Confirmed with Link: Anton Levtchi - Signed 1 Year ELC

[austropanther]

Kuzmenko

Makes you wonder about 2 things:
1. is the Russian league better than the Finnish league, so success there translates easier to NA?
2. What could have been if Levtchi had got a shot with the Panthers right away, instead of having to prove himself in the AHL first? Could he have been a Kuzmenko?

 

[Prominence Problem]

Back as late as the early '90s, it was common for European players to come over to North America when they are older. Probably had something to do with the all of the Iron Curtain.
Didn't Peter Forseberg not come to North America for a few seasons after he was drafted?

 

[mattihp]

Skilled European players naturally often have trouble to adjust to the smaller ice. They look like superstars cycling, skating around on the open ice, having more time to receive passes and unleashing shots. The later you get over to NA the harder it is for them to adjust. I guess it was already too late for Levtchi. He was expecting to put up the same numbers as for Tappara, but that did not happen. Plus these guys often already have families so the social and family factor weighs in as well - he is 27 years old.

Does anybody remember a European guy that made his way to NA in his mid- or late-20ies and had an immediate big impact? I currently have noone coming to mind

Well.. one russian changed the calder rules

 

[ScottyMascotty]

Makes you wonder about 2 things:
1. is the Russian league better than the Finnish league, so success there translates easier to NA?
2. What could have been if Levtchi had got a shot with the Panthers right away, instead of having to prove himself in the AHL first? Could he have been a Kuzmenko?

1. Yes
2. No