Go Donbass
Registered User
Must win for Magnitka tonight and they pull it out. Is that SKA's first loss in the playoffs, or did they lose one in the second round?
They lost 1 game to Dynamo.
Koshechkin saved MMG's ass. They will need to play much better in St. Petersburg.
Crazy goal by Zubarev!
So, 42.86% were right, and SKA wins their 2nd Gagarin Cup in 3 years.
And this without Datsyuk and Voynov. The series really was a paragon of tremendous hockey. Magnitka played scared for far too long, and Fortuna smiled upon the other team far too long, but honestly I doubt there ever was a KHL series of such a high level. Way to ruin your comeback chance on 2 junior-level mistakes late in the 3rd period of an elimination match, however. The undoubtly better team won though, and, honestly, if the league doesn't take some steps to increase the parity level, the next season won't generate nearly as much of interest as this one did.
Syomin was particularily disappointing these playoffs, 2 assists in 18 games is completely unacceptable.
The most annoying thing is, aside from the top dragons dominance, the season was actually one of the best (if not the very best) in terms of competitiveness and intrigue.This. The season was great but it's getting more and more one-sided as years pass by. A couple of years ago, we used to talk about how many contenders KHL can produce. Recently though, it has been mostly about SKA and Magnitka. While MMG is probably done for with all their old payers, SKA has unlimited cash and snatching ability. I'm not asking Kuznya to fight for a Gagarin Cup but at least there must be a level of parity for top 8 to 10 teams. There will always be strong favorites but give us three or four of them, at least.
So, 42.86% were right, and SKA wins their 2nd Gagarin Cup in 3 years.
And this without Datsyuk and Voynov. The series really was a paragon of tremendous hockey. Magnitka played scared for far too long, and Fortuna smiled upon the other team far too long, but honestly I doubt there ever was a KHL series of such a high level. Way to ruin your comeback chance on 2 junior-level mistakes late in the 3rd period of an elimination match, however. The undoubtly better team won though, and, honestly, if the league doesn't take some steps to increase the parity level, the next season won't generate nearly as much of interest as this one did.
Syomin was particularily disappointing these playoffs, 2 assists in 18 games is completely unacceptable.
I don't care about Spanish football and have no idea how far Osasuna is from Real. Football is a different sport anyway, with several top leagues and very strong fan culture in each of them, which is why I am in bewilderment why would this example be relevant.What way will you achieve a parity between SKA and Yurga? Between CSKA and Novokuznetsk? Hell, between Osasuna and Real Madrid? Yeah, no way.
I don't care about Spanish football and have no idea how far Osasuna is from Real. Football is a different sport anyway, with several top leagues and very strong fan culture in each of them, which is why I am in bewilderment why would this example be relevant.
Just tell me one thing: did you enjoy the playoffs as a display of very clear superiority of one team over another in most series? Or one certain team being obviously the best in the league without a realistic challanger?
I have posted numerous times that the measures needed to be implemented first are hard salary cap (or punishing luxury tax of 200-300%) and open payrolls. It won't bring Kuznya to CSKA's level, but it won't allow a certain team to buy a championship. Thankfully, Fetisov has already expressed his agreement with me, and now Tretiak and Mutko (for what they're worth) also made it clear that they finally understood the necessity of changes in the KHL.
You don't seem to understand how a salary cap works: it doesn't oblige every team in the league to spend the equal amount of money, it creates the upper limit that spendings can't exceed. Not allowing SKA to add Datsyuk to the juggernaut they have already assembled won't make them poorer, or decrease the league's level.I don't care about the KHL entertaining level, to me it's a development league. Current disparity let it have some good players, which helps youngster's development. If they make all teams equally poor (and it's impossible to make them equally rich), then the league's level will inevitably decrease, which will hurt players' development.
I don't care about the KHL entertaining level, to me it's a development league. Current disparity let it have some good players, which helps youngster's development. If they make all teams equally poor (and it's impossible to make them equally rich), then the league's level will inevitably decrease, which will hurt players' development.
So, 42.86% were right, and SKA wins their 2nd Gagarin Cup in 3 years.
And this without Datsyuk and Voynov. The series really was a paragon of tremendous hockey. Magnitka played scared for far too long, and Fortuna smiled upon the other team far too long, but honestly I doubt there ever was a KHL series of such a high level. Way to ruin your comeback chance on 2 junior-level mistakes late in the 3rd period of an elimination match, however. The undoubtly better team won though, and, honestly, if the league doesn't take some steps to increase the parity level, the next season won't generate nearly as much of interest as this one did.
Syomin was particularily disappointing these playoffs, 2 assists in 18 games is completely unacceptable.
You don't seem to understand how a salary cap works: it doesn't oblige every team in the league to spend the equal amount of money, it creates the upper limit that spendings can't exceed. Not allowing SKA to add Datsyuk to the juggernaut they have already assembled won't make them poorer, or decrease the league's level.
I'm not really sure the KHL is in the right position to truly accept a salary cap.
Only a few teams can pay big money to attract big players, if those teams are limited, the KHL won't have kovalchuks, datsyuks, sobotkas, etc., anymore.
Other ways should be explored, IMHO.
When whole country is in economical crusis I could say that we don't need Kovalchuks, Datsyuks and etc for such money (especially in one team).
I can agree on "especially in one team". But sports won't go hand-in-hand with what citizens earn... do you think regular people's wage in Spain or Italy or even in Greece is related with football?
Again with the football comparison... You really should change your record, it's asinine to compare hockey and football. So much more money involved in football and people are more willing to pay for ridiculously expensive season tickets. Not even close to the situation with hockey.
can you please tell me where I should go to whitness that crsis you are talking about?When whole country is in economical crusis I could say that we don't need Kovalchuks, Datsyuks and etc for such money (especially in one team).
Again with the football comparison... You really should change your record, it's asinine to compare hockey and football. So much more money involved in football and people are more willing to pay for ridiculously expensive season tickets. Not even close to the situation with hockey.
can you please tell me where I should go to whitness that crsis you are talking about?