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This is an extremely surprising development. Despite the fact that Hartikainen is a restricted free agent, the expectation was that he would play a role in the NHL for the Oilers this season. He's coming off an entry-level contract price of a stamp where he established himself as a contender for NHL work, though last season he failed to take advantage of an opportunity to cement himself in a top-nine role on the roster and was likely price of a stamp bound for a depth role to start 2013-14.
Despite a disappointing season, Hartikainen was still well-placed for NHL advancement. price of a stamp His waiver exemption had expired, meaning that the Oilers could not have re-assigned him to Oklahoma City without allowing the other 29 teams a chance to claim him - something they almost certainly would not have done. The results were lacking in a lockout-shortened 2013 campaign, but Hartikainen's combination of size (6'1", 215 pounds) and ability (his work in the AHL has been excellent) made him an intriguing price of a stamp prospect for the Oilers. 
There has yet to be any official reaction from the Oilers organization - or, for that matter, independent confirmation of the move - but there are essentially two different ways of looking price of a stamp at this. If Hartikainen was a player the team had firm plans for and who they felt could be an asset in the NHL this year, than this is an unfortunate loss for the team. If, on the other hand, he was the kind of player they were ambivalent about and were only planning to keep on the NHL roster because of waiver rules, a year in Russia could actually turn out to be a benefit - it gives Hartikainen another year to show what he can do (in a more difficult league than the AHL) and clears price of a stamp a roster spot for the team.
Time will tell if the Oilers were too hasty, or if the Canucks were too dithering, in their respective pursuits of Dallas Eakins. Going forward, however, I think Canucks management needs to seriously consider whether their preternaturally patient approach to pretty much everything is borne of prudence, or of indecision.
What kind of game have Dallas price of a stamp Eakins' Marlies played in the AHL? Report: Horcoff to a contender, Bowness turned down Edmonton Oilers expected price of a stamp to fire Ralph Krueger, hire Dallas price of a stamp Eakins Anton Lander should start 2013-14 in the minors Trading Shawn Horcoff Follow Jonathan Willis on Twitter!
Jonathan Willis is Managing Editor of the Nation Network. He also currently writes for the Edmonton Journal's Cult of Hockey, Grantland, and Hockey Prospectus. His work has appeared at theScore, ESPN and Puck Daddy. He was previously founder price of a stamp and managing editor of Copper & Blue. Contact him at jonathan (dot) willis (at) live (dot) ca.
+1
props
Otherwise, I don't see Harski's upcoming KHL adventure as one of those "years-abroad" that you do between high school and university ... or university and real-life. He's gotta be done as an Oiler, no?
I really don’t see MacT reacting very well to this. Harski’s a prospect that the Oilers have invested a lot of time in and I think MacT will take a hard-line tack on his defection…because that’s essentially what it is.
Think about it: He’s bolting an NHL team for a league that still uses old Soviet-era Aeroflot planes to ferry its players across price of a stamp the same Siberian tundra that defeated Napoleon and Hitler. That’s a slap in the face.
I could be totally wrong – but, other than Alexander Radulov, who came back to Nashville (briefly), I don’t know of any other NHL player who went away for a year or two and came back to the same team (will stand corrected).
I’m actually wondering if this isn’t some sort of reaction to the coaching announcement. Maybe Harski really liked playing for Krueger and now that he’s gone, Harski is figuring he’ll run for the sure money in Russia rather price of a stamp than do another up/down year in the NHL/AHL with a coach who may or may not be a hard-ass. price of a stamp
Jiri Hudler did this with the Wings a few years back - actually worked out for him and the team as he got to play in more of an offensive role than he would have had in Detroit. Came back for a couple years to Detroit price of a stamp before he got bad career advice and signed on with the Shames. price of a stamp
Look at Mark Giordanno - he came back from the KHL and was a real steady player.
Thanks!
Big ice, more wide open play and less board work would not seem to be offer the challenges Harti needs to work on to improve his NHL game. I am not sure the KHL will be better for his development than OKC even though there is more talent.
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I want this type of player in his role to be a hard nosed canadian type player wh