Russians older than advertised?

[Seachd]

Why were many Russians passed by in the draft? McKeen's has an interesting theory...

They say a lot of the Russians (60-70%) are said to have false birthdates, and are most likely older than is said. One player who they say is "almost certainly older than listed" is Viktor Alexandrov, who may have been born as early as 1983, they speculate.

I found this extremely interesting.

Click to read more...

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Viktor is Kazakh.

 

[Kipper933]

As it turns out, Ovechkin is actually 28, not 18.

 

[Seachd]

Viktor is Kazakh.

Yes, which McKeen's says is even more reason to not believe his birthdate.

(BTW, he was born in Kazakhstan, but he considers himself Russian, and will play for Russia in the future.)

 

[Don'tcry4mejanhrdina]

As it turns out, Ovechkin is actually 28, not 18.

And Malkin is 27, you can tell just by looking at him.

 

[montreal]

Why were many Russians passed by in the draft? McKeen's has an interesting theory...

They say a lot of the Russians (60-70%) are said to have false birthdates, and are most likely older than is said. One player who they say is "almost certainly older than listed" is Viktor Alexandrov, who may have been born as early as 1983, they speculate.

I found this extremely interesting.

This rumor came out last year around this time with Andrei Kastsitsyn. Don't know where it comes from, just that I heard it last year. If they can play good hockey, I'm not concerned.

 

[capman29]

As it turns out, Ovechkin is actually 28, not 18.

But he is still better than anything that you have!!!!!!!!!!! :lol

 

[BrooklynCanuck]

the claws come out...

 

[V for Voodoo]

I hope this is dealt with before it becomes a serious problem.
Baseball has similar issues with Cubans and Dominicans and it's a joke.

 

[Til the End of Time]

But he is still better than anything that you have!!!!!!!!!!! :lol

Good one!

We'll see you in the playoffs. Oh no we won't, because your team is just as bad as ours!

 

[Lobstertainment]

Good one!

We'll see you in the playoffs. Oh no we won't, because your team is just as bad as ours!

The tauntings of the basement >_>

 

[Hiishawk]

This rumor came out last year around this time with Andrei Kastsitsyn. Don't know where it comes from, just that I heard it last year. If they can play good hockey, I'm not concerned.

Why? A year or two difference in age is a MAJOR element in trying to project a player's potential. If Alexandrov is really 18, he's a good prospect. If he's 20, he should have achieved much more by now and should be considered a mediocre prospect.

On the converse, imagine if Ovechkin was playing at his current level but was only 16! He'd be even that much more of a great prospect.

 

[Til the End of Time]

The tauntings of the basement >_>

Typically I would stay clear of such things, but the one guy is a unabashed homer and needed a response.

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

They say a lot of the Russians (60-70%) are said to have false birthdates, and are most likely older than is said. One player who they say is "almost certainly older than listed" is Viktor Alexandrov, who may have been born as early as 1983, they speculate.

I found this extremely interesting.

I've said it on other threads and I will say it again: take every information that comes out of Russian (or former soviet union countries) with a huge grain of salt.

Height, weight, age, stats. There's plenty of bull****. A sad state of affair but these countries are still struggling and there is rampant corruption, lies and poor control.

 

[Hossa]

I hope this is dealt with before it becomes a serious problem.
Baseball has similar issues with Cubans and Dominicans and it's a joke.

Exactly. It's a major problem in baseball especially with those Cubans. Orlando Hernandez is the classic example. His vital numbers were a complete mystery. For all we know he could have been going through menopause when he landed with the Yankees.

 

[montreal]

Why? A year or two difference in age is a MAJOR element in trying to project a player's potential. If Alexandrov is really 18, he's a good prospect. If he's 20, he should have achieved much more by now and should be considered a mediocre prospect.

On the converse, imagine if Ovechkin was playing at his current level but was only 16! He'd be even that much more of a great prospect.

I only meant in terms of Kastsitsyn, as I was very impressed with his play reguardless of him being 18 or 20 at the time he was drafted.

As for others, who knows what the truth is. If Alexandrov is an '83, I agree he should have achieved more, plus he would have lost 2 years of adding something to his frame cause he's very skinny.

 

[PhoPhan]

Carbon dating?

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

On the converse, imagine if Ovechkin was playing at his current level but was only 16! He'd be even that much more of a great prospect.

Interestingly, I am of the opinion that much of the hype around Ovechkin is due to what he did accomplish as a 16-17 years old. He has not progressed all that much and is currently not worthy of the ultra-hype surrounding him.

 

[andora]

Typically I would stay clear of such things, but the one guy is a unabashed homer and needed a response.

unbashed? visit the trade board my friend

 

[HabLover]

As it turns out, Ovechkin is actually 28, not 18.

Yes it's true.........Igor Larionov is actually 74 yrs old, but doesn't look a day over 40!!

 

[n00dles]

Yes it's true.........Igor Larionov is actually 74 yrs old, but doesn't look a day over 40!!

Must be that vodka-thing I keep hearing about, freshens your skin, strengthens your body and increases your foot speed.

 

[Crosbyfan]

Interestingly, I am of the opinion that much of the hype around Ovechkin is due to what he did accomplish as a 16-17 years old. He has not progressed all that much and is currently not worthy of the ultra-hype surrounding him.

My thought as well, although I suspect his birthdate is pretty solid seeing as he has somewhat famous parents in the Russian sporting world.

 

[Gwyddbwyll]

How are Ovechkin's parents famous? Im curious..

 

[Mr.Brownov*]

And Malkin is 27, you can tell just by looking at him.

No!Malkin is an overgrown 15 year old.

 

[FINNtastic]

How are Ovechkin's parents famous? Im curious..

His mother, Tatiana, was the captain of the 1976 and 1980 gold-medal-winning women’s basketball team for the former Soviet Union in the Summer Olympic Games. His father, Mikhail, played professional soccer with the Moscow Dynamo team.