Muscle Bob
Registered User
I fail to understand how Medvedev (KHL's President) is connected to Russian hockey? It's all up to Tretyak.
Yeah, without Plyuschev this year Russia is destroying its opponents.About coaches: think last year's Plyuschev
Too harsh IMO. Russia was not bad at all against Sweden. And it is not really the players' fault that the defense after Orlov and Zaitsev is talentless and atrocious. Blame the coaches and Medvedev (who runs Russian hockey).
They played up to their capabilities. They didn't overachieve, but did not choke or underachieve either. This is their level.Russia did a lot worse against Sweden than it did against Canada. Believe me, I was at both games.
A better question, and one that will end up more important to them, is can the Czechs beat Germany or Slovakia?
I believe they can
Yeah, I commented in the GDT that I really thought that the Czechs were in danger of relegation. They've showed no discipline, terrible goaltending, and had shown no mental toughness (allowing quick goals, etc). They showed some of that in fighting back to 3:5 after being down 1:5.
I still think that they'll have tough games against Germany and the Slovaks. Norway will finish 10th, and I think all 3 of the teams battling to avoid 9th could finish there.
To summarize it shortly:
Medvedev is not a nationalist, he is an internationalist.
KHL is his little pet project. He wants to make the KHL to include the whole Europe and is willing to waste Russian money for his little dream to come true.
He doesn't care or understand that this will do nothing but hurt Russian hockey.
The KHL must stay inside FSU (Former Soviet Union) borders and no Russian money should be wasted on non-profitable "projects" outside of FSU.
i would like to sign in here!