9 replies to this topic

[wildcat48]

In an interview this week with Sport-Express in Russia, Vorobiev claimed NHL teams in general - and Chicago in particular - maintain a bias against players from the former Soviet Union. According to the Vorobiev, who is from Kazakhstan, teams try to undermine the success of their own Russian players.

Link


Give me a break. :doh:

[Dark Knight]

Great Just what Bryz and Vish need to read...

[Duckette]

Well, if Brian Burke is biased against them, and acts on these feelings, he isn't exactly helping the cause. You know what, I can understand where they're coming from. The Russian born players are treated much differently.

Take Alexander Ovechkin for example. He absolutely blew Sydney Crosby out of the water with skill, but because he's Russian, and Sydney is Canadian, he's going to get more attention, more press, more endorsments, etc.

Now, Canadians already get enough of the bias because they 'Created the sport' but it's really stupid.

Ok, sorry, another one of my stupid rants....

[duckfan78]

Great Just what Bryz and Vish need to read...

Well atleast Bryz, Vish has a contract for next season.

[Veca]

Wow!

[infected13]

I dont have much sympathy for them myself. In general, getting a russian player drafted and actually into the NHL can be a royal pain in the ass, and a lot of Russian players act like they are entitled to be treated like superstars and given when they are demanded. A lot of them especially the younger ones, are just incedably lazy and have bad work ethics.

I can see why some GMs would have a definet bias against young russian players and why the past 2 years its seemed like Russians have been avoided in the draft.

[Tomato Assasin]

Well if the russians don't want to be treated differently, they should show there clubs loyalty and not bolt of back to russia when more money is offered. Its not a good example to show an NHL club. Of course a team is not going to draft a russian if they think the player might use up their time and effort and not actually give them anything back. And in this case:

But I suspect that instead of claiming the team picked on him because of his nationality, maybe he should re-assess his own performance.

I agree with this. I guess he should lose some of that arrogance and realise that although being treated differently is wrong it happens everywhere (e.g. you speak a different lanaguage and are from a different culture, how can you expect to fit in straight away?, there is going to be an adjustment period for you and them) and considering russia and U.S history in ice hockey and everything else its going to happen. I think a big factor of russians going back home also is that they don't value the stanley cup and the NHL as much as north american players and believe there is always a second option of going back home (which can be more attractive with family etc). That could explain the lack of effort and arrogance in chistov's previous run with us

I think its hard to judge though, he could be discriminated in worse ways than we know, or he could just be an arrogant fool. Either way, russians bolting home to the russian league is giving other russian players a bad image. Its a harsh cycle.

[Ducksfreak93]

Well, if Brian Burke is biased against them, and acts on these feelings, he isn't exactly helping the cause. You know what, I can understand where they're coming from. The Russian born players are treated much differently.

Take Alexander Ovechkin for example. He absolutely blew Sydney Crosby out of the water with skill, but because he's Russian, and Sydney is Canadian, he's going to get more attention, more press, more endorsments, etc.

Now, Canadians already get enough of the bias because they 'Created the sport' but it's really stupid.

Ok, sorry, another one of my stupid rants....

It sems like the whole NHL is the 6, dang, canadian teams. And nothing more. For my sake they talk more positive things about the (Winepeg) Jets than they do to the Ducks. I don't say we because if I had the chance I'd burn all 6 of the teams arenas. I'd even burn the Jets old on down too.

[DuckFanInHaifa]

It's just too bad that a Russian player who doesn't get his way claims the league hates Russians, then leaves to get more money in Russia. Of course, he was on Chicago, and from what I have heard from Black Hawk fans, the owner Bill Wirtz treats EVERYONE like crap. Not trying to make an excuse for Vorobiev, just saying Wirtz hates everyone, despite nationality.

But I don't think all Russian players have a negative attitude. From what I have read and heard, Ovechkin is loved in the NHL by almost everyone, and he has a fun loving attitude that rubs off on everyone too. I have also heard about Alexei Kovalev (although it was from Canadiens fans) being well liked and not threatening to bolt off to Russia at the drop of a coin if things dont go his way.

[drew15]

This should help get Malkin over.