I have a gut feeling that if he hasn't signed with us by now, he is hesitant to do so. I think we will have to wait another 2 years and he'll cross post Olympics. I hate saying that as I think he is ready now but obviously he is having a tough time pulling the trigger on an NHL deal, with that said he has been offered a SKA deal and hasn't signed that either. In a perfect world for Vova he would go back to Sibir but that looks out of the question right now.
Mod pointed out that Tank made his decision to stay in Russia on May 24, 2011.
I'm thinking the same thing unfortunately. I assume we'd be hearing SOMETHING if this deal was anywhere close. Army is sneaky, but not that sneaky.
I'm not sure what you're expecting to hear before he either signs or decides not to. I mean, there were no whispers at all regarding Hakanpaa and then all of a sudden he was signed. It's been reported that Army and Tarasenko met over in Finland so I think it's safe to say that the two sides are talking. When we'll hear a decision, nobody knows. Besides Tarasenko, Army had Hakanpaa to worry about and I'm sure he's also talking with Beukeboom and MacAulay and their reps as well as he only has until June 1 to sign those two. Tarasenko is his biggest priority right now but not his only priority.
Tired of this entering the draft and not signing crap they have going one with so many players these days. Whether they want to stay in college or their country if you are entering the draft and get drafted you should hve to play for the team you are drafted by or any other team related to the club. Sometimes just wasting first round draft picks is just dumb.
Tired of this entering the draft and not signing crap they have going one with so many players these days. Whether they want to stay in college or their country if you are entering the draft and get drafted you should hve to play for the team you are drafted by or any other team related to the club. Sometimes just wasting first round draft picks is just dumb.
The rules make sense for a variety of reasons. Also, when was the last high profile pick that didn't get signed in time and had to re-enter the draft? It hardly ever happens so I'm not sure why you seem all bent out of shape about it. Almost all of the players that go unsigned and re-enter the draft do so because the team that originally drafted them deemed them to not be worthy of a contract, ie. they didn't progress very well in the 2 yrs since being drafted.
I'll also note that the draft rights for players going the college route are held for 4 years (instead of 2) and if they go unsigned, they become a UFA. Also, since there is no transfer agreement with Russia, the Blues technically hold Tarasenko's rights indefinitely right now.
So with Granlund signing his deal, does anyone think that might make it easier to get Tarasenko signed? Similar draft position, similar money?
No, it is a different situation. Tarasenko plays for a team that can offer more money than we can just now. So we will have offered the maximum ELC, which is a $3.75m cap hit, $900,000 in guaranteed salary and we'd be liable for a further $850,000 in bonuses per season.
Looks like the offer SKA's GM has thrown at him is in fact a 2 yr contract. GM argues that his NHL value will rise if he stays in KHL(I believe he means status and not $), and of course mentioned that he would be better prepared for the Sochi Olympics.
Looks like the offer SKA's GM has thrown at him is in fact a 2 yr contract. GM argues that his NHL value will rise if he stays in KHL(I believe he means status and not $), and of course mentioned that he would be better prepared for the Sochi Olympics.
Looks like the offer SKA's GM has thrown at him is in fact a 2 yr contract. GM argues that his NHL value will rise if he stays in KHL(I believe he means status and not $), and of course mentioned that he would be better prepared for the Sochi Olympics.
I really can't get a good read on this situation, because you can't really argue that it's a bad decision if he were to wait until after the Olympics.
The only thing I can really think of is he'll be two years behind getting his second contract. But it could also be argued he'll be that much more ready-mature if he decides to stay, and if he dominates during his first contract that second contract could be that much better. Like I said this young man has choices and neither is a bad choice (for him not The Blues).
I really can't get a good read on this situation, because you can't really argue that it's a bad decision if he were to wait until after the Olympics.
The only thing I can really think of is he'll be two years behind getting his second contract. But it could also be argued he'll be that much more ready-mature if he decides to stay, and if he dominates during his first contract that second contract could be that much better. Like I said this young man has choices and neither is a bad choice (for him not The Blues).
I disagree. Either way, now or in two years...He is going to have to adjust to NA style hockey. Plain and simple. Why not start that adjustment now? Do you really think he isn't ready? Despite what all the bleeps over there say, I think Tarasenko should feel that he HAS proved himself plenty in the KHL(He finished Top 10 in scoring for crying out loud)...And I would also think that he should feel that he DOES have something to prove in the NHL. My hope is that he sees through all the BS that SKA's GM and the Russian media are feeding him lately. I hope he realizes that they are getting desperate and mostly saying these things to purely intimidate him into staying.
I think its now or never for NA. If he stays in RUS and has 2 years like the one he just had, he'll be 22 and will probably garner the most ridiculous contract in KHL history at that point. Say the Russkies win the Gold in 2014 and he becomes a national hero, he aint leaving that to be a pauper on an ELC in some faraway country, and we'd all call him crazy for doing it.
I disagree. Either way, now or in two years...He is going to have to adjust to NA style hockey. Plain and simple. Why not start that adjustment now? Do you really think he isn't ready? Despite what all the bleeps over there say, I think Tarasenko should feel that he HAS proved himself plenty in the KHL(He finished Top 10 in scoring for crying out loud)...And I would also think that he should feel that he DOES have something to prove in the NHL. My hope is that he sees through all the BS that SKA's GM and the Russian media are feeding him lately. I hope he realizes that they are getting desperate and mostly saying these things to purely intimidate him into staying.
I wasn't just talking about a hockey decision, there's the human factor, there's other reasons that might keep him home for two more years. Also there's been a few Europeans to come over in their mid twenties and still excelled. So I don't think he or his father will see that as a development issue.
I disagree. Either way, now or in two years...He is going to have to adjust to NA style hockey. Plain and simple. Why not start that adjustment now? Do you really think he isn't ready? Despite what all the bleeps over there say, I think Tarasenko should feel that he HAS proved himself plenty in the KHL(He finished Top 10 in scoring for crying out loud)...And I would also think that he should feel that he DOES have something to prove in the NHL. My hope is that he sees through all the BS that SKA's GM and the Russian media are feeding him lately. I hope he realizes that they are getting desperate and mostly saying these things to purely intimidate him into staying.
Remember, Tarasenko's #1 priority are the olympics....not the NHL.
There's a BIG risk of slipping in the olympic depth chart if he leaves for NA and has problems adjusting/sent to AHL/underperforms, as opposed to developing under Bilyaletdinov in a manner or role he could be used in OG.
And (like bluesman11 said), there are always human/family/cultural factors...and these factors are magnified when the KHL can offer a viable financial alternative to the NHL. Players aren't hockey robots.
I think its a bit insolent to say "He should see through the Russian BS and come to St. Louis. It will be great for him!!"
I'm not saying Tarasenko won't play in North America, but its hardly an easy decision.
I have a gut feeling that if he hasn't signed with us by now, he is hesitant to do so. I think we will have to wait another 2 years and he'll cross post Olympics. I hate saying that as I think he is ready now but obviously he is having a tough time pulling the trigger on an NHL deal, with that said he has been offered a SKA deal and hasn't signed that either. In a perfect world for Vova he would go back to Sibir but that looks out of the question right now.
I feel the same way. I hope I'm wrong, I mean he said he'd announce it after the WCs and it's only been three days. I just think that it's probably something he's been thinking over for a while, so I assumed he had made up his mind. But maybe he's not 100% sure. It's a difficult decision for him, I'm sure.
Remember, Tarasenko's #1 priority are the olympics....not the NHL.
There's a BIG risk of slipping in the olympic depth chart if he leaves for NA and has problems adjusting/sent to AHL/underperforms, as opposed to developing under Bilyaletdinov in a manner or role he could be used in OG.
And (like bluesman11 said), there are always human/family/cultural factors...and these factors are magnified when the KHL can offer a viable financial alternative to the NHL. Players aren't hockey robots.
I think its a bit insolent to say "He should see through the Russian BS and come to St. Louis. It will be great for him!!"
I'm not saying Tarasenko won't play in North America, but its hardly an easy decision.
Since when is Tarasenko's #1 priority the Olympics?
The only thing I've ever heard Tarasenko talk about is his desire to play in the NHL.
Since when is Tarasenko's #1 priority the Olympics?
The only thing I've ever heard Tarasenko talk about is his desire to play in the NHL.
It's been discussed a few times in past threads. He values an Olympic gold medal most. I don't doubt that he wants to play in the NHL and win the cup, but I think winning gold for Russia is his biggest dream.
If I'm Army, the way I'm pitching this to him is pretty simple. I'd tell him all about how we have great new ownership that's committed to building a winner and all that blah blah, and how we've had a great season and we're poised to have many more blah blah blah.
But then I'd get to the real winner, which is to point out to him that he was passed over for the national team during this WC for guys who are all currently excelling in the NHL. I'd tell him that if he comes over here and puts up numbers like a Malkin/Datsyuk/Semin/Ovie/Kovalchuck there's no chance in hell ANYONE in Russia would dare keep him off the national team, no matter what his "club" team was. I would tell him something along the lines of, "There are a ton of guys in the KHL who play well and aren't on the Russian National Team. But name me one player in the NHL who excels and isn't on the Russian National Team."
I think its a bit insolent to say "He should see through the Russian BS and come to St. Louis. It will be great for him!!"
I thinks it's completely ignorant to act like putting Tarasenko on blast publicly is an okay practice. Even if he did have conditioning problems...Why not deal with those issues privately instead of humiliating him overtly for it? I've found several articles(even outside the ones that were posted here) that can continue to criticize him and his so-called "conditioning problems'....it's just ridiculous. Those are the kinds of things that should be said behind closed doors and you know it. Don't try to turn this into a "Russophobia" thing since I'm American either...there are plenty of people in Russia that I know for a fact feel the exact same way.
Last edited by h22prelude93: 05-24-2012 at 07:10 AM.
If I'm Army, the way I'm pitching this to him is pretty simple. I'd tell him all about how we have great new ownership that's committed to building a winner and all that blah blah, and how we've had a great season and we're poised to have many more blah blah blah.
But then I'd get to the real winner, which is to point out to him that he was passed over for the national team during this WC for guys who are all currently excelling in the NHL. I'd tell him that if he comes over here and puts up numbers like a Malkin/Datsyuk/Semin/Ovie/Kovalchuck there's no chance in hell ANYONE in Russia would dare keep him off the national team, no matter what his "club" team was. I would tell him something along the lines of, "There are a ton of guys in the KHL who play well and aren't on the Russian National Team. But name me one player in the NHL who excels and isn't on the Russian National Team."
You can sign right here Mr. Tarasenko.
i like what you are saying here. im sure he will say it in a more professional manner but the point is very true.
no matter what happens, sitting over here in the states i feel like there was a bit of table talk keeping him out of the WC to push him to become a career KHL player. it may or may not be true but its a feeling im starting to get.
I thinks it's completely ignorant to act like putting Tarasenko on blast publicly is an okay practice. Even if he did have conditioning problems...Why not deal with those issues privately instead of humiliating him overtly for it? I've found several articles(even outside the ones that were posted here) that can continue to criticize him and his so-called "conditioning problems'....it's just ridiculous. Those are the kinds of things that should be said behind closed doors and you know it. Don't try to turn this into a "Russophobia" thing since I'm American either...there are plenty of people in Russia that I know for a fact feel the exact same way.
Just remember that there is big (cultural) difference between what you think is right, and what the Russian coach thinks is right. He could care less for professionalism, he wants Tarasenko to improve...
Honestly, I think he'll come over. If he chose to stay in KHL, we would know about it already. Things can happen really quickly over there.
Another MAJOR factor- NHL players going to Olympics is NOT confirmed yet. I'm sure it's making his decision much more difficult. Also, there is a possibility of a lockout next year if the agreement is not signed by NHLPA.
But if those things are ironed out, I don't see why he wouldn't come over- he does want to, that's for sure.
If I'm Army, the way I'm pitching this to him is pretty simple. I'd tell him all about how we have great new ownership that's committed to building a winner and all that blah blah, and how we've had a great season and we're poised to have many more blah blah blah.
But then I'd get to the real winner, which is to point out to him that he was passed over for the national team during this WC for guys who are all currently excelling in the NHL. I'd tell him that if he comes over here and puts up numbers like a Malkin/Datsyuk/Semin/Ovie/Kovalchuck there's no chance in hell ANYONE in Russia would dare keep him off the national team, no matter what his "club" team was. I would tell him something along the lines of, "There are a ton of guys in the KHL who play well and aren't on the Russian National Team. But name me one player in the NHL who excels and isn't on the Russian National Team."
You can sign right here Mr. Tarasenko.
You could say Burmistrov was excelling for his age in NHL. Didn't make the cut. It's a valid point, but I'm sure STL tried every play in the book to get him over, now it's up to him.
I thinks it's completely ignorant to act like putting Tarasenko on blast publicly is an okay practice. Even if he did have conditioning problems...Why not deal with those issues privately instead of humiliating him overtly for it? I've found several articles(even outside the ones that were posted here) that can continue to criticize him and his so-called "conditioning problems'....it's just ridiculous. Those are the kinds of things that should be said behind closed doors and you know it. Don't try to turn this into a "Russophobia" thing since I'm American either...there are plenty of people in Russia that I know for a fact feel the exact same way.
By 'insolent' I mean please stop looking at things through a NA lense.
Anyway, Bilyaletdinov talked about it only twice, and only when asked. Its the media and other hockey people that keep talking about it. The EXACT same thing would happen in the US if a great young player showed up to USA hockey camp the same way. C'mon, he's a public figure.
And you think it will get any better for Tarasenko in NA? The second any Russian makes a mistake, or plays poorly, the Don Cherrys of the NHL ( i.e. Canadian media) gets its knives out to unfairly tear that player a new one.
