Have you ever seen a game between two RSL teams? I've seen the top teams in Russia look good during EC, though when I 've seen them play against each other in the RSL, some games are just ridiculosly bad. All individual efforts, no systems, just the player with the puck skating ect.
To be honest I think there is a much bigger diffrence between the SEL and the SM-liiga right now. Since the SM-liiga closed it have been in a downward spiral. Some of the players dominating in that league, aren't just very good.
The SM-liiga plays a style that is good for developing young kids for the NHL, though its not on par with the SEL, far from it, IMHO.
The coaching in Russia is a weak part. Bilyaletdinov(Ak Bars coach) created one great offensive line that is deadly in PP(Zaripov-Zinovyev-Morozov). As the defences in Russia aren't great this line produces unbelivebile stats.
For comparing the leagues:
The last three teams in SEL are
Malmц-their best players Soderberg, Pirjetä , Riihijärvi,Moravec maybe some people here know Bartovic.
Frцlunda-Fransson, Niemi, Ronnie Sundin, Pettinen, Seikola, Kallio, Andersson,Cibak, Pluss.
Djurgеrden-Otosson, Umicevic, Ask, Bremberg.
So this are well-known at least in Europe players.
in RSL last three teams are:
Amur-best players Suursoo, Evdokimov, Ostroushko.
Krilya Sovetov-Dorofeev, Kvartalnov, Deev, Gubin.
Traktor-Gelashvili, Kasyantchuk, Utkin.
I think that the only well-known name of this is Kvartalnov. And he is 40 year old.
There are some more problems in RSL: weak calls, HUGE gap between leaders and bottom teams.
And sometimes occure financial problems.
Only in last year 8 teams suffered financial crisis. Players of Dynamo(Champion of RSL 04/05)had not been paid for 6 month. And Spartak gone out of RSL due to this problems.