Is Fetisov Right To Restrict Young Russians?
This week former Russian hockey legend, Slava Fetisov has announced that he wishes to restrict young Russian players from playing in the NHL. According to the ex Red Wings and NJ Devils star, he wishes to keep Russian players in the KHL until they are 28 years old. However, with the KHL in a state of collapse due to financial issues and even talk of teams moving into China. Fetisov has been quoted as saying that his reasons for this are he wants to keep, the most talented players "the ones people come to see."
In some ways you can understand his logic because unlike the home hockey league, the NHL provides an allure that the KHL is unable to match. By doing this it would allow home grown players to expand their skills and perhaps become more grounded. But it feels unfair to deny new talents their dreams of playing abroad. Fetisov himself suffered under the old Red Army team and their notoriously controlling coach, Viktor Tikhonov. These days, we are no longer living in an iron curtain type situation so although the KHL may desire to hang onto its promising youths, it just doesn't seem possible. Young 18-19 year old players are offered salaries that the modern Russian economy cannot keep up with.
Also by going across to North America, it gives them a chance to play at a higher level early which in the example of Alex Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk and Evgeni Malkin as been a positive thing. Fetisov was 31 when he finally made it to the NHL, but unlike his success many of his former teams were unable to adapt to the difference in the style of play due to their age and their dream quickly became a nightmare. Personally I applaud this man for attempting to make a big change in a league that is sadly sinking, but I also think that by holding back younger players, it will create a big disillusion and could lead to some bigger problems further down the line.
It is a bold and big suggestion by one of greatest Russian players of all time, but ultimately it is one idea that isn't likely to bring about the change needed. You cannot stand in front of a players hopes and dreams and expect them to come willing. We live in a different age of hockey and in this one, the player decides his own future!
In some ways you can understand his logic because unlike the home hockey league, the NHL provides an allure that the KHL is unable to match. By doing this it would allow home grown players to expand their skills and perhaps become more grounded. But it feels unfair to deny new talents their dreams of playing abroad. Fetisov himself suffered under the old Red Army team and their notoriously controlling coach, Viktor Tikhonov. These days, we are no longer living in an iron curtain type situation so although the KHL may desire to hang onto its promising youths, it just doesn't seem possible. Young 18-19 year old players are offered salaries that the modern Russian economy cannot keep up with.
Also by going across to North America, it gives them a chance to play at a higher level early which in the example of Alex Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk and Evgeni Malkin as been a positive thing. Fetisov was 31 when he finally made it to the NHL, but unlike his success many of his former teams were unable to adapt to the difference in the style of play due to their age and their dream quickly became a nightmare. Personally I applaud this man for attempting to make a big change in a league that is sadly sinking, but I also think that by holding back younger players, it will create a big disillusion and could lead to some bigger problems further down the line.
It is a bold and big suggestion by one of greatest Russian players of all time, but ultimately it is one idea that isn't likely to bring about the change needed. You cannot stand in front of a players hopes and dreams and expect them to come willing. We live in a different age of hockey and in this one, the player decides his own future!
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