Is it safe to say Tarasenko is the most hyped Blues prospect EVAR seeing as we're now on the home stretch to 2000 posts about the kid? Ive been pumped since we drafted him but in no way did I expect the playoff rookie to go out and lead his team in scoring in limited minutes. Gotta believe Army has Liut on speed dial. Rock on Board
Well now is when things get interesting. Now that his season is over, the contract extension will start to be heavily talked about.
If he is staying, then I expect it will be announced shortly. If he is coming to the NHL, then I doubt anything will be said until after the World Championships.
Well now is when things get interesting. Now that his season is over, the contract extension will start to be heavily talked about.
If he is staying, then I expect it will be announced shortly. If he is coming to the NHL, then I doubt anything will be said until after the World Championships.
Tarasenko seems like the guy that won't say anything until the Worlds are over, regardless of where he is going to play.
In all of the video I've seen of him he seems to truly enjoy scoring. Which is ok in my book.
Yes. The Blues need a "look to score first" player. They have too many "set up" forwards, and not enough(if any) snipers. He (and Schwartz) will help round out The Blues' offence, and make The Blues a true, solid, Stanley Cup contender.
If say Tarasenko will play next season with Schwartz on the 3rd line, that line won't look like a checking line at all. Even more, they will almost look like the team's most potent scoring line. It'll be very strange for an NHL team to have 3rd line as the best scoring line.
If say Tarasenko will play next season with Schwartz on the 3rd line, that line won't look like a checking line at all. Even more, they will almost look like the team's most potent scoring line. It'll be very strange for an NHL team to have 3rd line as the best scoring line.
I think Hitchcock won't pair them together. I'm expecting Schwartz on the 1st or 2nd, and Steen on a line with Tarasenko. Hitch doesn't seem like a guy to have 2 rookies on the same line. Then again, as long as everyone is healthy, it doesn't really matter who is on what line.
I think Hitchcock won't pair them together. I'm expecting Schwartz on the 1st or 2nd, and Steen on a line with Tarasenko. Hitch doesn't seem like a guy to have 2 rookies on the same line. Then again, as long as everyone is healthy, it doesn't really matter who is on what line.
Hitchcock likes to "spread the wealth". He won't put all snipers and all checkers on one line, nor will he put all defesive aces and the three best hitters on one line, nor will he put 2 rookies or two weak defensive forwards on the same line.
Tarasenko and Schwartz will be split (at least for their rookie seasons).
No one in North America really cares about the World Championships, furthering the point that was made earlier that typically Europeans dream more about International glory, where as North Americans won't lose any sleep if they don't win internationally. A lot of the players end up declining to go to the Worlds as well.
NA teams have some good, some average players for WC, same for European teams, not best are available to play.
Yes the fans, media dont care so much about WC, but the point made there was about the play of the teams. NA teams come and play their best, they want that gold. Same for Europeans. If someone, a fan or player doesnt care/declines that has nothing to do with the play of the team. Its not like -oh Canada plays only at 50% of their potential, they dont care about WC. The point there is that NA players struggle/dont dominate on european rinks. Its about style of play/ rink size not better defence. Yes NHL has better defencemen than european leagues, but those NA guys dont do that good against weaker european defencemen.
NA teams have some good, some average players for WC, same for European teams, not best are available to play.
Yes the fans, media dont care so much about WC, but the point made there was about the play of the teams. NA teams come and play their best, they want that gold. Same for Europeans. If someone, a fan or player doesnt care/declines that has nothing to do with the play of the team. Its not like -oh Canada plays only at 50% of their potential, they dont care about WC. The point there is that NA players struggle/dont dominate on european rinks. Its about style of play/ rink size not better defence. Yes NHL has better defencemen than european leagues, but those NA guys dont do that good against weaker european defencemen.
After finishing a long, tough NHL season, the NHL players IMO just don't have their full heart in it. Of course they want to win once they get on the ice.
The players aren't giving 50%, but the roster always looks that way. Olympic ice is where you judge by country...Not the WC's that none of the elite players attend.
After finishing a long, tough NHL season, the NHL players IMO just don't have their full heart in it. Of course they want to win once they get on the ice.
Same story can be said about europeans. This has been discussed enough. Who cares more, whos got fuller/bigger hearts etc. Those on ice are 100% there, NA funs hearts not full once their teams dont do so well.
The players aren't giving 50%, but the roster always looks that way. Olympic ice is where you judge by country...Not the WC's that none of the elite players attend.
No judgement by country here, judgement of players. How they do under different styles, ice rinks.
I don't even know how the back and forth started, so back on topic, hopefully Tarasenko gets top line minutes with Russia and gets over here ASAP. The guy obviously just loves to play the game, and I can't wait to see him play in person.
I don't even know how the back and forth started, so back on topic, hopefully Tarasenko gets top line minutes with Russia and gets over here ASAP. The guy obviously just loves to play the game, and I can't wait to see him play in person.
Those top line minutes will depend on whos available from NHL
After first round of play offs more might become available, worst is he plays on 3rd line
those going in the play-offs only miss 2-3 games of WC if they decide to join once they done... like Datsuyk did last year
SKA's GM Kasatonov said they would want to keep Tarasenko... Nothing less, nothing more.
Well of course they want to keep him! What team wouldn't want to keep Tarasenko?
The question is, what does Tarasenko want to do? There have been many hints that he wants to play in the NHL next season but I'm sure he's going to face enormous pressure to stay. To you and any of the other Russian posters, how likely do you think it is that he'll sign with the Blues this summer?
Wow MIND = BLOWN I didn't even notice him back there (just over the dreadlock guy's right shoulder in the locker room) but you're so right. He has the most awesome "is this real life" expression on his face.
And I also very much want the lyrics to Ya Ma Goo.
If you still care, the Russian part of the song posted just says:
I know that I can achieve what I want,
I will not surrender, I will not yield, I will lead a struggle to the end,
I know that I can achieve what I want,
I will not surrender, I will not yield, I will lead a struggle to the end,
It all rhymes in Russian and that's the best translation I can give.
Other than that, I can't wait to see this kid coming. He, Schwartz, and Rattie should be the foundation for this team to succeed for years to come and I think that it won't be too much of a surprise if they can win a cup in there.
I really don't like to read what Andy last wrote, that based on the "tone" of what people "close to Tarasenko" have told him, he thinks there is a fairly godd chance that Tarasenko will sign up with a Russian team for "at least' one more year.
Good think it's Andy saying this (who has a record of "guessing" wrong about 1/2 the time on predictions (e.g. jumping the gun on no real evidence), rather than someone like JR (who speculates very little well ahead of time-and rather waits until a reputable, authoritative source says something at least semi-officially).
Still, will I experience severe anxiety until he actually signs with The Blues, and shows up in Camp.
I really don't like to read what Andy last wrote, that based on the "tone" of what people "close to Tarasenko" have told him, he thinks there is a fairly godd chance that Tarasenko will sign up with a Russian team for "at least' one more year.
Good think it's Andy saying this (who has a record of "guessing" wrong about 1/2 the time on predictions (e.g. jumping the gun on no real evidence), rather than someone like JR (who speculates very little well ahead of time-and rather waits until a reputable, authoritative source says something at least semi-officially).
Still, will I experience severe anxiety until he actually signs with The Blues, and shows up in Camp.
Andy Strickland is a ****ing moron. There is no one "close to Tarasenko" whispering to Andy, via "tone," anything. Him saying that is purely illiterate self-promotion.
I really don't like to read what Andy last wrote, that based on the "tone" of what people "close to Tarasenko" have told him, he thinks there is a fairly godd chance that Tarasenko will sign up with a Russian team for "at least' one more year.
Good think it's Andy saying this (who has a record of "guessing" wrong about 1/2 the time on predictions (e.g. jumping the gun on no real evidence), rather than someone like JR (who speculates very little well ahead of time-and rather waits until a reputable, authoritative source says something at least semi-officially).
Still, will I experience severe anxiety until he actually signs with The Blues, and shows up in Camp.
Andy also tweeted this literally right after he posted that article:
Quote:
Woke up to an e-mail this morning from former Blues D-man Alexander Khavanov #whatabeautyhewas #Leafs
Which to me says Khavanov is probably his "insider" from Russia. Furthermore, it's pretty obvious from the article Khavanov wrote early this year that his opinion is very biased concerning Tarasenko's future with the Blues. He not only criticized Hitchcock's relationship with Russian players, but also stated that "St. Louis is not a club with a rich tradition of Russian players". So rest assured that anything coming from him or Strickland concerning Tarasenko probably doesn't have much merit to say the very least.
Andy also tweeted this literally right after he posted that article:
Which to me says Khavanov is probably his "insider" from Russia. Furthermore, it's pretty obvious from the article Khavanov wrote early this year that his opinion is very biased concerning Tarasenko's future with the Blues. He not only criticized Hitchcock's relationship with Russian players, but also stated that "St. Louis is not a club with a rich tradition of Russian players". So rest assured that anything coming from him or Strickland concerning Tarasenko probably doesn't have much merit to say the very least.
Nice deduction there. You very well could be right there!
Strick has always seemed a bit more negative absolute Tarasenko ad his chances of playing for the Blues so he's obviously getting that negativity from somewhere. Khavanov's statement a while ago was simply ridiculous though. IMO, the only way that Tarasenko doesn't come to the Blues this summer is if an idiot like Khavamov actually gets in his head.
Just read the paragraph on Tarasenko, and I'll give Strickland credit for the fact he doesn't claim to know anything. Some of the things he references are weird though.
Tarasenko is a loyal guy? And? He has been with SKA for under 3 months, somehow I don't think his sense of loyalty to them is going to be overwhelming.
His father coaches in the KHL? Not on his team, and considering both his father and grandfather want to see him playing hockey in the NHL, I really don't understand the point that he is trying to make.
By far the most defining factor in his reporting what his "own gut sense" is whatever random agenda the person who wants to use him has. Anyone at all familiar with Strickland's reporting style knows that if you tell him something, and you ever played or held a management position, he swallows it uncritically and writes it up. Therefore everyone who talks to Strickland knows what's going to happen when they do. This is not a bright guy. Not knowing the rules, he's a guy who just assumes you capitalize professions because he grants credibility to anyone he perceives as over him. Then he turns around and writes to fans condescendingly in his inimitable illiterate fashion, as if he's got special info because a Lawyer or Agent or Doctor or Business Man decided to use him like the moist towelette he is.
