The Russian playing style

[Wildcat85 0]

I really liked watching Evgeni Malkin because of his unique fluid style of play. I soon figured out that most all Russians play just like him or in a similar style. So began the fascination...I dont know what it is about the Russians but I love watching them play. The constant fluid stickhandling mostly is something im interested in. Are there any specific things they do to make it look like that? Also what kind of stickhandling/shooting drills do kids in Russia do? Anything else that I could do to model my playing style after them would really help a lot! I could drool over this video all day...

[automorph 0]

the problem for everyone of those highlights there is probably 80-90% "russian style" failures they don't show

hockey is a team game, the okey-doke works few and far between

Russians aint the only danglers, I would say US kids might even be slightly ahead of Canada in terms of learning "dirty hands"

[Chadd 916]

the problem for everyone of those highlights there is probably 80-90% "russian style" failures they don't show

Even in the video, trying to split two or three defenders didn't result in a goal most of the time.

[Wildcat85 0]

i dont want to learn how to be a puck hog if thats what you think haha. but in general what does a russian do that looks so different from north american players? except goligoski he kinda absorbed some of gonchars playing style.

[Chadd 916]

i dont want to learn how to be a puck hog if thats what you think haha. but in general what does a russian do that looks so different from north american players? except goligoski he kinda absorbed some of gonchars playing style.

In the video virtually none of them are going flat out. In fact, most are coasting through the entire clip of their play.

[s_franchise 5]

I think the only real difference i see between north american/european players is maybe a difference in skating styles. I dont think theres anything better than one location or another. being able to read the game and skate well are probably the biggest assets to know.

[Wildcat85 0]

aagh! nobody is answering my questions haha

[doodman 0]

The local hockey rink in my town is owned by a russian and he and his russian buddies run some teams. (this is in socal)

when I see them do lessons I see ALOT of skating, sometimes the whole hour is skating, NO PUCKS, skate skate skate drills

I always thought skating was the most important aspect of the game so it makes sense to me.

[bigdmac 12]

I agree with doodman, the Russians really focus on their skating and their edges. I think a major difference between Russian vs North American hockey is the physicality. A good example of this is if you watch the game where the Flyers played the Red Army sometime in the 70's. The Russians were getting hit so much they actually walked off the ice becuase they didn't like the style of play. I'm sure it's not as bad as the 70's but my son went on a European tour and said that they never hit, and couldn't really take a hit either.

[skyscrape 5]

aagh! nobody is answering my questions haha

Chadd kind of did.

The majority of the players in the video are coasting rather than skating all out. Next time you skate up to defender let yourself glide for a moment and make the move. When both feet are down it is a lot harder to judge where you are going as a d man. Now if half these guys were not so mesmerized by the puck they might have simply stepped into the stick handler and ended the play. Just my thought. Nit that I could do it.

[Wildcat85 0]

I agree with doodman, the Russians really focus on their skating and their edges. I think a major difference between Russian vs North American hockey is the physicality. A good example of this is if you watch the game where the Flyers played the Red Army sometime in the 70's. The Russians were getting hit so much they actually walked off the ice becuase they didn't like the style of play. I'm sure it's not as bad as the 70's but my son went on a European tour and said that they never hit, and couldn't really take a hit either.

i understand that now thanks for clairifying. ill definately try that.

[goaliemanshark 6]

Thanks for posting that video, it was awesome! I muted it and played some Avicii in the background, it was AWESOME.

But for the different playing styles, i would say IN GENERAL, Russians don't play as much of a team game. They concentrate more on skating, all out speed and hands. Also more wrist shots vs N.A. skaters who mainly take snap shots.

I do agree there is something about Russian players who are mesmerizing to watch.

[Wildcat85 0]

i seem to notice when they stickhandle they move thier top hand back and forth the opposite direction as the bottom one maybe to cup the puck more. im not sure. you can see this with kovalchuk at the beginning. anybody else notice that or am i crazy?

[Wildcat85 0]

I agree with doodman, the Russians really focus on their skating and their edges. I think a major difference between Russian vs North American hockey is the physicality. A good example of this is if you watch the game where the Flyers played the Red Army sometime in the 70's. The Russians were getting hit so much they actually walked off the ice becuase they didn't like the style of play. I'm sure it's not as bad as the 70's but my son went on a European tour and said that they never hit, and couldn't really take a hit either.

just came across this video and i get it now haha

[BarDownGinos 3]

If you want Russian hands you have to do Russian drills. Which means hours and hours and hours and hours of stickhandling, everyday. Forever. Don't know if the practice is used anymore but Russian clubs would make players practice without laces in their skates to build ankle strength.

[Haggerty 144]

just came across this video and i get it now haha

All those plays were legal hit's when they played, nothing dirty about it.

[iceNsteel 0]

I agree with doodman, the Russians really focus on their skating and their edges. I think a major difference between Russian vs North American hockey is the physicality. A good example of this is if you watch the game where the Flyers played the Red Army sometime in the 70's. The Russians were getting hit so much they actually walked off the ice becuase they didn't like the style of play. I'm sure it's not as bad as the 70's but my son went on a European tour and said that they never hit, and couldn't really take a hit either.

It's the Olympic vs NHL sized ice sheets. We actually have one local rink that has an Olympic size sheet, it's frigging huge and I can see how it would be pretty difficult to check someone when there's just so much space out there. As a result the Europeans don't really hit much. I've seen quite a few German elite league games that could pass for no check hockey.

[tonguesOUT4life 17]

how is it in top division in sweden? no crash and bang?

[DLK 0]

I've always thought of the Russian style of hockey as MORE team-focused than the average, not less. I grew to love this sport watching the "Russian Five" in Detroit...I've always assumed it was fairly representative of the Russian/Soviet programme in general, but frankly I haven't seen a whole lot of Russian hockey so I might be way off base with my generalisations.

The thing that defines Russian hockey to me is an absolute focus on puck possession. Sure, excellence in individual skating and stickhandling abilities is a common theme, but exceptional passing, vision and positioning seem more like the defining charactoristics of the perfect Russian-style hockey player to me. "Position" seems a very fluid concept to the best of them; Russian players tend to rotate extremely well. One of the things that stood out to me watching the "Russian Five" was that you basically played against five defensemen when you were on the attack and five forwards when defending. They also seemed gifted with an almost preternatural ability to know where each other was on the ice at any given time.

Now, how does one go about developing that as an adult? I've no idea...but if you figure it out, let me know. :)