at 28, he is having a monster season in the KHL
more than a small sample size after 23 games.
en route to brake few KHL/Russian top tier league records
highest ppg avg, most goals and most points in a single season
50 goal, 100+ point pace
only 1 player has ever scored 50 goals (exact 50 goals) in Russia*, but that was in the 60's
no player has ever score triple digit point totals.
*interesting tid bit, that player also played for Spartak Moscow
Riley Barber is a KHL All-Star… recently just an average player in the AHL. The league has taken a major nosedive over the last 5 years and it just keeps getting worse, as almost all of their foreign stars have now left. The quality of dmen is just horrible right now.
The players dominating the league almost all have the same reason they failed in the NHL. They just can’t “create space” to generate any scoring chances in the NHL. Goldobin is one of those players. A lot of their better players are also older. Something to keep in mind.
The decline of the KHL is also one reason fans who have big time prospects playing there, should be worried. As we speak, the KHL is in the process of “nationalizing the sport.” A lot of it has to do with the war, but this needs to be discussed more than it is. Especially in our Hockey media. It’s going to effect the NHL.
If you look at this core of about 5-10 really good young Russians, almost all of them now have termed contracts in the KHL. That was not the norm until recently. Most were able to leave within a year or even immediately. This group of kids though, will be the stars of the league as those contracts run out, and the league, as well as the government, is going to try keeping them in Russia.
There’s a lot of National pride in Russia right now too, and nationalism is growing extremely fast. While we don’t know what the geopolitics are going to be in 2-3 years, nothing looks like this war will end anytime soon, and Russia will only continue to look inward more and more.
Putin and the cronies who own KHL teams, are likely going to make a power move to keep their great young players. They’re going to want to give the middle finger to the IIHF, and say “screw you, look how great our league is.”
The Fedotov situation also cannot be ignored. Not only did the KHL tell the IIHF to “stick it”, the Russian Government got involved saying “ the IIHF have no jurisdiction over Russian Citizen’s ability to make a living IN RUSSIA.” That’s a big deal, and sends a big message to the NHL.
With the Fedotov thing happening in September, most teams were already filled. Which likely stopped other players from doing something similar. Next year is going to be really interesting to watch young Russians under NHL contracts, who aren’t making NHL rosters. Guys like Podkolzin, etc. They now know they can go home and probably make more money than in the AHL, and they know, not only will the KHL support them, but the Russian Government will.
Back to that group of kids though. Philly, Arizona, Carolina, Detroit, etc, should probably flip a coin on those top prospects coming to North America anytime soon. We just don’t know. Anyone pretending they do has no clue about Russian Nationalism and how the “Us against the world” type of Nationalism is growing in Russia. They’re already making it extremely hard for NHL scouts, etc, as they’ve been Nationalizing the KHL. Then you see Americans and Canadians changing citizenship to be able to stay in the KHL. The Russians are beyond proud people, and they make sure those new passports are on the front pages of newspapers and on the news. Showing Westerners “Choosing to become Russian Citizens” or propping up these young players they’ll say “The NHL wants them, but they are staying Home because they Love the Homeland.”
Never discount Russian Pride and Nationalism. It’s one of the most important things for Russians. How strong Russia is perceived around the world is a big deal, and they have that same level of Pride and Nationalism, when it comes to hockey and the KHL.
Teams have to be very careful in next year’s draft. Still crazy that Arizona took 2 Russians in the 1st Round this year, with all of this happening.
There’s a good chance Russia is going to start putting big pressure on their young players NOT to leave the country. To stay and prop up the KHL.
Will they play the old Red Army scam on them? It looks like they did with Fedotov. Either you play hockey here at home, or you go to the front lines. Every Russian male of military age is considered available for the Army, and it is a conscript Army. If Michkov says he’s leaving for Philly, they can force him to stay if they want to.
Anyone discounting this from happening, is only doing so for personal reasons. We just don’t know what’s going to happen, but all signs are pointing to Russia putting pressure on these great young players to stay home.
