From Russia with love

I happened to browse some news, posts and comments on Matt Bradley's alleged radio criticism towards former Washington Capitals teammate Alexander Semin. This study led to more comments on Semin's inconsistent performances, lack of commitment and so forth. This rung a bell in similarity on articles about so many other Russian players. Alexei Kovalev comes to my mind first. Is it really a national characteristic of Russians to pull this kind of spotlight for themselves or is this just some last remains of the good old cold war in the minds of US-centric media?

In regards of Bradley's comments after leaving the team, I believe that's part of being rather young and inexperienced and getting lured into this kind of talk by the interviewer. Stupid, against the players' code of honor and outright bad for karma and career for sure. But somewhat innocent in the end. He'll be hearing about this for a while and will learn to keep his mouth shut on topics like this. Players in general stand for each others like in any team sport, only highlighting the most outrageous behavior of certain individuals. Rest of the yapping remains in the rink and locker rooms.

What comes to Russian star players in the NHL. It seems like forever since the first guys jumped over to play in the States. Since that the Soviet Union has collapsed and borders have opened. KHL has come in to offer an local language alternative. The world has changed a lot. Still, some of the writers, many of the league elderly statesmen, owners, GMs etc. are old school and don't realize that nationality isn't very important these days. It's just a job and a business. Where wouldn't we be outsourcing tasks these days?

So, I'm leaning on the side of prejudice. Guys like Semin and Kovalev have proven to be world class players. You don't score almost a point per game in NHL without extreme talent. Of course these individuals are mostly offensive weapons and save themselves for those tasks instead of grinding out the pucks in the corners or finding lanes to deliver massive checks. They have the softest hands in the league and those skills will go out in a puff of smoke after few broken wrists or separated shoulders. Not to mention the flying speed that can't really take that many torn knee tendons before the career is over. There's different shaped guys for the hard work in all teams and it's hard to put these two types of players in comparison.

Stats tell that regular season favors the guys with offensive skill and speed, but playoffs turn the scales towards hard work and never-die attitude. That shouldn't really be much of a surprise to anyone in the business. It's a long season and everything is on the line in the end. It would be hard to not get the jitters on the final push towards the ultimate reward. Guys are also banged up and tired after 82 games of regular season. There might not be enough left in the tank to pull off some of the fastest spurts or finest moves in the postseason.

If you compare Semin and Kovalev to fellow countrymen Ovechkin and Malkin, what makes a difference in the public attitude? Ovechkin loves the spotlight, he's at home as a hockey celebrity. And he has a nasty edge, some Canadian blood perhaps? Malkin is a shy and silent guy too, but has won the public over with simple talent and undeniable productivity on the rink. Another bad season for him and he'll be in the same doghouse with Semin. Be it injuries or anything else, it's just going to be unfair.

The teams are paying millions to the coaching teams that seem to fail in getting everything out of these star players at times. I wonder how their professionalism is evaluated in those spots. They should be gutsy enough to tell who's going to jump in the box at what times and not whine about it later if they've played 25 minutes some guys who don't seem to have the energy. If it's grind time, don't throw in the artists.

I see another massively productive season for Semin, even playing on the second line behind Ovie and Backström. And Washington will make a big mistake if they let this guy leave instead of talking things through along the season. Get a freakin' interpreter if the kid doesn't speak English.

Kovalev already left when he had enough. He has nothing more to prove in his age and he'll be happy playing out his career in Russia.

I'd like to end this post with an opinion that the NHL would be way less entertaining as a league without the Russian (and other Eastern block) players. The media should realize that and embrace the differences in the playing style instead of judging without looking any deeper.

Another trade deadline

So, the end of February has passed and teams are set up for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs. Or are they? Judging by the lack of significant trades, the teams were pretty much complete already in the beginning of the regular season. Well, at least some trades made the news. I think LA's aquisition of Dustin Penner may be the best move here. Penner was great in Anaheim, got a deal way over his level in Edmonton, and ended up in the teeth of media and management. Recently he's gotten over it and actually has become an impact player in the lowly Oilers. In LA, he's bound to participate in a great cup contender. Maybe not this year, but in the ones to come.

Washington may actually have pulled off pretty good deals too to provide some secondary offence behind the obvious superstars. Arnott, Sturm and Wideman are definitely not the best of the breed, but still the top of what was available now. It'd be great to see Washington go far in the playoffs, but it seems that this season there's way better overall teams in Boston, Philly and maybe even Tampa.

Everyone has been asking why Dallas didn't deal Brad Richards. Only time will tell how committed he is in the end to this team, if and when the big offers start coming in next summer. Too bad for Dallas if they lose this guy. Richards has been the catalyst in a fantastic season for the new Stars. It would be fair for them to make the playoffs now and maybe pull an upset or two. Might even keep ol' Brad in the team for the future. It's not that he's running out of money anyway.

The biggest moves were pulled before the deadline by St. Louis and Colorado swapping some great young talent and by Boston reaching out and grabbing Tomas Kaberle to run the power play in the blueline. Biggest forwards stayed where they were, unless Alexei Kovalev drinks from the fountain of youth and carries the injury ridden Penguins far enough for Sid the Kid to take over and push for the cup. Might be a good chapter for the Crosby hockey fairytale that seems to have the ultimate momentum. Hopefully we get him back soon.

From Finnish perspective it was silent. It's good to see if Sami Lepistö gets even more role in Columbus. He seemed to start doing well in Phoenix already and there's definitely room for a offencive d-man in the Blue Jackets.