NHL vs. Russian Super League

[Quintin 16]

The Soviet-era battle for world hockey supremacy is set to resume again after officials agreed on a series of exhibition matches between top teams from Russia's Superleague and the NHL.

The agreement was clinched at talks in New York between Vladislav Tretyak, Russia's hockey commissar, and top officials from the National Hockey League (NHL) including Commissioner Gary Bettman, the Russian Hockey Federation (RHF) said Tuesday.

"The sides have agreed to exchange exhibition matches next season," press secretary Vladimir Gerasimov said. "The schedule and teams have yet to be determined."

Hockey fans on both sides of the Atlantic are now savoring a modern-day recapitulation of a series of clashes between the Soviet Union and Team Canada starting in the early 1970s, and subsequently between top club teams from North America and the U.S.S.R.

The Summit Series brought together the world's top two national teams, which could not compete at official major competitions as the Canadians were all professionals in the NHL, while international rules stipulated only amateur athletes could take part - which players under the Soviet system officially were, despite being effectively full-timers.

Should prove to be very interesting indeed, especially for those who weren't alive during the 1970 Summit Series.

[pantherfan 0]

Will that take place during the 06-07' NHL Season?

[capes921 0]

i don't think it can be compared because the best russians are now in the NHL, when they weren't in the 70's

[pantherfan 0]

Malkin?

[Nick23 0]

It will be interesting to see if it's played with NHL rules or Russian rules, NhL icepad or Russian size. It should be a clash of 2 different styles of hockey. I cant wait :D

[pantherfan 0]

I think they will probobly do international rules as this is an international cross over exibition game

[mnitishin 0]

This is gonna be sweet... :)

[willy0314 0]

i hope specific teams getr the chance to play against each other, not just super or all star teams.

[cassius 0]

Thats such a cool idea. I definitely will check out those games.

[jjtt99 0]

They do this in soccer. The best European club plays the best South American club. It's such a big deal that the fans were getting out of hand (surprise surprise) so now they play in Asia. I don't know the format though.

[Adam91 0]

Can we actually get a link to this quote?

[Quintin 16]

No idea where the original source came from. A guy posted this in my town's pro team forums and he's pretty up and up on Euro hockey news. No idea where he gets it though.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

If the Russian players that are actually playing in the NHL stays in the NHL teams, the Super League is going to get crushed.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

They do this in soccer. The best European club plays the best South American club. It's such a big deal that the fans were getting out of hand (surprise surprise) so now they play in Asia. I don't know the format though.

Toyota Cup.

[DEATHTRON 19]

If I were an NHL team owner I would be saying HELL NO to my team playing. Let my all-star player go out and possibly end his career in some stupid exhibition game...or have him lead my team in points...HMMMMMM. I thought we had the olympics for this sort of thing.

Still, since Im not an owner, I want to see Ottawa go crush some silly little Russian team.

Zach

[pantherfan 0]

I'd prefer to see a Russian team win by a boat load! :D

[hockechamp14 0]

All I know is if teams have to go over to russia to play by the super league rules with the super league refs, we better send the flyers!!!! If they play by the rules of the home team, I'm not sure a superleague team will win any games in north america... Well it depends if they play the penguins or not. :lol:

[Cheesehead 0]

All I know is if teams have to go over to russia to play by the super league rules with the super league refs, we better send the flyers!!!! If they play by the rules of the home team, I'm not sure a superleague team will win any games in north america... Well it depends if they play the penguins or not. :lol:

lol

this is gonna be sweet!

[gavin 0]

It will be sweet but it will not be the Summit Series or anything close to that. The summit series was for national pride, Canadians vrs. Russians.

The post so far (i.e. "the managers aren't going to want to let their pros get hurt potentially") just go to prove that a pro team vrs. a pro team will never have the same hype and greatness that the Summit Series garnered.

[nyr4life 0]

that would be cool as hell....i would pay to see that