I really wish that Donbass would play more of their Ukrainian players. Even if they don't play impact roles, it would be better to have them playing than sitting in the pressbox night-in and night-out. Rather than playing borderline Russian's and Finn's, Donbass should be playing Ukrainian's in bottom 6 roles. I think their 4th line should always be:
Materukhin-Donika-Varlamov
Why play foreigners on the 4th line? It's nice that Kvitchenko, Fedotenko and Ponikarovsky are playing in the top 6, but it wouldn't hurt to play Lyutkevich on the 4th defense pairing even if only for 4-5 minutes a game over Matousek (a forward!). I know the coach isn't a Ukrainian and therefore likely doesn't care about that, but on a Ukrainian team at least 6-7 guys should be Ukrainans.
Matousek - dman...... Delirium, delirium and delirium again.
We all want it here.
It's pretty ridiculous, honestly. On a Russian KHL team they wouldn't be playing Ukrainian's on the 4th line and eating up ~9 minutes a game while their native Russian's sit in the press box. I don't get it. The Ukrainian's on this team should be used! I expected Ponikarovsky and Fedotenko to play top line minutes and it's great to see Kvitchenko move up from the 3rd to the second line, but seriously, what's the point in playing foreigners on the 4th line and a foreign forward on the 4th defense pairing?! I just don't see the logic in this. The point in having a team in Ukraine is to sell hockey to Ukrainian's and to help develop the national team. How does playing Ukrainian's so little help with this? The image it portrays is still that of a Russian and Western European sport!
Obviously if they were winning then, fine, go with whomever to keep the heat going
But if it's going to be a lost season, put it to use for development. Get Zakharov out there.
and on another note...only 2 of the 8 D on Donbass-2 are Ukrainian. Half of the forwards are non-Ukrainian. WTF. Unless they are bonafide prospects worth holding on to, stick with locals. It's the PHL for chistsakes.
I mean, no problem with the Finns, they all had good numbers last year and they aren't old vets or anything
but still, 4th line and 4th D pairing should be reserved for the locals
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sokil
Obviously if they were winning then, fine, go with whomever to keep the heat going
But if it's going to be a lost season, put it to use for development. Get Zakharov out there.
and on another note...only 2 of the 8 D on Donbass-2 are Ukrainian. Half of the forwards are non-Ukrainian. WTF. Unless they are bonafide prospects worth holding on to, stick with locals. It's the PHL for chistsakes.
I agree 100%. Why play Belukhin and Kotechkov in place of Materukhin, Donika and/or Varlamov? And stripping Varlamov of his captaincy for Obsut? Completely disgusting if you ask me.
On Zakharov, I'm not 100% sure, but I thought I heard he got sent to Donbass-2 a week or so ago? Could be wrong.
Anyways, I'm glad I'm not the only person outraged at this trainwreck. It's pissing me off to no end that the Ukrainian team is sitting out 3 or 4 nationals every game. These guys should be getting time at the top level so that they can help improve the National Team and get them back to the top division and also help to grow hockey in Donetsk and Ukraine.
seems donika, shalimov, and liutkevych were all sent down
At least they're getting playing time. Ridiculous to have so few Ukrainian's on the team though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sokil
So what's your deal Smitty, Ukrainian from Toronto too?
Don't totally get ndd's story, but the more the merrier
My family has been in Canada a long time. I think my last descendants to arrive came in the 1920's. I'm actually only of 25% Ukrainian heritage. One grandmother is of full Ukrainian descent and she's third generation Canadian. Her grandparents settled in a small 100% Ukrainian farming town in Saskatchewan in the 1890's where they speak Ukrainian as the first language even today. We've been here a while, but my family has always been very involved in our Ukrainian heritage, celebrating Ukrainian traditions and best of all: eating Ukrainian food! I'm mostly English/Scottish descent, but I tend to identify more with the Ukrainian side when talking about heritage and in the last few years I've taken an interest in Ukrainian hockey.
no clue, they listed him as a 'pairing' with Silnitsky...khl.ru boxscore has him down as a forward, but it doesn't appear he had any ice time? Can't find either of them listed beyond being on the gameday roster
I'm getting very frustrated with this team. I'm glad they won today, but yet again the Ukrainian's (excluding the NHLers) are not being placed in a position to allow them to succeed. Time and again we're seeing them scratched or, like today, playing barely 3 minutes a game! This is getting very annoying as this team is a Ukrainian team and should be fielding some Ukrainians! I don't know what this coach wants, but first he strips Varlamov of the captaincy, today Kvitchenko was scratched while Varlamov and Materukhin saw barely 3 minutes of playing time and none in the third period. This team may as well be based in Slovakia or Russia because there is no point in having a team in Ukraine if it's only going to play foreign players.
This is ridiculous. As Sokil and I have both stated, the 4th line should be reserved exclusively for Ukrainian players. These guys should be given a chance to succeed and become comfortable in the faster (than they're used to) KHL. How is the general population of Donetsk supposed to get behind this team if there is no home-talent on the ice? I think they should have to follow the rule of dressing at least 5 Ukrainian nationals per game and players with NHL contracts shouldn't count towards that number.
Which Ukrainian players will the home crowd recognize when Poni, Fedotenko and Babchuk head back overseas? How will this help to develop and grow hockey and get their team out of the WJC basement?
I'm getting very frustrated with this team. I'm glad they won today, but yet again the Ukrainian's (excluding the NHLers) are not being placed in a position to allow them to succeed. Time and again we're seeing them scratched or, like today, playing barely 3 minutes a game! This is getting very annoying as this team is a Ukrainian team and should be fielding some Ukrainians! I don't know what this coach wants, but first he strips Varlamov of the captaincy, today Kvitchenko was scratched while Varlamov and Materukhin saw barely 3 minutes of playing time and none in the third period. This team may as well be based in Slovakia or Russia because there is no point in having a team in Ukraine if it's only going to play foreign players.
This is ridiculous. As Sokil and I have both stated, the 4th line should be reserved exclusively for Ukrainian players. These guys should be given a chance to succeed and become comfortable in the faster (than they're used to) KHL. How is the general population of Donetsk supposed to get behind this team if there is no home-talent on the ice? I think they should have to follow the rule of dressing at least 5 Ukrainian nationals per game and players with NHL contracts shouldn't count towards that number.
Which Ukrainian players will the home crowd recognize when Poni, Fedotenko and Babchuk head back overseas? How will this help to develop and grow hockey and get their team out of the WJC basement?
For nearly 80 odd years or what not of the NHL's history the Bruins, Rangers, Wings and Blackhawks field almost only foreign players.
For nearly 80 odd years or what not of the NHL's history the Bruins, Rangers, Wings and Blackhawks field almost only foreign players.
Different situation. In Europe it's about club hockey and developing homegrown talent from a young age who will play for your team. In the NHL you can be drafted anywhere and trades are common.
Big win for Donbass today! They beat Magnitogorsk 4-3 in OT. Fedotenko had 3 goals, Ponikarovsky had 4 assists and Babchuk also contributed an assist. Varlamov and Kvitchenko were the only other Ukrainians in the lineup and both ended up pointless.
