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

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

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"!!

Yeah but all I read about nowadays is how Harper is a dictator.

[ah123]

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?

Would you defect if you knew that they would pressure/harass your family (parents, siblings, etc.) or that that you would be blacklisted and banned from playing on Olympic or World Championship teams?

[Da_Chief]

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.

How is that a problem? Maximizing on your ability and making money off of that is a bad thing? They still represent their countries.

This would be like saying Canadian hockey players can only play for Canadian teams till their 28. How stupid does that sound?

Canada sees it fair share of athletes go abroad and make good money there.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

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?

Wait, I never said that selecting home based players only was a good idea.

I can't find an article but I seem to recall Ovie saying he would break his contract if the NHL players didn't go to Sochi.

[SofaProfessor]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

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

Maybe if this law actually got passed prior to the draft... But Svechnikov seems to be a player who genuinely wants to play in North America. He came over to play in the Q when, by all accounts, he probably could have been playing in the KHL by now making pretty good money. He also seems to be saying the right things. Sure, it could all be a ruse but if so then he's pretty committed to it.

I would trust the scouts to make the right call, though. If they don't draft him because of those concerns then I won't fault them.

[Phil Russell]

I recall reading somewhere that Fetisov is part of Putin's political inner circle. He and a number of other high profile atheletes/celebrities have gained significant political power as Putin's cronies and they peddle a pretty vile form of Russian nationalism wrapped-up in nostalgia for the salad Soviet days. This statement would seem to fit that meme.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Phil Russell

I recall reading somewhere that Fetisov is part of Putin's political inner circle. He and a number of other high profile atheletes/celebrities have gained significant political power as Putin's cronies and they peddle a pretty vile form of Russian nationalism wrapped-up in nostalgia for the salad Soviet days. This statement would seem to fit that meme.

And as resolute 14 said, very hypocritical.

Feitsov was the one that lead the charge against the Soviet law that prevented him and others from coming to the NHL in the 80s.

[foshizzle11]

I can understand implementing something to restrict younger guys from leaving before they are say 21 to play in the junior leagues in Canada. I can definitely see the benefit from the Russian prospective to keep those guys playing in the KHL at least until they are that age. After that, it is their choice to leave to play elsewhere. I wouldn't have an issue with that all.

But not giving the option until they are 28 years old seems a bit much.

[Buck Murdock]

When ever there is a great opportunity for young people to pursue their dreams and be successful its always best to create a law to prevent it.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

The same KHL that can't afford to pay players right now?

Anyway, great strategy Fetisov. Never mind that it would be impossible to enforce, but go ahead keep all your players in the KHL, playing against only other KHL level players. Then have fun as they are humiliated by every other country with NHL caliber players at a world level. Russia will never see another gold again.

[Imported_Aussie]

Laws to restrict and protect minors would make sense, but up to 28 years old? that would never hold up. pretty much every restriction on movement of athletes (as workers) has been challenged and defeated in the courts. Unless Russia wants to erect an Iron Curtain again and cut themselves off completely, this never happens

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

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

I wouldn't worry. I doubt any such law can be passed or effectively enforced anyway.

Svechnikov is a North American based player already. He could always pull an Igor Kravchuk and just become a Canadian citizen if he thought that his Russian citizenship would prevent him from playing.

[CroFlames]

I think a law is a bit much, but I understand where they are coming from. They are trying to protect their league. In Russia however, politics is woven into everything, even sports. That's why he is suggesting a law right off the bat instead of league-directed initiative.

I think it would benefit both the NHL & KHL if they set up a transfer fee process for players to compensate the club losing a player. If a player bolts to the NHL, the club signing the player owes the KHL club losing the player a predetermined dollar amount (like an offer sheet, except with dollars). Same goes for the other way around if a player goes to the K from the N.

I think this would make transfers interesting and fair, and the player movement between the two leagues I believe would benefit both league's talent pools.

[GirlySports]

stupid.

tell that to south american players (ie Messi) who leave for European academies when they are 13.

This is why Russia hasn't won an Olympic hockey medal since 2002 and won't win one anytime soon.

[polak]

... The CFL does something similar. X number of players need to be Canadian.

Our government just happens to not be bat #### insane and they stay out of stuff as trivial as sports leagues. The notion however, is nothing new.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Wait, I never said that selecting home based players only was a good idea.

I can't find an article but I seem to recall Ovie saying he would break his contract if the NHL players didn't go to Sochi.

I didn't think you said that.

I figure Ovie imagined he could easily breach his contract, play in Sochi and then play in the NHL again, either with the Caps after paying some damages, or for another etam, if they terminated his contract.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by polak

... The CFL does something similar. X number of players need to be Canadian.

That's not even remotely the same. There's no Canadian laws preventing Canadian players from going elsewhere.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I didn't think you said that.

My bad sorry

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by polak

... The CFL does something similar. X number of players need to be Canadian.

Our government just happens to not be bat #### insane and they stay out of stuff as trivial as sports leagues. The notion however, is nothing new.

CFL doesn't restrict Canadians from playing in any other league.

In CFL, you have to start 7 Canadians. Thats not the same thing at all, that's creating opportunities for Canadian players. In Russia's case, it's limiting opportunities for its younger players.

[Red Ice Player]

It sounds like a predictable butthurt reaction to yet another humiliation at the hands of Canada. Sorry Slava, the days of a permanent Soviet style National team / Red Army team are long gone. That would be the only way to approach Soviet era dominance at the International level again, that and preventing our best players from competing, which is no longer an issue. After a few decades of watching best on best competitions, I can now see the Soviet team's domination as artificial and overrated. Keeping players within their borders worked then due to antiquated rules preventing the participation of professional athletes. That ship has long since sailed. Thank God. And it never never gets old watching Canada hand Russia it's lunch.