I liked Russia's defence in the WJAC. Big, mobile D with good hockey sense. A solid '00 crop, but my favourites were Galenyuk, Okhotyuk, and Zhuravlyov.
Is he getting drafted?
This year SKA is not that scary monster from last seasons and it is easier for young guys there.He's starting to play more for SKA recently. He's played more than 10 minutes 7 out of the last 8 games. I was surprised he wasn't drafted the last two drafts, but you would have to think that playing a regular role for SKA would get him drafted this year. Thats nothing to overlook. Being able to play a regular role for SKA at age 19 is impressive.
This year SKA is not that scary monster from last seasons and it is easier for young guys there.
Because they still have a shitload of players just their top-end guys are worse. As is coaching but that's another story. They traded Nalimov, Tikhonov and Li without getting bodies in return and they are still on 3 goalies, 11 Ds over 24 years old or more and 15 forwards over 23. They have 29 player roster without the young guys. The difference is their top guys aren't Gavrikov, Shestyorkin and Gusev anymore.In theory, I agree, but why don't Podkolzin, Morozov and Marchenko receive more minutes then?
Because they still have a ****load of players just their top-end guys are worse. As is coaching but that's another story. They traded Nalimov, Tikhonov and Li without getting bodies in return and they are still on 3 goalies, 11 Ds over 24 years old or more and 15 forwards over 23. They have 29 player roster without the young guys. The difference is their top guys aren't Gavrikov, Shestyorkin and Gusev anymore.
Podkolzin just turned 18 so whatever, the real issue is guys like Kuzmenko or Dergachyov not playing at all.
Yes, it's not. Other than LD which SKA slightly ran out of.I still don't see how it's much easier for younger players to get minutes.