Are Russian players more ready for the NHL now than in the past?

No same as in the past. You get softies, you get toughies.

Only now the two russians that just happen to be in the spotlight are two guys that play with passion, and are players ready for the NHL, it's pace and strength.

I could name you 10 russian players in todays NHL that aren't, but they don't get our attention.

Nah, it's a good point you're making but I just think that it's the same as before, although Russia might be producing better players then before... And the athletes in Russia might be more motivated to make the jump to the NHL.

I think they've always been very good, actually great, it's just in this era, they are much more feisty and prone to drilling your @ss with a check or dropping the gloves.

Euro play has always been more about skill and speed than traps and dumping the puck into the corner and going to retrieve it.

Perhaps you have heard of Vladamir Konstantinov?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz2r8Gb_WP4