nino33 wrote:Primis wrote:I think some of the younger Russians don't develop right... which is why you see an OHL Selects team thrash the Russians 11-0 even though the Russians have players that should probably be a bit further along in their development than they are in-game. I think guys like Fetisov, Makarov, etc, need their starting attributes tweaked to bring them further along from the start.
They were purposely made excessively low at start-up to try to keep them out of the NHL (and it still doesn't work!)...are you sure that Fetisov/Makarov/etc even stay in Russia to play the OHL selects?
I'm in 2008/1976 right now on my personal game with the DB. I have not touched it or modified it in the least (I often heavily edit even the Lidas/Manimal DB's to get things the way I want), so I could see how the DB really works to try and help you out.
I drafted the rights to Makarov and Fetisov myself so they're still in Russia, though I can't imagine they would get signed and come over right away honestly with their development. Alexei Kasatonov has not been drafted yet either and is playing for the Russian U20's as well.
I signed Tretiak myself to play for DET after a real hassle to do so, after two seasons he speaks fluent English and has been solid for me (though never a Vezina nominee even). I've actually been considering trying to flip Tretiak for someone else but I think the problem is my d-men, not him. Kharlamov never signed with anyone. I also signed Alexander Yakushev and Sergei Kapustin to DET, but they took even longer to convince (only got Kapustin just a few game months ago). Yakushev was a star from Day One, Kapustin is... inconsistent and struggling at times, and I dunno' if he'll pan out in North America.
Maltsev is still in Russia with Moscow D and is regularly vying with Mikhalov and Kharlamov for the Russian scoring lead. Fetisov, Makarov, and others signed with teams other than Moscow C and Moscow D, including Steve Sutherland, Ron Snell, and Bill Evo who are among the league leaders. Nikolai Drozdetsky remains in Russia with Magnitogorsk, with Colorado owning his rights. I thought an NHL team might make a go at signing Valery Vasiliev at D (because he's considerably better than a lot of d-men already in the NHL), but he remains with Moscow D. 16 of the Top 20 scorers in Russia are with Moscow C, Moscow D, or Moscow K still.
(BTW, Sergei Kolosev is still in the DB and is a modern player that should probably be removed).
Marian Stastny is simply not signable (he's not allowed out until after his contract expires, which is in like 12 years or something wonky which I assume was the intent to keep him there) and is currently the single best non-NHL player in the game and looks to be so for a long time as a result.
As for the SEL, Anders Kallur and Dan Labraatan are still there alog with a 16 year old Hakan Loob. Leif Svensson and Kent-Erik Andersson are also still in the SEL. Doug Grant ended up tending goal with Frolunda after I gave up on him and didn't renew his contract in DET, and he's dominating over there (18-0 so far on the season). Some SEL players have been signed and come over, but haven't been particularly successful. Lars lindgren was signed from MODO but has been so-so in the NHL.
In Finland, I don't recognize anyone. I think a lot of them are modern leftover players filling out the rosters. I see an awful lot of North American names there. Same for the Swiss league and the DEL.
In the Czech League Marian Stastny and Ivan Hlinka remain. But a modern player that should be removed, Jaroslav Balastik, is 3rd in scoring.
Overall my experience with Euros, particularly the Russians, is that you can sign some, but most all stay and even if you push hard you can't get some at all. Hope this all helps. I don't think the Euro Exodus is as bad as you fear. It just hasn't been for me. Had I not signed Yakushev and Kapustin I don't think either would have been signed by anyone else even. Tretiak is the one that might have from Russia.