[Signing] Flames sign KHL free agent G Artyom Zagidulin to 1 year ELC

[Itse]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

The KHL did participate in the European Champions Cup from 2005-2008. A KHL team won every year that they participated.

They also participated in the first Champions League in 2008-09, where both KHL teams made the semi finals. Zurich won in the end, but they also went on to beat the Chicago Blackhawks, so I don't think we should read too much into a single game result.

So when KHL teams did participate, they won 4 of 5 tournaments, and were in the finals every year.

That was then. My eyeball test says the league has gone downhill. Less notable foreign players, and top Russians are flocking to NA again. It was completely economically unsustainable back then. Probably still is, but less so.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I'm pretty good at table tennis but Reggie Lemelin kicked my ass badly and not one teammate could ever beat him, turns out he played it at least once a day even if by himself, same idea as badminton I guess

Yes, but how are you at whiff-whaff?

[Party Elephant]

Ramo and Berra were both acquired in trades, not ufa signings.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Party Elephant

Ramo and Berra were both acquired in trades, not ufa signings.

Good point.

Ramo’s rights came from Montreal with Cammalleri but wasn’t he playing in the KHL, and then got signed to a really generous contract, given that he was coming from the KHL, by Feaster?

Same deal with Berra, he came in that blockbuster return with Mark Cundari, but had been playing in the Swiss league.

So although other teams had the rights, Feaster had the vision to bring in the two best goalies not in the NHL

[tvp2003]

Nice article in the Athletic about Zagidulin's background and how he was scouted and signed -- following a very similar process as Rittich (down to the same player reps in the KHL). Also interesting is the fact that Zagidulin trained with Rittich over in the Czech Republic this past offseason:

Aware of those limitations, the Flames, in the hopes of easing the transition, had arranged for Zagidulin to visit Rittich in Jihlava, Czech Republic, in June.

“It’s like, ‘Why not?'” Rittich said. “He’s young. He can learn something from me.”

The netminders spent more than a week together. They worked out twice a day and got onto the ice three times — along with a couple of hired shooters and San Jose Barracuda puck-stopper Josef Korenar. Further, Rittich convinced a buddy, who’s from Belarus, to stop by and help with the language barrier.

Full article (subscription): https://theathletic.com/1231117/2019...peaks-volumes/

[bax]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Nice article in the Athletic about Zagidulin's background and how he was scouted and signed -- following a very similar process as Rittich (down to the same player reps in the KHL). Also interesting is the fact that Zagidulin trained with Rittich over in the Czech Republic this past offseason:



Full article (subscription): https://theathletic.com/1231117/2019...peaks-volumes/

This is what makes the Athletic great. It's fascinating seeing a behind the scenes of all the work and passing of information that goes into getting a player signed. Flames scouting has really improved over the last 5-7 years.