Slava Feitsov calls for law to ban young Russians from playing in NHL

[sureLoss]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...&click=dlvr.it

Former Detroit Red Wings star Slava Fetisov has called for Russia to reintroduce Soviet-style restrictions to prevent promising young hockey players from moving to the NHL.

Fetisov, who is now a senator in Russia, tells Russia’s R-Sport news agency that federal law should be used to stop Russian players from moving to North America before they turn 28.

The aim is to keep “our most talented guys, the ones who the people come to see.”

Fetisov was one of the first players to benefit from the relaxation of Soviet-era rules which prevented any hockey players from leaving. He moved to the NHL in 1989 with the New Jersey Devils when he was 31, and went on to win two Stanley Cups with the Red Wings.

[Da_Chief]

That's stupid.

[Resolute 14]

Hypocrite.

How do they plan to enforce it, anyway?

[CanadaMatt]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

That's stupid.

what a well thought out and reasoned repose.

This is a problem, not just for hockey, but all sports where the best young players from country X leave to chase big $$ and fame in the best leagues in the world. Football (Soccer) being the biggest example. If it was happening in reverse, and Crosby/McDavid were jumping ship to play in the KHL, I imagine you'd hear the same calls from influential Canadian Hockey folks.

The onus is certainly on Russia to make their product attractive, but the free market advantages those that currently have the power/brand...which is why it would be difficult for the KHL to ever compete with the NHL for talent on a regular basis.

[Red Menace]

Do we all still want to draft Svechnikov?
I'd be wary to be honest....

[Travis Munroe]

So we see a influx of russian families who believe their kid is NHL material moving to Can/US at a much younger age?

[bubbsy]

curious to see what he's proposing...

could this mean potential for more Russian kids entering the CHL to keep the NHL window open?

[CanadaMatt]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

So we see a influx of russian families who believe their kid is NHL material moving to Can/US at a much younger age?

So based on one comment from a former Russian NHL player, you've hopped skipped and jumped to that conclusion in less than 5 minutes.

I'm not saying I agree with the proposal, but let's try to see the 'issue' from their side...holy moly.

[sharkov]

the khl needs its young star players afterall.....

[Locke]

Yeah, thats not crazy at all.

[troutman]

Putin can score all the goals they need.

[northcrunk]

So Fetisov, who benefitted a lot from being able to come over here and play, goes back and gets into politics and now wants to ban young players from coming here? I think the whole 'fall of the soviet union' this is a massive fraud. The soviet state is still the same, just different actors.

[CroFlames]

All they are doing is trying to protect their own league. Like CanadaMatt said, if the tables were turned, you would bet we would try something similar. It's a problem every league in the world faces and different leagues have different measures of mitigating it. It's nothing new. But it's sexy nowadays to rant on Russia for everything they do.

Wasn't something similar instituted in the CHL for goalies? A certain number of Canadian goalies or something like that need to be on a roster at all times?

[CliffFletcher]

Pretty sure lots of Canadians would be up in arms if the country's top young athletes were heading overseas to play in another league. Most people are all for the free market until it hurts their own interests.

However, this is a bit rich coming from Fetisov. The guy made how many millions playing in the NHL? I suppose he can say he didn't sign with the NHL until he was 31, but it's not as though he could have come over sooner. Would a 24-year-old Fetisov forego the money and status of competing in the NHL to stay in Russia?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

what a well thought out and reasoned repose.

This is a problem, not just for hockey, but all sports where the best young players from country X leave to chase big $$ and fame in the best leagues in the world. Football (Soccer) being the biggest example. If it was happening in reverse, and Crosby/McDavid were jumping ship to play in the KHL, I imagine you'd hear the same calls from influential Canadian Hockey folks.

The onus is certainly on Russia to make their product attractive, but the free market advantages those that currently have the power/brand...which is why it would be difficult for the KHL to ever compete with the NHL for talent on a regular basis.

If the Russians want to keep their talent at home, then have a KHL only rule for picking players to play for the national team.

England has it for Rugby, as does New Zealand.

Bringing in a federal law is stupid.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

All they are doing is trying to protect their own league. Like CanadaMatt said, if the tables were turned, you would bet we would try something similar. It's a problem every league in the world faces and different leagues have different measures of mitigating it. It's nothing new. But it's sexy nowadays to rant on Russia for everything they do.

Wasn't something similar instituted in the CHL for goalies? A certain number of Canadian goalies or something like that need to be on a roster at all times?

Yes but that is a league CHL decision. Canadian Parliment didn't say "holy hell look at the state of Canadian goalies, something must be done"!!

[GioforPM]

It create the equivalent of defections - Russian players leaving to sign NHL contracts without permission from the Russian government. What would their recourse be? Penalties that they could only enforce in Russia?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

If the Russians want to keep their talent at home, then have a KHL only rule for picking players to play for the national team.

England has it for Rugby, as does New Zealand.

Bringing in a federal law is stupid.

They could certainly do this. But I don't know how effective it would be. Would Ovie (who loves to play internationally) forgo his NHL career so he can play in the WCs every year, and the Olympics every 4 years?

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

It create the equivalent of defections - Russian players leaving to sign NHL contracts without permission from the Russian government. What would their recourse be? Penalties that they could only enforce in Russia?

Smuggled out of the country and claim refugee status. Or the WJC team mysteriously dissapears from the tournament outside of Russia

[Armchair Quarterback]

Hypocrite, this is the same guy that tried for years to leave Russia to play in North America and eventually did...

Check out "Red Army" by the way, great documentary on Russian hockey from 1980s to today. It features Fetisov pretty extensively. In the documentary Fetisov criticized "new Russian players" like Ovechkin for "not having enough pride" in their country, which I thought was an odd thing to say given that he has represented Russia in the Olympics, etc. What more do they want?

Unfortunately Fetisov grew up in Soviet Russia and, like too many others running that country's government, have had those ideas/attitudes rub off on him.