He said at the draft that he wanted to play in the NHL. I don't feel like finding the quote, but I know he said he wants to play against the top competition in the NHL.
That's cool. I hope everything goes smoothly. The guy has the potential to be right up there with the best players in that draft. I just would like to see something where he says I want to play for the St. Louis Blues next year. Vlad, or more likely his agent, saying he wants to play against the top talent is still fairly vague especially around draft time. I really think the Blues need to target a veteran Russian player through FA or trade to be on the team with him next year.
People overrate the Russian thing way too much. I mean what players that were NHL caliber stayed in Russia? Hudler came back after 1 season and I'm pretty sure Radulov is planning on coming back. The KHL isn't as good as people think and the top players would get extremely bored over there. Don't underestimate the drive of professional athletes wanting to be the best and proving it to the world. Professional athletes want to play the best competition, just look at Hudler.
I'm not too worried about Tarasenko coming over. Both he and his father say that his future is in the NHL. I'll also note that his agent is former Blue Mike Liut. I'm sure that can't hurt. I think Tarasenko doing as well as he's doing in the KHL this season will give him the confidence he needs to know that he'll be able to step right into the NHL and make an impact.
That's cool. I hope everything goes smoothly. The guy has the potential to be right up there with the best players in that draft. I just would like to see something where he says I want to play for the St. Louis Blues next year. Vlad, or more likely his agent, saying he wants to play against the top talent is still fairly vague especially around draft time. I really think the Blues need to target a veteran Russian player through FA or trade to be on the team with him next year.
Well considering that many scouts considered him better than tyler seguin at the time of the draft and was in the top three in forwards, I feel he will be fine
Tarasenko's dad has been fired, not sure how this affects him possibly coming over next season, but the odds are definitely better now than before.
From twitter:
"Vladimir Tarasenko's dad is fired from his head coaching job at Sibir, replaced by ex-NHLer Dmitry Yushkevich. #StLBlues" - Slava Malamud
Watched this game. Tarasenko is easily the best player on Sibir. He was involved basically every time on the ice. He's one of those players if you're the other team you're happy when his shift ends.
His dad getting fired should seal the deal for coming over next season. Family and loyalty are pressures to stay – why would he now be loyal to a team not loyal to his dad?
Leads Sibir in goals and assists. It seems like he is really carrying them, which is probably a really good experience for him to have. Definitely looking forward to him replacing Langenbrunner next season.
So the KHL season is over at the end of February and Sibir is most likely not making the playoffs. Does anyone think that he could come over this season, whether it's with us or Peoria. Not sure on how the rules are and if it would even be possible. Or would he just play for the Russians in the World Championships.
So the KHL season is over at the end of February and Sibir is most likely not making the playoffs. Does anyone think that he could come over this season, whether it's with us or Peoria. Not sure on how the rules are and if it would even be possible. Or would he just play for the Russians in the World Championships.
It's possible but yeah, he'll almost certainly be playing for Russia in the WC. I'll also note that if he were to play a single game for the Blues this season, it would count as the first year of his contract and I doubt the Blues would be interested in burning a year of his contract on just a few games.
There is some fairly notable Tarasenko news tonight though - his dad was just fired as coach!
SlavaMalamud: Vladimir Tarasenko's dad is fired from his head coaching job at Sibir, replaced by ex-NHLer Dmitry Yushkevich. #StLBlues
I'm not very surprised as it's been rumored for a few weeks and Sibir hasn't been doing well at all lately (I'm sure Lehtera being injured isn't helping things) but I wonder how Vova will take it. I'm pretty sure Yushkevich is the one who set up the recent meeting in Finland between Vova and JD so I would think Vova has a good relationship with him too...although he obviously has to be bummed/pissed his dad was fired. It's probably a bit awkward too.
So the KHL season is over at the end of February and Sibir is most likely not making the playoffs. Does anyone think that he could come over this season, whether it's with us or Peoria. Not sure on how the rules are and if it would even be possible. Or would he just play for the Russians in the World Championships.
He can't come over until after the WC because of some rule or it's in his contract expires after the WC. At least that's what Darren Pang said after someone asked that question during a game.
He can't come over until after the WC because of some rule or it's in his contract expires after the WC. At least that's what Darren Pang said after someone asked that question during a game.
He can't come over until after the WC because of some rule or it's in his contract expires after the WC. At least that's what Darren Pang said after someone asked that question during a game.
As far as I know it is a contract issue. So next to no chance of him coming over this season. Sibir could release him, but no Russian team would do that when it harms the national WC team.
As STL fan in IA says, I doubt the Blues would be interested in burning the first contract year anyway. Although, in the unlikely event that our current form was to continue until March maybe we would send someone over to Novosibirsk to ask the question of Sibir.
Quote:
Originally Posted by steap
Yushkevich was assistant coach. Became head coach.
A.Tarasenko was head coach. Became assistant coach.
So nothing changed.
I am surprised his pride allowed him to accept that. I can only assume it is to continue to play a significant role in his sons development, and that he will leave at the end of the season as well.
They were saying it has way more to do with Tarasenko Sr's reputation with the club, and his history there as a Soviet player.
Yeah, Andre's a hometown hero there. He was the best player for Sibir years ago and then was also an Olympic player. Very popular there from what I can gather.
I think it would be pretty cool if Tarasenko and Lehtera came over at the end of their season and finished the season in Peoria (try-out contract). I think Lehtera did this a couple years ago. It would be interesting to see if they could tear up the AHL on the same line. Maybe they could bring Enlund over with them and keep their whole line together! I'm sure both guys will have a very good chance to play for their Countries in the WC, so there is almost no chance of this happening.
Yushkevich was assistant coach. Became head coach.
A.Tarasenko was head coach. Became assistant coach.
So nothing changed.
He's still part of the coaching staff, but him being demoted to an Assistant coach seems to favor the Blues chances of him coming over next season after they did this.
Watching another Sibir game. Great stream (First Row). Russian Jesus scored to open the game.
Lehtera is back from injury. Still not a good skater, I look at him and can't imagine him playing at NHL speed. It's painful to watch him try to get up to speed – makes Arnott look fast. However, he made a highly skilled play on the second goal – it was all him. (Tarasenko was on the ice but was drawing defenders to one side and didn't touch the puck.) Then Lehtera made a soft pass on the point during a late 2d period power play and allowed a chance the other way, which was converted for a shorthanded goal.
Junland is playing for Barys Astana, and they have a bunch of former NHLers on their roster including former Blue Kevin Dallman, who is a defenseman and leads the team in scoring. Brandon Bochenski has both Barys goals after two periods.
In my limited viewings so far it seems like the KHL is just a bunch of guys racing down the wings taking long slapshots off the rush as soon as they cross the blueline, or faking the slapshot and trying to beat their defender 1-on-1. But mostly slapshots. It's pretty weak hockey.
Tarasenko is actually more dangerous, since he can actually beat his man off the rush. His rushes feel dangerous. On his shift to start the second, while he didn't score, he did this super-sick behind the back pass to himself – WOW. Guys, this is going to be fun.
He kills penalties too. Almost had a shorthanded chance in the second.
They have one cluster of hot, short skirt choreographed cheerleaders under the scoreboard. (They have some others, perhaps the JV, who're just okay and wear long pants.)
I watched a Russian hockey rap video during the first intermission that left me speechless. It was the Barys Astana team. All mugging and preening. Nothing I could say could do it justice.
2-2 after 2.
Update: Tapacehko with his second of the game (PP) from Enlund (don't know if they'll give Lehtera the second assist though he was part of the play). Tarasenko didn't have to do much, as it was a nice cross-ice feed and he buried it in the open side.
Last edited by PocketNines: 12-08-2011 at 07:45 AM.
