LA said he likely could with them?
And frankly, and speaking as a fan, I doubt that it being unfortunate to you or me plays anything into Voynov's decision. We don't say it's "unfortunate" when plenty of people on here call some guys every name under the sun, from "garbage" to "momma's boy" to some that will get sensored so I won't even bother writing them. But I guess that's our right as fans? Well, it's his right as a player to explore other options to expedite his hockey career.
If he obviously wanted to play in the NHL, he wouldn't even suggest going to the KHL, now would he?
And who says he doesn't plan to finish what he started? Like others have said, me included, he can go there for a year and come back. Regardless of how you rank the KHL, and my opinion differs from yours, it is a competitive league with NHL caliber players in it. He can only develop there. it may not be at the pace we as fans would like, but as long as DL and Co. don't have a problem with it, then I'm ok. I'm not sure if they've said anything on this statement yet or not.
I didn't say Grebs was a model either, but he is an example of someone who went there and came back to have an NHL career (three seasons and possibly counting). And he did come back better than when he left, as a regular who contributed key minutes.
Btw, the "we" in "we don't cater to him" referred to us, the fans, and as your post confirmed, we don't cater to him. So once again I say, why should he cater to us?
"Traktor's (KHL) Director said #LAK prospect Voinov and #FLA prospect Dadonov will return to KHL if either can't make NHL team this season."
Just another comment to this quote, but perhaps DL have an agreement already with Voinov that if he doesn't make it in LA he can return home for the season?
Who said the NHL was his ideal? Playing pro hockey is his ideal I'd imagine, and that's what the KHL offers.
Also, it isn't about the money for me, but I do believe strongly is security, both for myself and for my children and my extended family, something money can bring. Fortunately I'm in a career where my physical well-being doesn't dictate how long I can do it. Voynov's does, so if he wants to gain that long term security financially, he only has a set time frame to get it done.
He said the NHL was his ideal. Why do you think he came over to North America in the first place? Also your perspective as a husband and father are going to be very different from a 20 year old hockey player, with a chance to play in the best league in the world. I doubt the first thing on his mind right now are thoughts about his future wife, and future kids, and how he might give them more security by playing in the KHL.
He said the NHL was his ideal. Why do you think he came over to North America in the first place? Also your perspective as a husband and father are going to be very different from a 20 year old hockey player, with a chance to play in the best league in the world. I doubt the first thing on his mind right now are thoughts about his future wife, and future kids, and how he might give them more security by playing in the KHL.
You may be right, you may not. Whose to say he's not playing for his mothers' and fathers' security? It doesn't have to be a wife and children for it to be family.
For me personally, I think he came over to North America in part because it is the NHl yes, but also in part because there was likely a better chance of big money at his age. If he could wow people early, he could make the NHL. But at this time, he has a better chance of making that money in Europe than by going back to the minors for another year.
Funny how a 20-year-old can't think about long term things like a wife and kids, yet can think long-term when it comes to MAYBE making the NHl and turning down likely more money to return home and play.
