KHL Wants SKA To Win

This has become quite the story this week, so I figured I could weigh in on it. Here's the article about what's happening. www.pastemagaz...
Support The Hockey Guy via Patreon / thehockeyguy
Contact me via snail mail at:
The Hockey Guy
PO Box 15038 Seven Oaks PO
Abbotsford, BC
V2S 8P1
In the USA:
Shannon Skanes
PO Box 746
Ferndale, WA 98248
United States

[@TheDAIRG]

If Trump did this for the Capitals, we would still manage to screw up in the 2nd round

[@ShawnWatson]

TheDAIRG lol... you're probably right.

[@bmattmoore]

You mean the Rangers? That's his team; not the Capital's.

[@fouronetwo813]

LOL Think positive man! This is your year.... To lose to Tampa in the conference finals ;)

[@TheDAIRG]

Conference Finals ... I heard about them Once!

[@JoeyJordison97]

TheDAIRG WE WON THE CUP! :D

[@Emporio92]

Allowed to ignor the salary cap?! Since when KHL have had a Salary cap?

[@Airmode9000]

Anton Chmidt There is soft salary cap, you're allowed to break it, but have to pay the fee

[@Emporio92]

Airmode9000 so its still playing by the rules if you break it? Or naa?🤔 Anyway the point is that every team could do it not just ska

[@ART1E057]

Anton Chmidt But the point of all this shit is that they simply can't. SKA and to a lesser extent CSKA can aggressively outbid any other team because the teams are backed by the government. The other teams in the league don't have the financial footing to outbid the Russian government on free agents and also pay the cap overage penalties.

[@Airmode9000]

Any team can do that, but they are just not able to do it due to financial reasons. Anyway, KHL desperately needs hard cap like in the NHL.

[@AlexOvechkin8MVP]

Thank you for talking about the KHL

[@TheAreamania]

I wouldnt be suprised if Washington choked in the playoffs even if they didnt have to care about the salary cap..

[@janetsampson1779]

When I was a kid the two big teams in Russia were Central Red Army and the Soviet Wings and they was closer to real hockey,SKA today are like the Harlem Globetrotters,the KHL is a total joke. Bob.

[@DTun-yt1bz]

Janet Sampson I watch the full season and I respectfully disagree. Still a great league

[@RubenP04]

Well they're basically turning a hockey league as most of Soccer leagues' systems, no salary cap and then a team gets stacked with all the star players and win perpetually every single year.

[@thumbthump]

where do you get jerseys?

[@rhyser7463]

Royals vs giants that’s a series jeez

[@benkauffman610]

OAR doing successful because of SKA players makes no sense. If all the best players from SKA were spread all over the KHL they still would have made the team.

[@butchcassidy8199]

KHL is a joke, period. Watched it many years, cause i live in Finland. But players make shit loads of money, and what is they pay, they will always get in "to hand" taxes already payed.

[@fouronetwo813]

I feel like I'd rather play in the ECHL

[@timothymanganello1731]

How about some college hockey videos?

[@GrizzledOldBear]

And a few weeks after this video, the Caps *did* win the Cup. Sooooo, I guess it is rigged...?

[@boomitsgeorgio2355]

Seems corrupt, Im gonna read more into it. Russia seemed like they needed a win in the olympics real bad. Im not condoning it, but I understand why they wanted to do it

[@buzzsaw1000]

Funny thought I heard, "Russia" has never won olympic gold in hockey. It's been USSR, United Team, and now OAR. Plus nobody can argue against this year being a weak win.

[@Erumies]

I was hoping for more "fact" base for this video than only opinion of 1 tweeter and 1 wrong call. I am not saying that anything he is tweeting/you are saying is wrong. It's just that I for one have no idea if KHL actually has some kind of soft-cap in salaries or something and if nature of the game actually was the way that only 1 team deserved penalties?

[@TheHockeyGuy]

The Russian government has admitted the league is rigged. There are a ton of articles about this.

[@Erumies]

Articles I found mostly based on that tweet chain with some "creative freedom". And again, not trying to say that anything that you are saying is necessarily wrong, but it might be close to impossible to find unbiased sources written in english about KHL (and maybe even harder if you follow russian articles...) So yeah, I absolutely understand why you have tried to stay away from topics related to KHL.

[@ltrioli7892]

Ska and cska are the only good teams

[@antonk.3188]

Cska is the only good team

[@67JLBlues19]

KHL is a joke.

[@andrewoliver4232]

do you really respect putin?

[@benmarshall5132]

Not surprised by this. Still very disappointed, but not surprised.

[@erikhalvorseth3950]

Coming from Norway, my solution to this is to support the Finnish KHL team Jokerit working out of Helsinki,. Finland. Sure, SKA St Petersburg can stack up but no Finnish team will ever lie down for a Russian team-ever. Thats like asking Habs to lie down and get pissed on by Toronto. Its not going to happen. Its a matter of pride and honor

[@dat_boi4123]

Caps would still lose in the 2nd round😂😂

[@stanisci59]

and vs. the Pens lol

[@jonni1486]

@@stanisci59 that did not age well HAHAHA

[@stanisci59]

ツjonni not at alll 😂😂😂

[@ScreamingAtPixels]

Shan do you use Twitter? I feel like your Twitter would be a mix between rants and actual funny tweets

[@maxlee6739]

The OAR team consisted of 3 KHL teams SKA St. Petersburg, CSKA Moskva, and only TWO players from the third team that I think was Magnitogorsk.

[@nathanviebranz9111]

It’s pretty much like the Soviet League all over again. Most of the players on the national team came from SKA and CSKA Moscow.

[@TURBOBLU-fx6mn]

Moscow teams won literally every championship in the Soviet league, they had some brutallly unfair advantages when it came to drafting guys. And it ended up being very boring to follow

[@ramigho]

Been following KHL lately, really happy to see SKA getting knocked out in the playoffs against all the odds. The final is finally watchable.

[@makarabt4500]

ЦСКА just beat СКА :p

[@AlexOvechkin8MVP]

SKA (CKA) St. Petersburg has played in Russia's top league since 1946. They had not won a championship until 2015. They were swept by CSKA in 2016 and won it again last year. CSKA could win the Gagarin Cup this year they're just as good as СКА. The league is still fun to watch even though it's a little lopsided unlike the ego driven NBA.

[@benjaminr8229]

AlexOvechkin8MVP “ego driven NBA” is such a loaded statement.

[@DTun-yt1bz]

AlexOvechkin8MVP agreed

[@feeeeelin]

yeah cska could easily win it this year or maybe even kazan

[@Scionofgreyhaven]

This is why KHL is a joke and will always be a joke, SKA always loaded with former NHLers or Russian stars/rejects lmao

[@j_obaymaac2886]

Kyle Broflovski Russian Stars/rejects? You really call players that want to play close to home and earn more money than they would earn other side of the world while not knowing the language rejects? You delusional.

[@johnsobery]

Perfect timing, Putin’s interview with Megan Kelly is being broadcast tonight

[@thekippaxfoden9572]

SKA has never won the KHL BTB, have you ever watched it?! Pens won it BTB, we know it was Obama making the calls 😂

[@owenscott6952]

If American players with expiring contracts in the KHL did come back, which ones would even crack a NHL roster? Most of them are NHL rejects, which is why they landed in the KHL in the first place. Or would they just play in another European league.

[@adolfcuckler8125]

Hands down best hockey game was Finnish alumni VS Putin & Russian alumni

[@edwardofgreene]

The KHL has risen to be the 2nd best league in the world. This over-the-top unfairness will turn around and kill it. Players will less want to play there. (Imagine Jager going there if stories were breaking like this when he signed - Never would have went) Fans of other teams will watch less knowing its rigged. Even fans of SKA will be less into it if they think its being handed to them unfairly. This will kill the KHL unless something major is done to right it. (Like baseball did in the aftermath of the 1919 world series) edit: corrected the year.

[@gordiehowegoat6786]

Putin uses sports for political reasons. Im probably messing this up but before the Sochi olympics his approval rating was around 60%, after Sochi and winning gold medals his approval rating skyrocketed to 95%. This is from Icarus. There is nothing Putin wouldnt do to gain more power.

[@vladzoubenko9104]

Dixie Wrecked nah man it usually stays around 70-80%

[@Partizan125]

Sitting here as a life-time fan of Severstal, there really is no words for how bullshit that series against SKA was. In the first game alone the penalty minutes were 0 - 24 in favour of SKA, I used to actually like SKA before 2015 back when CSKA was the team everybody despised. For the first time this year I was elated when SKA dropped out to CSKA, and Ak Bars definately deserved the Gagarin Cup this year. Вперед Северсталь!

[@maxrates]

I remember in the WC Finals Russia vs Finland it was so obvious it was rigged. The calls in Russia's favor were so many and so bad

[@nolanbrown4015]

I love your videos. Keep them up!

[@sshurmatz]

I'd love Putin to be on my hockey team.

[@glenndsouza5447]

If you don't pass the puck to Putin you will mysteriously disappear

[@michaelnewton1332]

I love the KHL. I absolutely LOVE the KHL!!! They could have a baby seal clubbing contest during every game and I would STILL love the league. I love the KHL so much because I hate that spineless weasel Bettman so much!!!

[@sunnygill124]

Love your humour shannon😆

[@samprase1268]

CSKA won last season... SKA lost in conference Finals. In europe it is like this, some teams have alot more money, not same system as in North america.

[@peetupyykko4909]

Rottenberg aka. Owner of SKA and Jokerit, also promised bonuses to SKA players if they beat Jokerit in a regular season game.

[@akumasdeception]

Its Russia lol, nothing that happens in that Kleptocracy surprises me to be quiet candid with you.

[@bennettkuhnlein346]

Im here in 2020 and koskanin and seshteterkin are both unreal goalies in the nhl

[@PancakesAndHammers2426]

No wonder I don't follow the KHL. Thank goodness the NHL isn't run like this.

[@JoeyJordison97]

Pancakes and Hammers follow* also no one cares

[@PancakesAndHammers2426]

Soviet Re4per Thanks and also yes you are right nobody cares. I'll still comment on stuff anyway.

[@MidNiteR32]

One more reason to take the KHL with a grain of salt.

[@Nickleblanc41]

Wait, the KHL is rigged? What's next you are gonna tell me FIFA is corrupt?

[@joshkusiak7613]

Nick Leblanc or garry bettment bias against Canadians?

[@MikeyReadman]

Biased against Canadians? Ya, right. Oilers and Leafs got McDavid and Matthews, bud. Those drafts were rigged AF.

[@Nickleblanc41]

The draft lottery is not rigged. I laugh at your lack of understanding of how the lottery actually work.

[@MikeyReadman]

Everything in business is fixed, and hockey is a business. They ain't leaving anything to chance. You're naive now but eventually you'll learn how the world really works.

[@Nickleblanc41]

Mikey Martinelli There is no evidence anything in the NHL is rigged. When you have real evidence of that let me know.

[@DTun-yt1bz]

This didn't age too well.

[@ltrioli7892]

Trump likes the rangers

[@kobolll7188]

And now cska kicked ska out

[@REDKRAKEN18]

Foreshadowing

[@alexeiponikarovsky3218]

Shady league

[@plzfixwolves955]

As much as I like The Capitals win a Stanley Cup, it’s just wrong for the Caps be loaded with the KHLs best players and be rigged against every NHL team in the Eastern Division. P.S: I say the Capitals because they have Ovechkin.

[@conorpower7080]

If anyone goes past a house in Abbsford BC that’s been bordered up awitj Guns pointing out, Shannon made this video and that’s why....

[@clashman7950]

😂😂😂 i never knew that about Putin, that's awesome in a way that he is a die hard hockey fan. Yeah i wouldn't want to try to hip check putin for the puck either, the men dressed in black that will be visiting you after the game, is what discourages me from wanting to even attempt to steal the puck away from putin. Ha ha ha

[@domenicf1317]

Vadim Shipachyov and Pavel Buchnevich are actually both products from Severstal Cherepovets' hockey system.

[@vseyasnosvami]

Living in Russia and sick of Gazprom fueled clubs winning cause of authorities; glad they got over the line this time and it's got some echoes everywhere, hopefully something will change.

[@deathtoluke]

But they didn't win so this video is a waste of time. Also the team has almost entirely been dismantled so you can drop the attitude.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

Dear Lord, this video is over a year old. I don't even live in that house anymore.

[@deathtoluke]

Love your videos by the way

[@anonimuso]

The first kid to check Putin hard would earn his respect and lifelong friendship. The second kid to check Putin hard would never be heard from again.

[@zipstermorris8055]

Just out of interest, was putting the AOR team at one club any different to pooling players in Canadian and US development teams?

[@Emporio92]

This story is based on a single reporter who just told his opinion and colorized the story with word choises like "ska is allowed to ignore salary cap" and you just took it right on. First of all KHL does not have a salary cap is it a good thing? No. Should salary cap be added? Of course. But is it wrong to have a stacked team bow since rules allowing it? No. Or is it a Putins corruption plan? Of course no. Outcome of league without salary cap SKA has gained a great lineup but its not as overpowered as it seems. Cska has great lineup as well and there is still multiple teams that can compete with SKA. You wrote ska vs severatal on your board, why? Of course top of leaderboard will beat bottom one easily ( severstal fight its way to playoffs in last two games of regular ) And yes team with huge salary will be powerful but that's have nothing to do with putin nor corruption its just great sponsors and shitty salary cap rules. There were ONE very weird call and it were provided in article. Weird calls happens they are part of the sport you said it yourself. It even might be as absurd as referee did not have as good replay camera as TV had ( the quality of equipment over there in small towns can be very bad sometimes ). But even then it would make more sense than saying that putin corrupted khl in that particular case just to make sure that stacked ska from easily top of the leaderboard win 3th game on the series from severstal who is barelly made playoffs. Come on Hockey guy get your shit together, you are best thing that have ever happened to my KZbin hockey wise, but check the facts before you just copy paste story from ONE reported and shit all over my team. Peace

[@DTun-yt1bz]

Anton Chmidt Anton you are absolutely correct. I watch the KHL all season and it is amazing hockey. The western lazy narrative of "Russia is bad" is extremely lazy. Alot of things wrong in the video and in the article.

[@ART1E057]

I know you're talking about Slava Malamud here, and while he does have an obvious agenda, the evidence really speaks for itself. There were blown calls and an uneven PIM count that were blatantly in favor of SKA. It doesn't matter how good SKA is or how bad Severstal is if the refs aren't calling a fair game. And how about last year's Gagarin Cup Final when they caught SKA putting a listening device in Metallurg's locker room? SKA faced no tangible repercussions for that either. By all accounts, it's an open secret SKA that has the blessing of the league's officials.

[@nINJAP3RUNA]

Anton Chmidt There *is* a salary cap in the KHL. If you go over it you just have to pay a fine and it'll be it. You are correct that it isn't obvious that SKA is being favoured but I have seen the bias towards Russian teams when playing against my team Jokerit. There is a lot of corruption in Russia that cannot be denied. People are killed for political reasons. Propaganda is alive and well: sports are used as a political tool, even the history education and news are full of lies. Those things are just the ones that come to mind. And those are reasons for me to believe that there also is a bias towards SKA. What do you think?

[@Czechmate29]

Even if Malamud was wrong, the KHL is still a joke and it's not worth following and covering. It's a project that rises and falls with the oil prices and the willingness of the owners to lose dozens of millions every year. There is no parity, pretty much the entire Olympic team is playing for the same KHL team, and no, one or two other teams having an outside chance to beat SKA doesn't mean anything. There are teams that fail to pay their players on time, if at all. There is a new set of teams every year because of teams joining and folding all the time. The conditions for players are terrible, with the exception of those few superteams, a lot of players have complained about traveling in planes from the 70's, having to buy their own equipment or teams not honoring contracts. You just can't take the KHL seriously.

[@nINJAP3RUNA]

Czechmate You are right about SKA having so powerful team that it makes the league much less enjoyable to watch. The travel is nothing thr league can fix and the conditions for players aren't as bad as you think. The players are being paid well after all. The only problem is when teams don't pay. That is a problem that KHL is trying to fix. They are dropping the number of teams and from what I gathered they are dropping one team per season for some time. The KHL is run by dirty money/oil money and there is corruption. Also the league is linked heavily to Putin and Putin is a dangerous dude. That's all.

[@jayheevlogs]

You have to put the efforts of other teams and Tolvanen even higher because they want russian teams and russians to win.

[@eddiemurphy2174]

So does this mean that Igor Shesterkin’s stats aren’t reliable for gauging his NHL potential?

[@ryancole3439]

slava voynov

[@WatkinsWarrior2]

Pretty sure Vlad Gavrikov is a CBJ prospect playing for SKA

[@kobolll7188]

Ska lost today.

[@addisonphillips2438]

3:55 I'm gonna go for a walk so I don't cry. Pekka it wasnt your fault you played good in game 6

[@cchis1672]

For 2 years now ive felt like the nfl was rigged. Play stops every couple of seconds so in theory it would be one of the easier sports to fix without making it too obvious

[@MikeyReadman]

Definitely. Saw a video that shows blatant missed on purpose tackles and other completely rigged plays.

[@trentstewart6703]

This was a dangerous video Shannon. I am glad you are still doing well. lol

[@drumagus2258]

glasnost and perestroika straight up destroyed russian hockey.

[@ZachBonnell]

Didn't Putin score 126 goals in a game? He would be a superstar if he didn't have other responsibilities.

[@colinvawter512]

0:43

[@Aaron-dt9pu]

Ps are the same as Rs in Cyrillic pronunciation, btw haha.

[@Larson34]

Ska is moving on to the semifinals against lokomotiv

[@petterisurakka8612]

2020 there is coming a salary cap into the KHL

[@johnjackie91]

Holy hell! How did that prediction occur like this? It's crazy to see this storyline become a reality. But it's hopeful for the NHL to not lockout in a few years so that North American players would not play in Russia and rather have the league come to North America. And is the KHL rigged because they want this matchup with the top players like SKA? It's all i'm asking for all I care. And the KHL is a big threat to the NHL.

[@MikeyReadman]

The KHL is a big threat to the NHL? HAHAHAH. Sorry man, that's ridiculous.

[@jayheevlogs]

But lets be honest here, KHL is by far the best league in world after NHL even with the corrupt referees. The level of the game is really high and fast pace. There are really awesome games through out season and playoffs. UNTIL you face SKA.

[@ART1E057]

Jayhee vidz This. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater here. I mean, if you want to win championships, definitely don't bother going over unless you're playing with SKA or CSKA. But if you want to play at the closest to NHL-calibre hockey outside of North America, the KHL is still the only choice.

[@s3rp]

This is the kind of non-sense that was going on in the GDR as well . The politicians had a favorite soccer team ? Guess what you now have to play there because the polit bureau ordered it. Erich Mielke ( head of Stasi ) loved BFC Dynamo so that team became champion for 10 years in a row.

[@s3rp]

Just to be clear current Russia is not nearly as bad as some Eastern Bloc nations during the Cold War when it comes to many things BUT some things ( like sports ) its straight out of the Soviet playbook hell even to an absurd degree.

[@brodyhinz6664]

Well.... That's Russia for you.

[@russianrings]

it's called rah-see-ah lol RUSSIAAA!!!!!

[@stevecampbell9670]

Why haven't you done a video on the Sautner signing?

[@jordanmullenhopkins]

I also have a question for you, to try to give you more space.

[@TheHockeyGuy]

To give me a bigger house?

[@jordanmullenhopkins]

Only if it were that easy. I am in the process of becoming a blacksmith. Would you want me to make you some metal hooks so you can hang up the jerseys? I just want to help you guys out as much as I can with the skills I have. I love the videos, and you analyze the game. Thank you :)

[@TheHockeyGuy]

I have always wanted the jerseys in a line. The tricky part is space. The rack I use is from when Sears was closing, strong metal and doesn't show any stress from my collection. I do want to get another stand, but again, the tricky part is getting one strong enough. Before I lived with Yvonne and broke the closet three times, I also broke numerous clothing racks I was buying. Ideally, I would be able to display two jerseys behind me while previewing certain games that night, but I really do need another rack or better system. It is a regular discussion in this house.

[@jordanmullenhopkins]

I am an aspiring blacksmith and I am a welder/metal fabricator, I am more than happy to help you guys in any way.

[@jordanmullenhopkins]

I remember in one of your videos you wanted hooks for every team, and I thought why not see if I can help him out.

[@dkodonny2658]

Can you imagine Norh Korean league. Kim jong un is the only player in the best team. He plays forward, defence and goalie and goes undefeated and no goals agaist.

[@patch8376]

Are you suggesting the basketball game played between Rodman and American guests and a North Korean basketball team that ended tied at 110 apiece wasn't 100% legit?

[@KH-dm9zm]

Apparently, I need to do some research

[@fcrsforever]

Hehehehe kazan win championship, ska dont even be in finals ;)

[@clorpy897]

Черт, он слишком много знает.

[@MikeyReadman]

LOL

[@PieEater900]

Disappointed but not surprised.

[@zakariahidara925]

North American sports is just better at hiding the rigged aspect. #TheFixIsIn

[@MikeyReadman]

Yup, all these sports have fishy shit going on. The NFL is probably the worst, NBA a close second.

[@arturocomin19]

Congrats on 31.000☺️☺️

[@plantingasbulldog2009]

I'd actually have to disagree. Yes, for sure it is plain and clear that the KHL is rigged, especially when it comes to CSKA and SKA, and yes, it would be a pain in the rear to play in a league where you were not meant to win. However, it does serve to note that these teams can be beaten, and from a spectator point of view, it can actually be entertaining to water, because when these teams can rise up and conquer the red army teams, conquer that adversity, it's a great story. Yes, I sure as hell wouldn't want to play in that environment, but from your point of view as a reviewer and observer, you can look at that an enjoy it. For instance, this year the sixth seeded Salavat has a chance to beat SKA or CSKA. That would be incredible if they did. Also, while those two teams are rigged, the rest of the league is not.

[@happytrails1963]

big money in KHL

[@sentanyl3399]

Wow, I actually had no idea this was going on over there. Really makes me appreciate the nhl a little more. I can't help but be curious how this SKA Moscow would do in the NHL.

[@orre98]

Sentanyl3 SKA St. Petersburg* and CSKA Moscow* :D

[@sentanyl3399]

Oriol Oops! My bad I always get those mixed up lol

[@ripleykeller3016]

Wait what?

[@NyRangersfan1357]

This just ruined Igor shestyorkin a little bit for me

[@sailormanfrompolarland7216]

NyRangersfan1357 he's still a good goalie

[@daydaviddunn]

Hopefully they play Av and ours Canuck get tryamkin back

[@daydaviddunn]

And win the draft and can have a defense core of dahlia tryamkin juolevi and brisebois

[@daydaviddunn]

Maybe see why triggered at the Canuck bruins fan guy... because with the ship wheel with a B in it got way more penalty calls then these guys with city name and the killerwhale

[@dawudcharlton]

My fav team was Dynamo , BK in late 80s. Are they in KHL still?

[@orre98]

Dawud Charlton Dynamo Moscow? yes they are

[@dawudcharlton]

Oriol ok I rember collecting few hockey cards, the Dynamo one I just really liked. I was like 7, I'm 37 now.

[@dylanbaker6444]

GO MOSCOW GO!!! TAKE DOWN SKA!!!!

[@MrRinne91]

Speaking of SKA, the most frustrating thing about the team is that they are so corrupted, much like the whole league and they barely hides it. For exemple the only Finnish team Jokerit played fantastic season in the KHL this year, but they will never win the Gagarin Cup if they face with SKA in any point of the playoffs, because they both have same owner, Roman Rotenber is the vice presient of the SKA and the Rotenberg faimily owns 49% of Jokerit. He also is a member of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, the National Team and sits in the board of the KHL. So you really don't have to give yourself a headache from thinking which of the two would win the cup if they meet in the finals. I know money runs NHL, but with the KHL, it's all and everything that is holding that league together.

[@MikeyReadman]

That's a weird set up, where one guy can own parts of two competing teams.

[@MrRinne91]

Mikey Martinelli Yes it is. But you know what they say, In Russia, anything's possible.

[@Zenkka]

The most blatantly fixed officiating in a hockey game I've ever witnessed happened in world champs tournament played in Minsk, Belarus (a communist country, friends with only Russia et al). In the finals it was Russia against Finland. Both presidents were there... Putin and Lukasenka. There's highlights here on youtube look it up

[@BlackVoid01]

I seriously hope you're joking about Putin being a 'good man' and 'having the utmost respect' for him.

[@judeaberdeen6848]

BlackVoid01 never know who Putin's gonna send his goons after m8

[@MikeyReadman]

It's called sarcasm... I hope.

[@buzzsaw1000]

You know how close Canada is to Russia!?!?! I mean you can see probably see it from his backyard with Canada touching Alaska and all!!