Best player outside of the NHL?
- Thread starter Snippit
- Start date
Scrantonicity 2
Not a Generational Poster
- Mar 7, 2016
- 2,639
- 3,391
Brockon
Cautiously optimistic realist when caffeinated.
When a guy like Linden Vey can't make it on a weak Canucks roster and goes to the KHL to become one of the league leading scorers I find it very hard to take the bolded statement seriously...
Unless the 2nd league you don't specify isn't the NHL.
The KHL's larger international ice sheet changes how the game is played, because there is more time and space to execute - making objective comparisons difficult.
1865
Alpha Couturier
I was speaking to Peter Forsberg the other day too and he said Simon Gagne is the most skilled shooter he's ever seen.
Oddbob
Registered User
- Jan 21, 2016
- 15,905
- 10,451
This comment is ridiculous!
1) NHL is indeed way more skilled than the KHL (don't need some KHL'ers opinion just because he played in both)
and
2) It was this posters opinion of the post on a discussion forum where we discuss Pro Hockey, so I guess none of us get to say anything, since none of us played in any of these leagues!
Oddbob
Registered User
- Jan 21, 2016
- 15,905
- 10,451
I was speaking to Pierre McGuire the other day, and he knew what school Simon Gagne's dad's sister went to, and what the janitor their had for breakfast, and he was also disturbingly creepy as we spoke.
Though the reason why Vey didn't make the Canucks roster was that he wasn't solid enough defensively for a bottom six role. His offensive talent was never the issue, just another guy who couldn't use the limited opportunities he got and later figured it out elsewhere.
1.Your opinion is of course way more educated than that of an actual pro who played in both leagues...
2.Well, for once someone really relayed a real opinion from a pro player
BLNY
Registered User
EdmFlyersfan
Registered User
JianYang
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2017
- 17,916
- 16,395
I've heard guys like Ryan Whitney and teddy purcell talking about their experiences in the KHL.
Both guys generally shit on their Russian experience, but they generally seemed to acknowledge that the individual talent level is pretty darn high over there.
But I'm guessing that there are many highly talented players that just fit the KHL style better. It doesn't mean it would necessarily translate into the NHL. Not because the are not highly skilled, but for a variety of reasons, their game thrives on having more open ice.
Both guys generally shit on their Russian experience, but they generally seemed to acknowledge that the individual talent level is pretty darn high over there.
But I'm guessing that there are many highly talented players that just fit the KHL style better. It doesn't mean it would necessarily translate into the NHL. Not because the are not highly skilled, but for a variety of reasons, their game thrives on having more open ice.
eviohh26
Registered User
Obviously I won't divulge who the player is, but here's his quote verbatim.
Me: "What was the difference in speed and skill between NHL AHL ECHL and euro leagues?"
Player: "A lot. Every level up is just a little bit better. After you are there and practicing your game and level raises. ECHL then AHL is crisper and faster, then NHL is a high level. Passing is so bang on the tape etc. I thought the most skilled league I played in by far was the KHL. They don’t have checkers and grinders and roll players like in North America. Every guy tries to be like Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, Datsyuk etc"
Me: "What was the difference in speed and skill between NHL AHL ECHL and euro leagues?"
Player: "A lot. Every level up is just a little bit better. After you are there and practicing your game and level raises. ECHL then AHL is crisper and faster, then NHL is a high level. Passing is so bang on the tape etc. I thought the most skilled league I played in by far was the KHL. They don’t have checkers and grinders and roll players like in North America. Every guy tries to be like Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, Datsyuk etc"
Maybe but I think he just wanted to stay in Russia. I'm pretty sure McPhee recently traveled to Russia before the year started to talk to Gusev and I'd imagine he'll be going back when the KHL season is over. Getting him would be an enormous boost.
Because they only play a skill game doesn’t mean their players are more skilled. That quote tells me that the player is saying they play a skilled style, not that the league is more skilled.
ItWasJustified
Registered User
- Jan 1, 2015
- 4,362
- 5,444
Cancuks
Former Exalted Ruler
After the Shipachyov situation McPhee has tge worst deck on his hands. He should trade his rights to a team that can be attractive.
ItWasJustified
Registered User
- Jan 1, 2015
- 4,362
- 5,444
That's my take on it as well. That is, that the KHL puts a greater emphasis on individual hockey skills ie. skating, passing, shooting, etc. and less on the defensive zone strategies, checking, breakouts, and systems prevalent in the NHL.
Or at least that's the only logical explanation I can understand. Anyone genuinely arguing that KHL players (either peak or average) are more skilled = better than those in the NHL is completely out to lunch.
