Both Grabovski and Kostitsyn are not Russians, they are from Belarus. The difference between Russia and Belarus is similar to the difference between Czech Republic and Slovakia, USA and Canada or between Finland and Sweden.
Are the Kostitsyns actually Belorussians ethnically?
What other Russian forwards in the league aside from the ones already mentioned are better? Those would definitely at LEAST be top 15 in the NHL. You can argue some in the KHL are better, but that's a different story.
This is my opinion of what it'll look like going into next season. I expect Ovechkin to bounce back a little bit and Burmi to continue to develop as he has, he's the most underrated one here imo and I think he's gonna be better than Radulov in the future unless Radulov is like a 80 pt player. I like Grachev more than Dadonov but tbh, there's a huge talent gap b/t 10th and 11th. Yakupov is probably gonna go right into this and maybe Tarasenko if STL gives him the TOI.
When Ovechkin made that comment a while ago (a few years back anyways) about the 4 best players in the world being from Russia he was talking about Malkin, Datsyuk, himself and...? Was it Kovalchuk or Semin?
What other Russian forwards in the league aside from the ones already mentioned are better? Those would definitely at LEAST be top 15 in the NHL. You can argue some in the KHL are better, but that's a different story.
Yeah, those in the KHL who are better:
Morozov
Zaripov
Sushinsky
Afinogenov
Frolov
"oldie but goodie" Sergei Fedorov who can still give them a run for the money.
Looking it up, there are only 15 Russian forwards that have played a game this year, and 9 that have played ~ half a season or more.
There is no point going across the pond and playing 5-7 minutes of hockey per game on a 3-4 line if you can make much more money and have much more ice time in Russia.
Therefore, the Russians you have in the NHL are those who can crack top 6 forward corps on any team.
Morozov
Zaripov
Sushinsky
Afinogenov
Frolov
"oldie but goodie" Sergei Fedorov who can still give them a run for the money.
and a lot of other guys.
I hope you're joking because if you don't then I don't even know how to reply to this absurd. I'd pick Tarasenko/Kuznetsov over them any day.
Sure Radulov is a top line forward and I hope he will flash in playoffs.
I hope you're joking because if you don't then I don't even know how to reply to this absurd. I'd pick Tarasenko/Kuznetsov over them any day.
Sure Radulov is a top line forward and I hope he will flash in playoffs.
I am not actually joking. Do you watch KHL?
These guys are playing top minutes, while Tarasenko is stuck on a 4th line. He is a great talent but he is still growing to be a major force.
I am not actually joking. Do you watch KHL?
These guys are playing top minutes, while Tarasenko is stuck on a 4th line. He is a great talent but he is still growing to be a major force.
Being on the 4th line and producing as much as he does just proves his point even further. Tarasenko is way better than those players listed.
I am not actually joking. Do you watch KHL?
These guys are playing top minutes, while Tarasenko is stuck on a 4th line. He is a great talent but he is still growing to be a major force.
I don't watch KHL (well, occasionally) but saying these guys are better is totally wrong. Tarasenko plays on 4th line with crappy linemates and is arguably best forward on SKA roster and maybe best player in playoffs overall: 10 goals (1st overall) and 15 points (2nd overall).
This.
