Article: The Wild Should Become Russia In Kaprizov’s Absence

[Tom Schreier]

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[RedLake]

We can trade D prospects, picks, and awful contracts for Russian talent or any top 6 talent. Hopefully Yurov hits the NHL ice and makes a difference. 

[OldDutchChip]

successful teams have a collection of good players from all over the world. there are good players in US and Russia and many more places. Kap knows it. will us grabbing some "eligible" khl player make any difference or will it create unneeded tension among the team? do we want to bring in undrafted 'prospect" (cause we ain't bringing in damydov) or bring back kovalchyk and radulov? probably not 

there is a healthy competition now for all players, from all background.  if they want to do a russian night and  learn to make borsch - that would likely be much more received by all, and kaprizov himself - no need to create a strategy for russian players specifically - no ones knows how the russian player will gel with kap (not to mention other players).

imagine saying - "Tom, we are going to introduce you to a guy in Montana, you guys are americans right? so you two will get along splendidly...." doesn't work like that.

now i am all for going after svechnikov, but it's because he is in my mind a great player (in addition to being russian) but regardless - if instead of svech it's Tuch or Tkachuk or Miller - i think Kap would be equally as excited - as long as they are good players and perhaps can stick up for him here and there

 

Edited 3 hours ago by OldDutchChip

[Willy the poor boy]

What do we do with the Ogre when NoJo comes back?

Liam Öhgren’s last 7 games: 1G-2A-3P, -3, 10 SOG

Marcus Johansson’s last 16 games: 1G-2A-3P, -3, 19 SOG

[mnfaninnc]

26 minutes ago, Willy the poor boy said:

What do we do with the Ogre when NoJo comes back?

Liam Öhgren’s last 7 games: 1G-2A-3P, -3, 10 SOG

Marcus Johansson’s last 16 games: 1G-2A-3P, -3, 19 SOG

If OgZ keeps improving that buys us time for Johansson to clear his head. Concussions are tricky things, like Freddy had last year. We might have to put him on LTIR to make sure he's healed 😉.

[mnfaninnc]

I kind of agree with ODC here, but not entirely. To have a Russian scout or 2 to cover all those miles and find diamonds in the rough would be an almost impossible task. It would take much more, like a full network. 

But, finding some of these no name guys who are from smaller towns might be exactly the way to spend 5-7th picks. These guys have little chance of making it anyway, but why not? It's not because they're Russian, it's because nobody else is looking there. The K is an excellent place to develop talent. 

I'm not sure how large our scouting staff is, or what kind of network it has. One thing is certain, we haven't been able to see Russian prospects on the ice for quite a few years. The WJCs aren't really that good without the Russians in the tourney. 

You know who I think has the inside track on this? Philly. Since hiring a Russian coach he will likely be able to know where to look for some good Russian talent. I'm not sure he knows everyone in Russia (like Montana), but he probably knows where to start looking for kids and what prospect leagues are putting out some of these kids. I would expect them to see from fruit from this in about 5 years.