Did Bogatyrev cross the line?

jRuutu · October 26, 2023

Russian center Yaroslav Bogatyrev has been all over the news in the recent weeks and months. Bogatyrev played the previous season in Seattle Bears, but staying in the organization was far from certain as the season kept moving forward. The final nail in the coffin came when Bogatyrev publicly announced they would go to free agency well before the off-season had begun. Since then, the story followed a path that you might expect, the player's camp and Seattle camp were not pleased, multiple teams offered a contract for the player during the off-season, and finally, a contract was signed - Yaroslav Bogatyrev plays in Malmo next season.

The question in the minds of many, myself included, is the following: Did Bogatyrev cross the line? Publicly announcing that you will test free agency when the season is not over yet, publicly throwing darts at the management of Seattle and the organization itself - these are all reasonable and respected moves in the minds of many, me included, but to allow yourself to be described a "star forward" in a media publication? That is too much. That media article should have never been allowed to be published.

Bogatyrev has a 7.5% career shooting percentage. Bogatyrev should be called a "far forward", if you count the distance he has missed the net with all his shots, and put it all together - you would go FAR. Bogatyrev should be called a "bar forward", only a player who spends more time in a bar than in the practice rink can shoot wide so many times. Bogatyrev should be called a "car forward", only a player who is being driven everywhere can score so many goals on the powerplay. Bogatyrev should be called a "jar forward" because everything else remains closed. Bogatyre should be called a "tar forward", outlandish exaggerations must be met with tar and feathers. Bogatyrev should be called a "Spar forward", the quality of the product and the value better match Spar than a fine brand. Bogatyrev should be called a "cigar forward", the only time Bogatyrev and hot or fire can be mentioned together is when the following sentence is shouted out: "Yo Bogatyrev, stop smoking that cigar here, you will cause a hot fire". And finally, Bogatyrev should be called a "scar forward" for all the trouble he has caused. Parents all over Seattle had to sit their children down and teach them about the dangers of motivational quotes. One wise person once said that you miss 100% of the shots you do not take, this quote was on the walls of who knows how many houses to remind the children that you must always keep going and shoot your shot, chase your dreams, but Bogatyrev has shown that it is also possible to miss almost 100% of the shots you do take. At some point, you have to stop and ask: "Is it time to stop shooting and pass the puck?"

To the end, I would like to send my greetings to the good people of VHL, may the upcoming season be a fun one!