Russia: <PERSON> – Insight into NHL/Post-Soviet Relations · Global Voices
An acute sense of euphoria spread across the nation on Sunday, May 20, when Russia defeated Slovakia 6-2 in the Gold Medal match of the 2012 World Hockey Championship. As a whole, the tournament provides insight into the modern interrelationship between the Western Hemisphere's National Hockey League and post-Soviet Russia. Additionally, Russian professional hockey player <PERSON> provides an example of an instance where these two cultures diverge.
One reason Sunday's victory generated euphoria among Russians is that the 2012 Russian national team was the first to remain undefeated in the World Hockey Championship in the post-Soviet era – the last team to do so was the Soviet Union in 1989. Until the fall of the Soviet Union, political borders nullified the possibility of regular East-West hockey collaborations. The post-Soviet era marked a reorientation of both the NHL and Eastern Leagues.
The 2012 World Hockey Championship provides insight into the interrelationship between the Western Hemisphere's NHL and post-Soviet Russia. The example of <PERSON> illuminates an occasion where a Russian player has faced opposition within his NHL team, but is highly valued by Russian coaches.
Mr. <PERSON> Released from NHL Obligations
When <PERSON> left to join the Russian national team after he was released from his obligations to the Washington Capitals, both Russian- and English-language news outlets reported that, as a result of conflicts between <PERSON> and the Capitals’ coaching staff, he was not expected to renew his contract.
<PERSON>, Mr. <PERSON>'s agent, made a statement contextualizing the interests of the parties concerned:
“It was good while it lasted. With the lack of playoff success, with the direction they are going. They decided to change directions. That's within their rights. <PERSON> doesn't fit into that system obviously. 910
It just doesn't make any sense to him. He plays, he did the best he could under the circumstances and he earned his right to be a free agent.
“I think the issue is with the organization, not necessarily with the coach,” <PERSON> said. “They told us <PERSON> is not going to play short-handed, he's not going to play in the last minute. He's going to get the same icetime as everybody else … Alex is not ready to be a role player. He wants to be a full-time player. It's important to him.”
A comment to an English-language On Frozen Blog post titled, “Pride, Regret, and Questions” suggested that the Capitals’ coaching staff was in fact responsible for the team's playoff performance:
[Why] does it not surprise me that Caps “fans” are blaming <PERSON> & <PERSON> for the playoff failure? These so-called “fans” are an embarrassment to the whole Washington DC area! The team’s superstars bought into <PERSON>’s system wholeheartedly. That system put a major leash on their offensive freedom. Also, on most nights, the Caps 4th liners got more ice time than the 1st liners. Why is no one asking why that 4th line didn’t put out more on offense? Someone has to score and someone on the ice that much HAS to do more! <PERSON>’s system was a failure.
Mr. <PERSON> Joins Russian National Team
RuNet Echo discussed in a post titled “NHL Stars Return to 2012 World Hockey Championship” that, in addition to discussing Mr. <PERSON>'s future in the NHL, the Russian-language internet was filled with eager tweets, status updates, and mainstream articles pertaining to Mr. <PERSON>'s role on the Russian national team.
A Lifesports.ru article was quoted in the publication's LiveJournal blog, which discussed how the Russian national team's coaching staff was eager to add Mr. <PERSON> to the lineup – specifically, he was to join superstars <PERSON>'s and <PERSON>'s line:
Овечкин сыграет с Семиным и Дацюком – Тренерский штаб определился с партнерами для российского суперфорварда. 880