Vancouver Canucks: Nikita Tryamkin a European Pioneer
The Vancouver Canucks signed 21-year-old defenceman Nikita Tryamkin out of Russia and will be unable to send him to the minors — a revolution?
Vancouver Canucks defenceman Nikita Tryamkin is not the first European player in North America and he will not be the last. However, he might have revolutionized European prospect contracts.
Every hockey-playing kid dreams of making the NHL, no matter where they are from. That does not change when those little kids turn out to be talented enough to turn their passion into their job. Every professional hockey player dreams of playing in the world’s best hockey league.
What European kids do not dream of is being a minor-league player somewhere in North America.
The American Hockey League is good, no doubt about it. But, it is not much better — if at all — than the European KHL, SHL or Liiga.
So, why would players come over to North America just to play in the AHL? Why would someone choose Utica, New York, over their home town or the town or country they have lived in for years?
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One possible answer is that players can always be called up to the NHL and jump from the minor leagues to the world’s very best within a day. If a player starts the season in Europe, he stays there for a full season. Furthermore, it is easier for NHL coaches, scouts and general managers to keep an eye on their prospects in North America than it is in Europe.
But, look at it from Tryamkin’s — or any European player’s — perspective.
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He thinks he is good enough to play in the NHL, but he also knows that he might need more time to develop. If that were the case, Tryamkin would rather stay at home and develop there than travel around North America and live in some random American city.
Hence, he got an out-clause included in his deal that will allow him to leave Vancouver and return to Russia if he fails to make the NHL team. Nothing wrong with that, right?
When you have a choice between playing in a random town somewhere in North America, making roughly $70,000 per year or playing at home, making $200,000 or more while getting everything paid for (housing, car, etc.), why would you choose North America?
Plus, in Tryamkin’s case, the language barrier is a problem. At home, that would not be an issue — he could focus on playing hockey and study English in his off time. In North America, he needs a translator and life will be hard for him for the next few months.
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If he sticks with the Canucks, it is obviously all worth it. If he does not, however, Russia just makes so much more sense for him.
Obviously, being close to the NHL club and being in contact with NHL coaches and management is a big plus, and most European players will still make the jump to North America no matter what. But, for players coming out of a European pro league, an out-clause like Tryamkin’s is most certainly an option.