To: Greg or e who wrote (47185 ) 2/23/2014 8:42:26 PM From: Solon Read Replies (2) | Respond to "I admire the American Hockey players because they are for the most part honorable men. Unlike the European players who spear you behind the play and then hide behind their visors and the skirts of the Refs. That's probably the very reason you hate them I suppose." Differences in North American and European Players: Truth or Myth Mark French and captain Alan Letang to discuss the differences between playing and coaching in North America and Europe . French was at the helm of the Hershey Bears last season and will coach his first season in Europe this year. Alan Letang is a former draft pick of the Canadiens, who has experience in the NHL, AHL, German DEL Liga and five years in the EBEL Austrian league. media have emphasized generalizations about North Americans having a more aggressive style while their Russian counterparts have better skating and stickhandling. French and Letang discussed whether these stereotypes were more truth or myth and what adjustments would have to be made by North American skaters coming into a European league.What Differences? Letang has played his last nine seasons in Europe after nine professional seasons in the AHL and NHL. He Canada and the NHL and played the grinding style.” Letang continued, “A lot of [the difference] are the system a team plays.” prospects Phillip Grubauer and Dmitri Orlov, but that professional players at the NHL and KHL levels have a well-rounded skill set. He noticed Lev Praha of the KHL and the Finnish league teams play more of a grinding style of hockey with European players after reviewing game tapes from last season. Don Cherry felt Niklas Lidstrom as a European captain could not lead a NHL team to the Stanley Cup . We attribute goal scoring and stickhandling with Russian players Ovechkin and Daytsuk, but some of the best all-time best scorers are Canadians. Niklas Kronwall, a Swede, has gained a reputation for being a heavy hitter—something often attributed to North American players. There is little doubt the best professional players are good at all aspects of the game, because they need to be able to play in a variety of different systems.The Biggest Concern French and Letang both emphasized that the biggest transitional issue for North Americans is the size of European ice. While many think the size of the ice is an advantage for European players because they can maneuver past a North American up the ice, Letang notes how it gives players extra time to make a play in transition. “A major, major adjustment coming from North America to Europe is the size of the ice. Players can take an extra step wide or take a step back and get an extra second to move the puck.” offense . Medvescak will play on a North American size rink for home games. Several other teams also have smaller ice surfaces, including the other expansion team Vladivostok. So, the transition to the larger ice will not be easy because the players will be playing on different size surfaces depending on who their opponent is on the road.What About Those Referees? With the potential for more physical play in a league where openness is emphasized, a concern is that players will be called for penalties for what they believed to be routine plays. Letang stated in some of the European leagues there is a problem with consistency. “How will be received on the road somewhere in Russia . It is something as a team we will have to sit down and discuss.” interview that he does not know. French stated his coaching style is, “process driven” and if the team is playing hard and within the system, then “wins and losses will play out” on their ownthehockeywriters.com
