Triumph
Registered User
- Oct 2, 2007
- 13,473
- 13,796
1)Just because you are not familiar with Tier 3 hockey does not make it obscure. There are similar leagues in the US and the Alumni list is very solid.
We were talking about the NHL here, and in the context of the NHL, the EIHL is not really a path there. Hraberenka's teammates - the top scorer didn't play college hockey, the 2nd top scorer went to Manhattanville College, and the rest of the guys I clicked on who played college hockey were either decent players at 2nd tier college hockey schools or 4th liners at top tier schools. None of them are currently playing AHL hockey or in an equivalent league in Europe. I recognize, and am not diminishing, the amount of skill it takes to play at that level. But this is not a path to the NHL or even really to being drafted, usually (yes, Vesey got drafted out of there, as a single overage)
2)You started this off by saying Sharangovich could bolt tomorrow and head back to the KHL. There was certainly some hyperbole to that statement so I didn't nit pick. But given Sharangovich expressed genuine excitement about coming over, played well in preseason, and has started the AHL season playing well, I'm not sure why we would think that he may have concerns about his NHL future in the next couple years.
I'm not concerned about this happening. What I am saying, and what you're failing to read, is that players who have established connections to other nations where high-level hockey is also played will often return there once things don't work out in North America. If Sharangovich finishes the season with 10 goals and says he's done with this, he'll be done. And usually when guys quit on an NHL contract, they seldom get a chance at a 2nd one. The more important takeaway from what I said originally that you decided to pick a nit about was that Sharangovich is not some high-level prospect. He's had some good results in the KHL and he's looking good so far in the AHL, but still the odds are he won't be a regular NHL player.
I also factor in that he is not Russian. Sure euro's in general would rather play pro over there then toil in the minors here for an extended period, but Russians seem much more prone to jumping ship at the first signs of trouble then other nationalities.
I don't really agree with this - Russians are far more prominent in this regard because NHL-quality players have left, but there've been plenty of other European players who have had mutually terminated contracts, or have refused to sign in North America after being drafted, or who have left very quickly. It's a cultural adjustment and an on-ice adjustment and some guys can't or don't want to make it.
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