So, you're saying Tarasenko is the 11th or 12th best forward on SKA then?
I'm a little perplexed by what's happening, too, but I think there is a legit argument for what's happening.
1) They have the best team already (prior to the trade) and mainly want to deny any other playoff contender a chance to get him.
2) They have the best record in the league prior to Tarasenko and are just trying to keep things rolling. Giving him 4th line minutes preserves their chemistry, but they're still able to get production from him.
3) They play a different system than what he played previously, and he needs time and protected minutes to be able to do it well. (I think that's a bit of a stretch, but at least a legit reason.)
Realistically, what are the chances he comes over for next season?
50/50?
80/20?
I sure as hell hope he comes over! Love the player and should fit in great in your top 6.
That's all you need, another big, strong, offensive player. Damn I'm jealous.
From everything that we know so far, I would say 80/20, if not better. That might be my optimistic side speaking, but there has been nothing to indicate that he isn't coming over.
Realistically, what are the chances he comes over for next season?
50/50?
80/20?
I sure as hell hope he comes over! Love the player and should fit in great in your top 6.
That's all you need, another big, strong, offensive player. Damn I'm jealous.
Sibir thought he'd decided to leave for the NHL, so they traded him. Otherwise they'd never have let him go, especially considering they got a paltry return. Since his dad was demoted from coach but still remained with the organization they probably had a very clear picture of his intent. Obviously, he didn't ask for a trade to some other KHL club either, so he wasn't disgruntled with Sibir specifically but happy to stay if it were some other KHL club.
KHL fans have tried to convince us that he will be awed by SKA money and will change his mind. In the long run, there's more money for him in the NHL, and he'll be an immediate millionaire with bonuses here and never see a minute of AHL time. He can go back to the KHL and be well-paid at any time. So their hopes on that front are overstated. We've heard that St. Petersburg is amazing and St. Louis is a hellhole from them as well. What else? Oh, yeah, the Olympics. They're trying to convince us that the Russians will cut off their nose to spite their face and not bring Tarasenko if he truly deserves to make the Olympic squad for the effrontery of leaving their lower professional league behind. Canada just announced its Olympic team management for 2014, and we all know the NHL is sending players. Who would you rather have, a player familiar with the elite of the elite competition head to head, or someone who stayed protected in Russia in the far weaker KHL? It's a bluff.
Until he signs there will be all sorts of other arguments advanced about what's best for him and what he's likely to do, but all signs point to him coming over.
As for big, he's not what I'd call big, but he's not small. He's not afraid to go to the dirty areas to score, at any rate.
From everything that we know so far, I would say 80/20, if not better. That might be my optimistic side speaking, but there has been nothing to indicate that he isn't coming over.
I don't know, 80/20 might be a little too optimistic. I would say more like 79/21. Haha!
Seriously though, yeah, it's sounding very good in terms of him coming over. I'll certainly be a lot more comfortable about it when he actually signs though. I feel pretty confident he will though. It likely won't be until late May/early June until we hear either way though.
Looking to grab him in my keeper league this summer with an early 2nd rounder and only going to choose him if I know 100% he's coming over for next year.
Looking to grab him in my keeper league this summer with an early 2nd rounder and only going to choose him if I know 100% he's coming over for next year.
pretty safe bet, and i could see him getting some significant minutes
Granted i haven't read much into his situation, i can't see him not wanting to come play in the NHL next season.
Seeing guys like Malkin and Ovechkin just make it so well in the US, i can't imagine that young guy not wanting to do the same. And if the Blues make it deep into the playoffs i can only imagine that will help that much more.
Knowing he could come onto a great team, and be the Ovechkin or Malkin of St. Louis.
I'd jump at the chance!
Looking to grab him in my keeper league this summer with an early 2nd rounder and only going to choose him if I know 100% he's coming over for next year.
I don't want to sound overconfident, because nobody will be completely relaxed about the situation until he has signed the contract, but I would say it is about 95% that he will be in a Blues uniform next season.
Everything points to him coming over. He was traded by his "hometown" team, Sibir, for a small return. If Tarasenko had plans to remain in the KHL then they would have got a bigger return in the summer when he was a KHL RFA. That suggests it was a situation of take whatever you can get for him.
I think the interview with Medvedev recently was also interesting. To say that Kuznetsov was "seriously considering" an offer, but only that it was "too early to tell" regarding Tarasenko is strange. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but to me "too early to tell" screams "we're still trying to convince him to consider offers".
His goal has always been the NHL, and from the way his father has talked he seemed to play a big part in that as well. He remained in the KHL because his family decided it was better for his development; better to be playing against men and better to stay where he had everything he needed in terms of support.
I don't think money will be a deciding factor for him considering his life revolves around hockey. He has a quiet social life, he doesn't spend all his money on cars etc. If he stays in the KHL it will because he isn't ready to leave his homeland yet. I would be much more worried about that factor if he had still been in his hometown of Novosibirsk.
Again, only got 10 minutes ice time, part of that might have been the amount of penalties being handed out and the fact he only had 1 or 2 shifts on the PP. He did get an assist on the fourth goal, with a nice move, but I suspect he'll be frustrated with his finishing today. He had 3 opportunities to get a clear sight at goal; he didn't control the puck cleanly on the first and had to collect it behind the net before having a shot, the second he was slowing it down for support that never arrived and shot it straight into the goalies chest and the third he appeared to have a passing lane to a teammate for an empty net on a 2-on-1 breakaway that Vladimir created by beating a man at centre ice, but had a rather tame shot instead. I guess it was a matter of being up 4 or 5 at the time and the frustration at earlier chances.
Did have a couple of nice passes that created scoring chances for Fedorov and Kucheryavenko as well. The goal that he got his point on was probably the weakest of those 6 chances, but that's the way it goes.
He's a PPG player so far in playoffs, playing like 10 minuets per game averagely... SKA can make him a really good offer I guess. But yeah, we know nothing about terms of that Sibir-SKA trade. Perhaps, any offers are out of options. Or it was a conditional one (say, if Tarasenko will be signed by SKA, Sibir will get much more). But he said before, he wouldn't play in any KHL team apart from Sibir...
Maybe because playing in the NHL is more important to him than making as much money as he can right this minute?
Believe it or not, not everyone places money at the top of their list of important things.
At this point, the only reasons I can see him staying in Russia are boatloads of cash, or the fact we don't have an owner. But I don't think you could show a young player a team with a better future then the Blues.
I can't help but think that Tarasenko is excited about coming over and playing for the Blues. To be as productive as he has been in the KHL and come over and play on one of the top teams in the NHL, would definitely be intriguing to say the least.
It's being talked about quite a bit that Radulov may come back this season for Nashville. That would be bad for us if we played them in the 4-5 pairing. He's really, really good. Dynamic, powerful skater.
However, if Radulov comes over to the NHL again, I wonder if it has any effect on Tarasenko even being more certain to come over. Radulov is hands down the KHL's best player. When a player like that leaves for the NHL, it doesn't help the KHL's argument for itself as the place to be. Tarasenko knows if Radulov comes to the NHL and then goes back to the KHL, the money in the KHL is always going to be there for him.
It's being talked about quite a bit that Radulov may come back this season for Nashville. That would be bad for us if we played them in the 4-5 pairing. He's really, really good. Dynamic, powerful skater.
However, if Radulov comes over to the NHL again, I wonder if it has any effect on Tarasenko even being more certain to come over. Radulov is hands down the KHL's best player. When a player like that leaves for the NHL, it doesn't help the KHL's argument for itself as the place to be. Tarasenko knows if Radulov comes to the NHL and then goes back to the KHL, the money in the KHL is always going to be there for him.
Radulov was about to be a stud in the NHL. I was pissed because I had him on my fantasy keeper team.
At this point, the only reasons I can see him staying in Russia are boatloads of cash, or the fact we don't have an owner. But I don't think you could show a young player a team with a better future then the Blues.
My biggest fear is CBA complications in the offseason with the NHL and NHLPA. If that situation gets delayed too long and becomes an obstacle to getting him to North America, he might get locked up for longer in Russia or remain hesitant.
I've got to trhink the Tank is the 3rd most anticipated prospect since EJ was drafted. Pie 2nd and Tarasenko 3rd. The Tank has probably produced the most prior to joining the Blues of the three.
I've got to trhink the Tank is the 3rd most anticipated prospect since EJ was drafted. Pie 2nd and Tarasenko 3rd. The Tank has probably produced the most prior to joining the Blues of the three.
I think tarasenko has more hype then Pietrangelo did.
I think tarasenko has more hype then Pietrangelo did.
I would agree. Pietrangelo's upcoming kind of dragged out the hype because we knew what he was like with his multiple cups of coffee. We knew what type of player that he would be and we knew he was going to come when he came. Where as Tarasenko has the potential to be the forward that we haven't had since Demitra, and since we haven't seen him play in person, it definitely adds to the hype.
So, you're saying Tarasenko is the 11th or 12th best forward on SKA then?
I think I made it clear by quoting. I find your thought about soviet/russian coaching style pretty ridiculous.
Tarasenko is making a line of guys who wouldn't have the impact without him a scoring line for SKA. What else would a team need? It's just for fun, but that's waht I think of this line. I've put tem ALL on my fantasy team. He's definitely not the worst forward clearly.
After watching the HBO piece on the KHL and it's contracting the cheapest airline to transport the teams and the shabby medical treatment the players receive I would think Tarasenko is chomping at the bit to get to the NHL.
I've got to trhink the Tank is the 3rd most anticipated prospect since EJ was drafted. Pie 2nd and Tarasenko 3rd. The Tank has probably produced the most prior to joining the Blues of the three.
I am not sure who is loved more, Stevens and his one season as a Blue, or the Tank who hasn't even played yet.
