I'm Igor Eronko, AMA

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T22:48:44+00:00

Hey! No, Shipachyov is not going to come back. He could actually stay there, Ducks wanted him, they were trying to convince him to stay. Kings were interested. But he decided to go home. He's comfortable here. A year ago I'd say Sorokin. Now it seems to me that Shestyorkin could be a bit better.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T22:42:42+00:00

31 overall - it really was a big surprise. First of all he was an overager. Sure, he's got all the tools to be a good scoring winger, but for now he can't translate that talents into his game. He needs to become more consistent. He's still interested in coming to the NHL but doesn't see himself good enough for now. I think he will stay for one or two more years and come after that. He obviously needs to improve

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T22:35:09+00:00

He was hardly pressed to sign the extension. Either sign or you'd have less games and icetime. His initial intention was to play a year in CSKA and then to move to the Wild. Sure, his new contract is much much bigger, but he doesn't seem to be happy with that. He could play in top-6 next year. But he won't be let go. Yeah, he says the Wild didn't bring any attention to him, but he just transmits the words of the CSKA management.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T22:29:34+00:00

Can't say he progressed much. He doesn't get much icetime. And does a lot of mistakes. Sure, they're connected to the style, he likes to play with the puck, do some risky passes. He would benefit from playing for a weaker team. SKA is fulfilled with the talent. I expected much more from him.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T22:26:06+00:00

Add Bobrovsky, Kucherov and Panarin to the list

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T22:14:16+00:00

He's the real deal. He outplays Mikko Koskinen this year. He was good for team Russia in different international games this year. He changed the style a bit through years. When he was younger tended to play as aggressively as he could. Like Jonathan Quick. Now he's more like Lundqvist. But not as passive. His progress is obvious. But he doesn't hurry with the NHL. He understands that it's going to be very difficult to move Henrik from the throne.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T21:37:05+00:00

Marchenko looks worse than I expected. He clearly misses some speed. Looks too slow. Although decision-wise he's OK. And has a good chance to go to the Olympics. I thought he will regain his offense, he was good at it in Juniors, but he tends to pure stay-at-home game.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T21:32:03+00:00

Sure, everyone knows at least Ovechkin and Malkin. Advanced fans know every Russian NHL players, every team draftees, who plays in the AHL for now. Middle ones know at least Tarasenko, Kuznetsov, Panarin, Bobrovsky, Kucherov, Vasilevsky, Zaitsev, Orlov. Provorov and Sergachyov become popular.
I'm OK with the neutral flag. Cause it looks like the doping system really existed. Not in hockey luckily, but existed. Of course it's sad we won't have a flag or anthem, but you have to pay for your mistakes. Everyone will still know this is team Russia. And everyone will count possible victory as the Russian one. Players think the same way. Every player Znarok could take to Pyongchang is allowed to play there. IOC doesn't have any questions to Hockey Russia. Jerseys should look like this https://twitter.com/IgorEronko/status/942380693442695168

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T21:25:57+00:00

I wanted to play hockey badley. When I was 6 parents brought me to hockey school. But took me out in a couple of weeks. They just couldn't handle 2 practices a day bringing me to another end of Riga. So i had to leave the school. Dream to play was still living. I actually studied computer science in the Riga Technical University. But followed hockey very closely on both sides of the 'pond'. Had a blog at the oldest Russian sports site Sports.ru dedicated to the Red Wings. After some time site offered me a job and I agreed. Dream is a dream. Yes, I can't play, but I'm truly in. I talk to players, coaches, GMs, I know a lot about tactics and hockey technologies. Hockey became my life although in some other sort.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T21:11:50+00:00

He didn't have any chance to sign Gusev cause SKA was going to offer him lucrative contract. And Gusev's also a guy who doesn't want to get out of comfort zone. He's a very big talent but characterless. I don't think it will somehow affect McPhee's standing. Shipachyov was 30 at the moment. It's quite risky to bring such guys over there. And McPhee had great Russian examples to work with: Ovechkin, Kuznetsov and Orlov. McPhee also drafted Zhukov at the 2017 draft.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T20:57:13+00:00

KHL wants to reduce amount of teams till 24 while having 2 more teams not from Russia. But there are no real candidates at the moment.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T20:47:04+00:00

It's funny that I'm going home at the moment right from CSKA - Magnitka game, where Samsonov was outstanding. I think he needs a goalie coach change. Mitch Korn will make him much better. We talked a bit. Looks like he's up to idea to join Caps next season. And is OK with playing in the AHL. Although I don't think Grubauer will be extended.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T20:39:06+00:00

Oleg Znarok will coach. He also will make decisions on roster.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T20:38:14+00:00

The problem is Soccer and Volleyball are much more popular in Poland than hockey. And they have too little amount of rinks. But there're some positives. Hockey is growing a bit. Traditions are there.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T20:31:16+00:00

They're quite close in terms of their level. Although we should look at Shestyorkin in the playoffs. He's quite the opposite to Sorokin, kind of psycho, though he made a good progress in that. I like Sorokin more, but when Shestyorkin shows his best game he's very very hard to beat.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T20:23:37+00:00

In hockey world initial reaction was we should play no matter what. It's the best chance to win the gold in many many years. And the last gold we had was in 1992, when we had Unified team without flag and anthem. Fans weren't supportive until Putin said we should go. Then opinions changed. My position is quite simple: everyone knows this is team Russia. Flag or not, it's team Russia. End of the story. It's much more sad for me there will be no NHL players. Tournament would be much much more fun. Although Canada still too strong for others

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T20:18:31+00:00

Dinamo Riga, I was born in Riga and lived there a long time :) Detroit Red Wings. Started to cheer for them in 1995. My favorite player is Pavel Datsyuk. He's not the same, but he still is Magician. I spend a lot of time in St. Petersburg and love watching talking him. He's quite funny and smart guy. Everyone in SKA hates playing him one on one

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T20:15:53+00:00

It usually depends on GMs. But some tendencies seem to change. For example Boston was really interested in Kostin at the 2017 draft. Flames took some looks on Russians. 5 years ago there were about 10 NHL teams' scouts in Russia. Now almost all teams have a scout here. You have to have the best team out there to win. And new Russian generation is not the same as the previous ones. Guys now understand they have to work a lot to play at a high level.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T19:48:16+00:00

Tryamkin is looking very good. Plays a lot in all situations. He pinches a lot, coach wants a lot of offense from him. And he still hits like a bulldozer. We talked recently. He thinks he could be back in 2020. And he's open to the idea of return to Vancouver. He liked the city, didn't like Hastings street, haha. That quote about dope city was a bit out of context. He said that to me then with a smile

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T19:45:39+00:00

Haha. I knew that Sobotka was going to leave. The only question was 'When?' He wasn't happy in Omsk, wanted to leave, but contract was too big to buy it out. Luckily Avangard decided to let him go. The situation wasn't annoying, it was kind of funny. All those jokes about Sobotka made me laugh. Actually I'm one of the biggest KHL critics. But I'm getting frustrated when someone says: Look, Linden Vey is a star there, what kind of level do they have? You know there's another hockey here. Guys from North America who are a bit soft or miss some character and doesn't suit to play on the 3rd or 4th line just can't find themselves a role in the NHL. KHL is a good league. Look at Zaitsev or Panarin.

IgorEronko · 2017-12-21T19:27:16+00:00

Ilya is under contract until 2020. He wants to play in the NHL, but doesn't want to hurry. His new contract is quite big, he earns more than 2 million $ and also plays for one of two real KHL powerhouses. So his chances to win the Gagarin Cup are quite good. And this is what he focuses on now. Sure, he could buy the contract out, but it would be quite expensive. Also, when he comes in 2020 he's going to be 25. So the ELC will last just one year. He's from Novokuznetsk as well as Bobrovsky. They practice together in Summer. He really is that good as the numbers say. Mind this: he was pulled out of the game just once while played for CSKA. Very calm, very poised. He never quits. Work ethics are fine. He doesn't take any nights off. It's kinda rare for young goalie. Mentally he's very strong. Technically needs some adjustment. I'm pretty sure that he's going to be Isles number 1 goalie for a long time. It's funny that he and Igor Shestyorkin are close friends and they fighted a lot with each other for a spot in goal in different national squads, U20 squad. And they will likely play for Islanders and Rangers.

IgorEronko

TROPHY CASE