© Tomasz Sowa
The news of his addition to the Stingrays ranks broke earlier in the week and comes as no surprise after he told Polish website hokej.net:
"I would like to play in England, for 2-3 years to end my hockey career. For some time I was in contact with the club..yesterday I signed a one-year contract. Such is life [as] a hockey player..[he must] sign and play where he gets good a deal. Now I choose England because I have a wedding anniversary, my wife has lived in England for nine years. So I decided to come to her on a permanent basis."It appeared just a matter of time before Rodin - who also goes by the name Dmitri Suur - was unveiled as the Rays newest recruit having recorded three goals and 13 assists on his way to adding the Polish Cup to the Polish league title he won in 09/10.
The vastly experienced Tallinn native signs as the club's third new defensive signing of the summer, joining Brits Sam McCluskey and Daniel Scott on the roster, as player-coach Sylvain Cloutier attempts to revamp a blueline that leaked 202 goals last season.
While that double century is 31 goals fewer than 10/11 and 43 goals fewer than 09/10, it was fairly obvious to most that the club again struggled in its own defensive zone over the full 56 game schedule with the 12-0 drubbing in Cardiff a particular lowlight.
The signing of the wiley veteran - who has experience at the top level of hockey in Slovakia, Russia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland as well as his native Estonia - may not grab the headlines like former player-assistant coach Drew Bannister, who he may well end up replacing, however, he does provide much needed experience to a rearguard that, up to this point lacked top flight games under its belt.
Considering his age, one concern may be that the Estonian will lack pace which was a particular problem last term, however, having appeared for Estonia in their recent 7-0 loss at the hands of Great Britain and having played with Cloutier in Adirondack in 05/06, the Rays coach is confident 6'2 Suur will do a good job in the Elite League providing size and offence.
"I have known Dmitri a long time. He plays the North American style hockey, he's not your typical European. He plays the game hard, he competes and that's what I like about him. I needed a guy who has experience and can log up a lot of minutes back there and help out our young defencemen like Sam McCluskey and Daniel Scott. Also, we didn't really have a big shot from the point last year. Dmitri has that and I think that will be good for our powerplay. He's a good all-round player. He's been around and knows what it takes to win championships."Although Cloutier was unwilling to rule out a return for 37 year old Bannister, it looks very likely that his future now lies away from Hull, with the former NHLer commanding a package beyond the club's means to return. With the similarly aged Suur now signed, were Bannister to make a U-turn and re-sign, the Stingrays would be left with an unbalanced defensive corps consisting of an 18 year old and 22 year old as well as a 36 year old and 37 year old, and such a make-up seems unlikely given the ongoing defensive refurbishment.
The Estonian may not quite have the reputation or a resume comparable to Bannister's 164 NHL, 204 AHL, 124 DEL and 77 SM-Liga appearances, however, he would presumably come cheaper, allowing the club to spread the remainder of its resources from Bannister across the roster. Nevertheless, Cloutier reaffirmed to the Hull Daily Mail that, were it an option, he would indeed sign both players saying:
"I would have been very happy to have both Dmitri and Drew back there."Elsewhere, the Rays boss confirmed talks are now "ongoing" with captain Kurtis Dulle, who was initially contemplating retirement after his single season in Hull last year.
The 31 year old Saskatchewan native lead Stingrays defencemen last season, registering 12 goals and 31 assists for 43 points, and signed to play summer hockey in the Australian Ice Hockey League with the possibility that it may be the last stop on his six year hockey career.
However, he has since posted two goals and four assists in ten games with Sydney Bears, who sit eighth and bottom in the regular season standings, and it appears he remains open to the notion of returning for another year in Hull.
