Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Voracek, Russians in 2015 Draft

Lada Togliotti sounds like a delicious Italian dish.

I'd be thrilled to death if the flyers get Provorov and Guryanov/Svenchenickov

Thank God for DVR. It will be my wife and I's 5th year anniversary this Friday and I know there is a 0% chance she'll let me watch the draft.

There would be all sort of narratives that fall along these lines: Wow, Ron Hextall really is changing the culture. He even drafted two Russians in the first round of the NHL Draft.

You are definitely correct. I suspect many writers have those articles queued up in their draft folder.

However....I would be interested in seeing how many Russians the Flyers have drafted over the years relative to other teams. I suspect some franchises have focused more heavily on Russian players than others and the Flyers probably fall in with a bunch of other franchises in not historically drafting Russian players (regardless of reason).

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Voracek, Russians in 2015 Draft
- bmeltzer

I doubt Svechnikov makes it to 29, the Oilers could be looking at him if he's available at 16

Bill, with respect to the "bigger picture", has Slava Fetisov's "Don't let the young Russians go to play in North America until they're 28" (or whatever he's calling it) gained any real traction?

You are definitely correct. I suspect many writers have those articles queued up in their draft folder.

However....I would be interested in seeing how many Russians the Flyers have drafted over the years relative to other teams. I suspect some franchises have focused more heavily on Russian players than others and the Flyers probably fall in with a bunch of other franchises in not historically drafting Russian players (regardless of reason).
- johndewar

It's because Russians don't generally fight as well/often as North Americans.
And they're lazy.
And they're soft.

#FLYERS #SHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTT

Bill, with respect to the "bigger picture", has Slava Fetisov's "Don't let the young Russians go to play in North America until they're 28" (or whatever he's calling it) gained any real traction?
- jmatchett383

No, it's being written off as bluster.

Bill, with respect to the "bigger picture", has Slava Fetisov's "Don't let the young Russians go to play in North America until they're 28" (or whatever he's calling it) gained any real traction?

I find this so ironic considering what he had to go through to leave and play here. Clearly he's in Putin's pocket. Wonder what the graft is? Or what the leverage they hold over him otherwise.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Voracek, Russians in 2015 Draft
- bmeltzer

Bill the flyers going to sign nick Luukko or will he be ahl fodder?

they still hold out hope for Mark Alt?

I find this so ironic considering what he had to go through to leave and play here. Clearly he's in Putin's pocket. Wonder what the graft is? Or what the leverage they hold over him otherwise.
- bodiva88

Strange how people tend to think it's silly that the Euros are looking to protect their junior clubs from NA poaching, when there's no shortage of people in NA pooh poohing Auston Matthews for choosing Europe over the CHL/NCAA in his draft year.

Feels a lot different when the shoe's on the other foot, eh?

Strange how people tend to think it's silly that the Euros are looking to protect their junior clubs from NA poaching, when there's no shortage of people in NA pooh poohing Auston Matthews for choosing Europe over the CHL/NCAA in his draft year.

Feels a lot different when the shoe's on the other foot, eh?
- Tomahawk

who?

edit: but for realz, I'd find this comparison stronger if the people doing the *ahem* "pooh poohing" were high level CHL people who were also trying to enact measures to prevent this decision.

Strange how people tend to think it's silly that the Euros are looking to protect their junior clubs from NA poaching, when there's no shortage of people in NA pooh poohing Auston Matthews for choosing Europe over the CHL/NCAA in his draft year.

Feels a lot different when the shoe's on the other foot, eh?
- Tomahawk

pooh poohing and preventing are two entirely different things.

Bill the flyers going to sign nick Luukko or will he be ahl fodder?

they still hold out hope for Mark Alt?

Of the 2, Alt has, by far, a better chance of one day being an NHL player.

pooh poohing and preventing are two entirely different things.
- bodiva88

The majority of Russia's best teens cross the pond every year tho... I'm pretty sure if Canada's best start crossing the pond in droves, it would escalate into a prevention tactics pretty quickly.

Bill the flyers going to sign nick Luukko or will he be ahl fodder?

they still hold out hope for Mark Alt?
- rinaldo

Luukko was signed to an AHL tryout contract late last season. It's possible he could be re-signed to play for Reading in the ECHL and provide some added AHL depth but he is not an NHL entry-level candidate.

They liked Alt quite a bit heading into the 2014-15 season. Unfortunately, he lost most of the season to shoulder and wrist injuries and was lucky to escape without a concussion after hitting his head on the boards and having to leave a latter-season game. So, basically, it was a lost season for him. Still a prospect for the third pairing but needs more AHL time.

Strange how people tend to think it's silly that the Euros are looking to protect their junior clubs from NA poaching, when there's no shortage of people in NA pooh poohing Auston Matthews for choosing Europe over the CHL/NCAA in his draft year.

Feels a lot different when the shoe's on the other foot, eh?
- Tomahawk

(frank)ing ob

The majority of Russia's best teens cross the pond every year tho... I'm pretty sure if Canada's best start crossing the pond in droves, it would escalate into a prevention tactics pretty quickly.
- Tomahawk

I think they'd offer incentives rather than restrictions though

From Ek:
There has been a ton of speculation that the Flyers would move one of their top D prospects and after talking to some trusted sources, that doesn't appear close to happening. In fact, one source said it would take "one of the top two picks in the draft." In other words, a big fat "no way."

The Flyers like their young D coming and also are a bit unsure of Del Zotto...who wants a longer deal than they are willing to do as of this point.

If MDZ wants more than 2 years, 7.5 million, I'd make a qualifying offer and trade his rights. I haven't seen enough from him on a consistent basis to warrant anything beyond that.

Strange how people tend to think it's silly that the Euros are looking to protect their junior clubs from NA poaching, when there's no shortage of people in NA pooh poohing Auston Matthews for choosing Europe over the CHL/NCAA in his draft year.

Feels a lot different when the shoe's on the other foot, eh?
- Tomahawk

There's a difference between personal feelings and trying to enact laws to prohibit things.

Also, if NHL teams started to not pay their players, I'd probably have some sympathy for them crossing the pond to play in the KHL.

There's a difference between personal feelings and trying to enact laws to prohibit things.
- jmatchett383

I've proposed laws banning Ranger fans for years, but no one ever gets anything done.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Voracek, Russians in 2015 Draft
- bmeltzer

The only culture change needed is for Mike Sielski to write about any sport other than hockey.

I've proposed laws banning Ranger fans for years, but no one ever gets anything done.
- BiggE

That's because you're too busy listening to Rush drum solos to provide the proper paperwork.

That's because you're too busy listening to Rush drum solos to provide the proper paperwork.
- jmatchett383

This is likely true