Bill Meltzer: KHL Opening Weekend: A Big-Picture Analysis

Better hope Putin is gone in the next 3 yrs.

Better hope Putin is gone in the next 3 yrs.
- hfc355

More layers than Putin.

Good synopsis on the Russian players Bill. I might add a few points:

Rotenberg is on the White House list of “banned oligarchs”. So it’s illegal for the Flyers or any US company to do business with him or his family.

When discussing Fedotov I think it’s important to realize that he accepted a 92k signing bonus from the Flyers while he knew he couldn’t legally leave the country due to his military obligation. Also by signing the bogus contract with CSKA he upped his salary to 540k vs the 70k he would receive playing in the AHL which would be a realistic possibility if he came over. Like most pro players money seems to be the operative factor here.

My way of thinking is this, if it is okay for them to keep Fedotov then we have the right to take Michkov anytime we want even this year. If his team isn't going to play him then bring him over and let him play in North America. If the KHL want to play hard ball then we should to.


Heck bring all our Russian prospects over and let them play on the phantoms and pay them. Once there ready on to the Flyers they go.

Good synopsis on the Russian players Bill. I might add a few points:

Rotenberg is on the White House list of “banned oligarchs”. So it’s illegal for the Flyers or any US company to do business with him or his family.

When discussing Fedotov I think it’s important to realize that he accepted a 92k signing bonus from the Flyers while he knew he couldn’t legally leave the country due to his military obligation. Also by signing the bogus contract with CSKA he upped his salary to 540k vs the 70k he would receive playing in the AHL which would be a realistic possibility if he came over. Like most pro players money seems to be the operative factor here.
- Djapana

Nah. Fedotov wouldn't spend the season in Lehigh Valley, other than a conditioning assignment after missing a whole season (where he'd be paid at his NHL rate). He'd be the backup to Hart this season. He'll be 27 in November. He's not a "kid" at this point. The Flyers signed him for the NHL, not as a developmental prospect.

Better hope Putin is gone in the next 3 yrs.
- hfc355

On the plus side it is not like we are not used to the Flyers squandering top 10 picks

More layers than Putin.
- Glak18

Yeah but he is on top and what he says goes...Just ask the Wagner Group leader and Michkov's dad..oh yeah you cant ask them

My way of thinking is this, if it is okay for them to keep Fedotov then we have the right to take Michkov anytime we want even this year. If his team isn't going to play him then bring him over and let him play in North America. If the KHL want to play hard ball then we should to.


Heck bring all our Russian prospects over and let them play on the phantoms and pay them. Once there ready on to the Flyers they go.
- Flyerloon

Unfortunately Flyers have no power ..you are dealing with Russia and Putin does what Putin wants done

Right or wrong an emotional and political decision was made from our side to cancel the MOU and ban Russia and Belarus from international play. It’s disingenuous to be up in arms when they predictably counter. Russians are masters at manipulating geopolitical events.

The Flyers knew when they drafted Michkov that they would have limited to no leverage on his early development. Some posters here thought it was better that way because of their disappointment with Flyer development.

I’m feeling positive about the end result. Michkov is arrogant and difficult. But he’s competitive so he’ll mature and adapt. Seider and Zegras were similar. Seider came off better and Zegras and Michkov worse. His coach has all the power but he doesn’t have enough to hold him back indefinitely. He answers to someone too.

Right or wrong an emotional and political decision was made from our side to cancel the MOU and ban Russia and Belarus from international play. It’s disingenuous to be up in arms when they predictably counter. Russians are masters at manipulating geopolitical events.

The Flyers knew when they drafted Michkov that they would have limited to no leverage on his early development. Some posters here thought it was better that way because of their disappointment with Flyer development.

I’m feeling positive about the end result. Michkov is arrogant and difficult. But he’s competitive so he’ll mature and adapt. Seider and Zegras were similar. Seider came off better and Zegras and Michkov worse. His coach has all the power but he doesn’t have enough to hold him back indefinitely. He answers to someone too.
- Minnyhock

I watched a couple pre season games, he was their best player. Pretty absurd he was scratched but we don’t know what’s going on day to day there. Hopefully a blip on the radar

michkov a healthy scratch?

I watched a couple pre season games, he was their best player. Pretty absurd he was scratched but we don’t know what’s going on day to day there. Hopefully a blip on the radar
- ClaudeFather

His coach, Ivan Tortorelov, wants him to earn his way into the lineup.

michkov a healthy scratch?
- 2Real

Yes.

Unfortunately Flyers have no power ..you are dealing with Russia and Putin does what Putin wants done
- hfc355

Putin has been President of Russia for about a total of 19 years. How many Russian hockey players have been prevented from coming over to the NHL while he has been the President of Russia?

His coach, Ivan Tortorelov, wants him to earn his way into the lineup.
- Dkos

Sound familiar?

I watched a couple pre season games, he was their best player. Pretty absurd he was scratched but we don’t know what’s going on day to day there. Hopefully a blip on the radar
- ClaudeFather

We’d all be better off to ignore the day to day drama but we won’t. It’s 3 years of kabuki. The Flyers want him here. Russia wants to reap the benefits of one of their own excelling on the world stage. The best place for that to happen is for him to come to North America and play in the NHL. Both parties know that’s what will happen. Everything else is just noise.

Putin has been President of Russia for about a total of 19 years. How many Russian hockey players have been prevented from coming over to the NHL while he has been the President of Russia?
- MJL

Totally different environment now than in the past. Putin sees it as him against the world

We’d all be better off to ignore the day to day drama but we won’t. It’s 3 years of kabuki. The Flyers want him here. Russia wants to reap the benefits of one of their own excelling on the world stage. The best place for that to happen is for him to come to North America and play in the NHL. Both parties know that’s what will happen. Everything else is just noise.
- Minnyhock

We hope that's what happens and 3 yrs could change a lot but if he had been a drafted player 3 yrs ago and his 3 yr contract was ending now not so sure they would release him

Totally different environment now than in the past. Putin sees it as him against the world
- hfc355

There is no reason to believe that the current geopolitical climate will change what happens with Russian players. Answer this question. Where can a Russian player best compete against the world? In Russia in the KHL or in the NHL? It doesn't make sense to say Putin sees it as him against the world and say that's a reason why he would keep him in Russia.

Totally different environment now than in the past. Putin sees it as him against the world
- hfc355

You seem to suggest that he is isolated and I don’t know how you could know that. Bloomberg said in March of 2022 that 83% of Russians approve of how he is managing the country. Stastista put it at 80% in July 2023. Russia has free trade with all the BRICS countries. Just don’t see it.

There is no reason to believe that the current geopolitical climate will change what happens with Russian players. Answer this question. Where can a Russian player best compete against the world? In Russia in the KHL or in the NHL? It doesn't make sense to say Putin sees it as him against the world and say that's a reason why he would keep him in Russia.
- MJL

So you still think fedotov will be over soon then?

So you still think fedotov will be over soon then?
- Peter Richards

I've never stated that Fedotov will be over soon. What are you talking about?

I've never stated that Fedotov will be over soon. What are you talking about?
- MJL

when you said all the evidence pointed to him coming over. You had him as a stopgap after hart.

when you said all the evidence pointed to him coming over. You had him as a stopgap after hart.
- Peter Richards

You're incorrect as usual. Your position was that he wasn't going to be coming over for a long time. My position was that there was no evidence at the time to support that. Get your facts straight.