Looks like Donbass is steadily improving and incorporating more Ukrainians into the team. Varlamov has started to produce and now has 3 goals and 3 assists and Vitaly Donika has now played in two games. Poni and Feds are both producing and Kvitchenko and Materukhin are getting into games as well, while goalie Dmitry Berezin got into a game for Donbass. Konstantin Kasyanchuk is putting up points for Dynamo Moscow.
A positive for the national team is that both Ponikarovsky and Fedotenko have represented Ukraine in the Olympic qualifiers. Hopefully this means they're on-board for future events too. I'm not sure about the outcome of the tournament, but Ukraine should have walked all over the competition. They were a team full of current and former KHL players as well as two NHL players. If a team with Poni, Feds, Varlamov, Kasyanchuk, Mikhnov, Donika, Materukhin, Klimentyev and Kvitchenko can't beat the likes of Lithuania, Poland, Hungary and Romania then hockey has declined even further than I first thought.
the one positive of the lockout - they may actually play for the national team this year. bonus incentive being that they' already playing in ukraine so obviously people are talking to them and their uke team mates will obviously egg them on to come. (vs. being in the US and flaking
the one positive of the lockout - they may actually play for the national team this year. bonus incentive being that they' already playing in ukraine so obviously people are talking to them and their uke team mates will obviously egg them on to come. (vs. being in the US and flaking
They should get back to the second division this year if all the KHL/NHLers play. If they don't then there are some real issues.
Nice to see them spending money and bringing in Razin. Any rumours to where Kasyanchuk and Babchuk are going to sign?
According Kasyanchuk heard nothing.Seems to be agreed on everything with Fedotenko.Babchuk said in one of their interviews, which will consider the proposals in the summer of КHL( http://isport.ua/hockey/khl/news/247470.html )
According Kasyanchuk heard nothing.Seems to be agreed on everything with Fedotenko.Babchuk said in one of their interviews, which will consider the proposals in the summer of КHL( http://isport.ua/hockey/khl/news/247470.html )
Fedotenko is going back? Must have enjoyed his top 6 role in the KHL. He's still a very good checking line player in the NHL, but he's accomplished so much at the NHL level that it's hard to fault him for wanting to go home and be a top player on Donetsk.
Hopefully Kasyanchuk signs somewhere in the KHL. I wouldn't be surprised if Andrei Mikhnov got a deal from someone too.
I wouldn't be surprised if Andrei Mikhnov got a deal from someone too.
Did you watch Ukraine WC campaign this spring? In reality he looks done at the age of thirty already. Luckily for him third tier hockey players can't cope with his frame so he can still get a paycheck out of hockey.
Did you watch Ukraine WC campaign this spring? In reality he looks done at the age of thirty already. Luckily for him third tier hockey players can't cope with his frame so he can still get a paycheck out of hockey.
Nope, I didn't.
I heard his back injuries had derailed his career, but I didn't realize it was to the point that his size wouldn't make him a useful bottom 6 KHL player still.
According Kasyanchuk heard nothing.Seems to be agreed on everything with Fedotenko.Babchuk said in one of their interviews, which will consider the proposals in the summer of КHL( http://isport.ua/hockey/khl/news/247470.html )
According to Eliteprospects, Ruslan Fedotenko is captain of Donbass and they've re-signed Varlamov, Kvitchenko and Bartulis. Looks like the team will have some good Ukrainians and an improved group of foreigners too.
Hopefully we see some improvements from last year and an improved national team, given that Feds and Razin will both be available (barring injury).
Ruslan has a valid contract with "Philadelphia," and until June 30 to talk about something we do not.
You're right. Apparently his agent has denied rumours that he's signed a contract here, but I think it's very likely that he signs with Donetsk. Feds is nothing more than a 4th liner in the NHL at this point and can still play a top 6 role in the KHL. He'll be a lot more useful in Ukraine than he will in North America. Ponikarovsky should go back home too. He's basically done over here as well.
And then whoever draft from Togliatti as well.
