Quote:
Originally Posted by Pointman
True. There were several interviews (in Russian) explaining that. It took me 10 minutes to dig two of them:
http://fanzone.khl.ru/news/14402/
Q: You came over (to Russia) as center, but were moved to left wing. Alexey Kaluzny (Omsk's top center) explained that as centers have different roles at czechia and russia.
A: Never (in my career) I was coming back (to defend in my own zone). I was technically playing center, was taking faceoffs, but on defensive zone I was at left wing position. That's pretty much the way I play here (at KHL), except for I'm not taking draws. Initially Summanen (Omsk's coach) made me center, but me and Kaluzny decided it would be better for me to play left wing and Summanen didn't mind it.
http://www.peoples.ru/sport/hockey/roman_cervenka/
Q: Roman, you are versatile forward, aren't you?
A: Well, I used to be center.
Q: Why it didn't work out at KHL?
A: At KHL centers have to play defense. I never did. So wing is better for me. |
Wow that's a major fail for Weisbrod and the scouts. Even if it was a full training camp and pre season he would not be ready to be an NHL center men.
Hartely said that after watching tapes that he was not a center. I doubt it took Hartely more than his first week on the job to figure that out.
Considering Hartely was hired before July 1st this is an epic fail on Feaster also for not addressing it. I do think the mandate by ownership does not help with acquiring centers considering the only players with trade value are not allowed to be traded.
All i can say is Cervenka is lucky that Hartely is the coach and not Sutter. Cervenka would be lucky to have gotten into 2 games under Sutter.