KHL, NHL, Russian Prospects and Team Russia

The Olympic Hockey Tournament is about to start today. Team's Russia first game will be the clash against Latvia in the Group B. Group's other match between Slovakia and Czech Republic will be played tomorrow.

It's very hard to predict a win for team Latvia in this game and thus team Russia should take this one pretty easily, but probably not as easy as in the last Olympics, where Kovalchuk's four goals led the Krikunov-trained team to a 9-2 triumph.

The puck is going to be dropped at the local 9 PM.

Team Russia has chosen its captain and alternates at the Olympic Games 2010.

According to Russian newspaper Sovetskiy Sport, Alexei Morozov will be the captain, Alexander Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk will be the alternates.

Alexei Morozov was the captain of the Russian team on two latest World Championships.

The Russian team practiced for the second time in Vancouver.

According to the Russian channel "Russia 2" the lines were:

Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Semin, Grebeshkov - Korneev.
Kovalchuk - Malkin - Afinogenov, Gonchar - Tyutin.
Zaripov - Zinoviev - Morozov, Markov - Nikulin.
Radulov - Fedorov - Kozlov, Kalinin - Volchenkov.

"I was sure that our line would look like that", said Evgeni Malkin to Russia 2. "I agree with the coaches, it's an optimal combination".

"I supposed that our line would look like that because we played together during the Olympic camp", Ilya Kovalcuk told Russia 2. "It is a good, interesting and dynamic line. I think if we try hard we can be very useful to the team."

Translation by RussianHockeyFans.com

Team Russia's coach Igor Zakharkin gave a few interviews where he stated that Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) and Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) might play on the same line, and that goalkeepers Evgeny Nabokov (San Jose Sharks) and Ilya Bryzgalov (Phoenix Coyotes) will both play during the robin-round at the Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Zakharkin on Ovechkin-Malkin to olympics10.ru

- Is there a chance to see Ovechkin and Malkin playing on the same line?
Zakharkin: "Maybe not since the very beginning but somewhere in the middle of the game or during power plays. We will think about it. We are also taking into account the fact that quite often Ovechkin plays on the left wing for the Capitals."

Zakharkin on Nabokov-Bryzgalov to sport-express.ru

- How are you going to share ice time between Nabokov and Bryzgalov?
Zakharkin: "We are going to use both Nabokov and Bryzgalov during the round-robin. But I can't say who's going to play in certain games."

Translation by RussianHockeyFans.com

The captain of the Russian national team, Alexei Morozov, playing for Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL, will carry the Russian flag at the Olympics opening ceremony, says the official Russian Hockey Federation site.

"I'm very pleased to be entrusted with such an honor", said Morozov to Russian site sportbox.ru (translation by RussianHockeyFans.com). "Hundreds of sportsmen will represent Russia at the Olympics and I was entrusted with the flag, which increases responsibility. I won't say that I was shocked by this news but rather pleasantly surprised."

Morozov became the second KHL player to carry his national flag at the Olympics' opening ceremony after Avangard Omsk's Jaromir Jagr, who will be the standard-bearer for the Czech Republic.

The ceremony will take place on February 12.

Ivan Vishnevskiy has been traded yesterday from the Dallas Stars to the Atlanta Thrashers. Most likely Vishnevskiy, who has played only five games in his NHL career, will be demoted to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.

The Dallas Stars obtained Finn goalie Kari Lehtonen, while the Thrashers added a further fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft.

Native of Barnaul, Russia, Vishnevskiy reported to North America in the 2005/06 season, when he was picked up in the CHL Import Draft by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and he spent three seasons. He was then drafted in the first round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars. He played most of the last couple of seasons in the AHL.

Alexander Avtsin is without a doubt one of the highest touted prospects from Russia. Unfortunately he is not playing now because of a hand injury, and will come back most likely only in one month.

In this interview with Olga Alexandrova, appeared on the official Dynamo Moscow's site, Avtsin explained why he decided to remain in Russia for this season, discussed his own current season's performances and he also told how he met his girlfriend Milana.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

Viktor Tikhonov declared that he's not going to return back in Severstal next year. After scoring two goals to in the regular season contest between Severstal Cherepovets and Metallurg Novokuznetsk, he has been interviewed by a reporter of the local website sport-nk.ru.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of the most interesting parts of the interview:

Where do you plan to spend the next season?
Viktor Tikhonov: "I have to come back to Phoenix, I have a three years deal with them. Most likely I'm going to play there."

Is there a big difference between the NHL and the KHL?
Viktor Tikhonov: "A little bit in the game's speed. And the different rinks size too."

Alexander Medvedev's quest for signing Ilya Kovalchuk to a KHL contract for the 2010/11 season goes on, despite the recent trade that brought the Russian sniper to New Jersey.

This is what SKA St. Petersburg's president said to gazeta.ru:

Alexander Medvedev: "Atlanta already regrets that they parted with Kovalchuk. On the other hand New Jersey almost secured themselves a playoff spot. We are still considering to transfer Ilya to the KHL. I'm going to attend the game New Jersey - Philadelphia, I will talk to both Ilya and his wife after the match."

Read also:
SKA to offer Kovalchuk a contract?
SKA of the KHL is interested in Kovalchuk

Russian goalie Anton Khudobin played his first NHL game tuesday night, when his Minnesota Wild skated past the Edmonton Oilers 4-2.

Khudobin, 23, has been iced in the game's third period after an injury occoured to Josh Harding. He reflected all the nine shot thrown towards his crease. "Yes, it was hard, but there's nothing you can do about it" - he told nhl.com after the game. "It's my job. My team mates said me to relax, and I thought that I only had to stop the first shot, then everything would be good."

Most likely Khudobin will be the starting goalie in today's match against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Vladimir Tarasenko, one of the top Russian players eligible for the upcoming 2010 NHL Entry Draft, confirmed that he is under contract for the 2010/11 season.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of the most interesting quotes from an interview recently appeared on Sibir Novosibirsk's official site.

Vladimir, let's talk again about the recent WJC. There was a lot of speculation about the conflict between the team's head coach, Vladimir Plyuschev, and the team's captain, Nikita Filatov. If there is no team then there can't either be results. Do you agree?
Vladimir Tarasenko: Yes, there was no team spirit. We couldn't work as a true team and I don't know who's to blame. But there are also other reasons. Team USA played together the whole year, they skated in some tournaments together. This might have had an impact over the tournament.

Is your contract with Sibir valid also for the following season?
Vladimir Tarasenko: Yes, it is. But this is not the only reason. I think I should continue my career with Sibir also because of the human conditions. There are a lot of people that really helped me. First of all - my family.

Ilya Kovalchuk has been traded to the New Jersey Devils. It's rumored that before the trade the former Atlanta Thrashers captain, one of the NHL top snipers, turned down a 12-year offer.

Kovalchuk costed the Devils defenseman Johnny Oduya, forward Nicklas Bergfors, prospect Patrice Cormier and the Devils' 2010 first round pick.

"New Jersey is a good team and it's a great chance to go far in the playoffs," Kovalchuk said to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It's sad at the same time because now - I can say it - I've been a Thrasher for eight years. I'm appreciative of everything, the organization and the fans."

Kovalchuk's first match as a New Jersey Devil will be on Friday night against Toronto. His first match against Atlanta is scheduled for April 6th. "That’s going to be an interesting game" - admitted Kovalchuk while speaking to WJLA-TV in Washington.