*-> The New Islanders have sent back prospect Nino Niederreiter back down to The Portland Winterhawks. The disgruntled Nino spoke out this week about being disapointed he was being sent down and that was the way things were in the league. The right move by the Isles in my opinion, he wasn't ready for the show yet.
*-> The Phoenix Coyotes are looking at Boston's Marc Savard it's being reported.
*-> Michael Vernace has been placed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
*-> On to the Kirill Kabanov drama. It appears that Kirill Kabanov left 2 weeks ago to goto Russia for "personal reasons" but some are saying the Moncton Wildcats who have invested deeply in the Russian sniper have given up and have sent him home as a message. He has only played 2 games and has had the coaching staff in fits with his lack luster play. There has been no indication of any family issues or injury problems to justify him going home many are saying. Kabanov has no options to play in Russia as he has once turned his back on the KHL and is doubtful that the league will openly embrace him. The Wildcats are most likely stuck with him for one more season after this one so the rumors has them shopping the troubled Russian. The Lewiston Maineiacs are rumored to be highly intrested in Kabanov and this could be a situation which further decreases his value to not only Moncton but the Isles. He cant seam to stay away from drama evenif it may or may not be true. I personally still feel he's a great talent and just needs to mature and have good guidance going forward. Many of these stories are spun around and really theres no way to know why he was sent home but thats just me. There has to be some truth to some of these issues if this keeps being a reoccuring theme right? What do you guys think?
5 comments:
Scoopz,
- Kabanov has been traded to Lewiston, so good call by you. I think we'll find out a lot now that he's part another organization, particularly if his issues stem from issues with the coaching staff or in the locker room or if he's really truly a head case. Like you, I believe he's got first line potential, but whether he has the head for it or not is another matter.
- I disagree with you about el-nino: the right move was to send him to Portland after camp as he clearly wasn't ready before the 9 game stint. The Isles were beat up coming out of camp and are far from a contender, the kid had no chance of benefitting from the 9 game thing. In fact, I'm against the 9 game audition altogether when a return to junior is the downside. It's another matter if the player just ends up going to the A.
- Hard to give credence to the Penner rumours, I believe he's got another year left on his contract, but the 'Oil have loads of cap room. There's no reason for them to take on an expiring contract so moving Penner should be a move to make the team better. What could the Sens really offer?
- Jalen
Scoopz, two things I can always count on this site for:
1) unfounded spezza rumours that make no sense unless you're 300 lbs and write for the sun
2) painfully obvious and hopeless defences of Russian players
I told you around the draft that kabanov was a waste, face it scoopz the problem lies in the fostering of positive minded hard-working young men in Russia, it's just not working. My comments regarding Kovalchuk at the deadline echoed much of the same sentiment, please read Stevenson's article in today's Sun for a good idea of HIS reputation.
Niño should definitely have been sent down. 9 game dance can have one of two effects:
a) the player sees how fast and strong the NHL game is and is motivated to work that much harder to get to the show Or
b) Superstar status goes to his head and becomes a distraction.
Thankfully Switzerland isn't Russia
CA
I was sure one of the two things to be counted on would be nonsensical posts by CA....
Where exactly was the defence of Kabanov?
And to me, the more likely result of a demotion to junior after a 9-game stint is a demoralized teenager expected to dominate in junior after playing 9 NHL games, getting cut and finding out he isn't good enough.
CA, not everyone has your limitless experience with rejection...
- Jalen
Here CA goes with his rant about "the ripple effect the soviet union has had, destroying Russians' work ethic (if it had ever existed at all) and turning generations of people into self-serving mercenaries".
I frankly mostly agree. But Kabanov's story is nothing new in sports; high-skill (even if unproven....) turning into high-ego. Maybe its a hat Russian players are generally more susceptible to wearing.
At the end of the day though, Canadian superstars like Toews and Crosby to name a couple let their play on the ice make their reputations. The Kabanovs of the world should take a lesson.
Keep stirring the pot Scoopz!
All very interesting comments guys, I like the debate. CA as Jalen put it I'm not too sure where the defense was to Kabby but I tried to stay neutral on the matter. There's no denying his talent (it would have been easier to gauge if the Islanders didn't start training camp for some mentally frustrating reason when regular teams end theirs.)but if these incidents keep happening then surely there must be some truth to atleast some of them. I agree that a change of location will tell a lot more to the story as the year unfolds. The Islanders should send Doug Weight down to Lewiston to try and tell this kid it's NHL or nothing and it'll be nothing if he doesn't smarten up especially since even the KHL wants nothing to do with him.
On the "Nino" debate I usually am agains't sending a morally defeated youngster back to the CHL but in this case it was necessary. I've checked out several Islander games this season and he was looking outclassed. I think a miserable under 6 minutes a game season on the Island would be worse for his morale and development. Atleast he'll see lots of ice in Portland and hopefully will forget about the rough start and get back to his dominating ways.
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