Hey guys, what do you think of Komarovs move to KHL. Why does he do that?
does that make any sense? But at least i read that he plays there on the top line, so he'll have probably a great season there.
His dream was (and still is, based on what I've read) to play in the NHL. Not in the AHL. Even before the season started, he made it pretty clear that he wasn't going to NA to play in the AHL, and that if he didn't make the NHL roster, he'd go back to Russia. Like everyone else has already said, he makes way more money there and gets to play on a higher level.
After watching several games of AHL this season I have to say that I'm surprised by how pathetic the hockey over there is. Sure it's more physical than the Euro leagues but the teams have basically no defensive systems at all and the offence is mostly dump and chase too. And this is supposed to be extremely good AHL because of the lockout! The worst professional league I've ever witnessed. I mean the skill level of players over there might normally be close to SM-Liiga but the hockey itself is far behind (I was one of those who thought that AHL might be a better league than SM-Liiga before this season) .
Komarov is now familiar with the small-rink hockey and the physicality will never be a problem for him in NA. So it's not a surprise that he left for a better league where he will most likely get paid at least 10 times more.
I agree 100% regarding the quality of play in the AHL , I thought it was much better than SM-LIGA
but i was wrong , i am a sharks fan watch our Shark players playing oversees and I cannot believe
how skilled and talented the league is.....Demers for example (KARPAT) had drastically improved
his game since playing over there ....great league bottom line
Raised in Finland though, if that is to make a difference.
I recall somebody somewhere (not a Finn) lamenting that if you could have a player who's got the Russian skill and Finnish work ethic, you'd have close to a perfect package.
EDIT: As a sidenote, just figured after posting that we might actually have one coming. Not Komarov, though.
Leo scored his first career NHL goal tonight for the Toronto Maple Leafs only 59 seconds into the game against Montreal. Turned out to be the game winner as Toronto beat Montreal 6-0.
This guy has been great for the Leafs so far. He provides a physical presence and has been getting under opponents skin lately. He may not be putting up huge numbers, but 1+2 in 12 games isn't bad at all, considering everything else he brings and the fact that he played on the 4th line for 2 or 3 of the games.
Leo scored his first career NHL goal tonight for the Toronto Maple Leafs only 59 seconds into the game against Montreal. Turned out to be the game winner as Toronto beat Montreal 6-0.
This guy has been great for the Leafs so far. He provides a physical presence and has been getting under opponents skin lately. He may not be putting up huge numbers, but 1+2 in 12 games isn't bad at all, considering everything else he brings and the fact that he played on the 4th line for 2 or 3 of the games.
Loving him so far!
From the few games I've seen, Leo has managed to use the same strengths in the NHL as he has in Europe. He plays exactly like he did here. He's very popular among fans and team mates and will (barring an injury) be a part of the Finnish Olympic hockey team in Sochi. I look forward to seeing him there, big fan of the guy.
