KHL, NHL, Russian Prospects and Team Russia

After the 1-0 defeat to Sweden in the 2012 WJC Gold Medal Game, Evgeny Kuznetsov shared his thoughts about the game with the popular news agency RIA Novosti.

"In the first two periods we had a total of four shots on net. This speaks loud. If we won, it would have been unfair. Makarov was great, he saved the game for us, he stopped everything. So, destiny decided otherwise. So the Silver medal is good? Maybe it's good for you. It hurts, but life goes on.

Nothing terrible, we have to know how to lose as well. We will make it through. This will temper our character."

Kuznetsov went on talking about MVP honors: "Being the Most Valuable Player is always pleasant, but it hurts as I didn't get the Medal I wanted."

He also tried to analyse the reason which brought to Team Russia's defeat: "Maybe we lost many phsycological and physical forces in the game against Canada. Team Sweden was better than us, they completely outplayed us. We started playing well during the third period, but we didn't manage to score. And the overtime... we all made a mistake. There's no need to blame any player, we all lost.

I wish good luck to all the players who will play in next year's WJC."

Today it was announced that Kirill Kabanov signed a try-out contract with top Elitserien team Farjestad BK. The 19-years-old Russian winger was among the last cuts of the New York Islanders.

To shed some light on this unexpected event, RHF talked with EliteProspect's admin Johan Nillson, a Swedish hockey expert.

What is Kirill Kabanov's reputation in Sweden? You know that in Russia and in North America he had some problems, how is all this in a "neutral" country like Sweden?

Kabanov is not overly known in Sweden, but for those that have indeed heard about him, I think they believe he is somewhat of a "problem child" with some diva tendencies.

As we know Kabanov has a contract up to November 6th. What do you think, does he have a chance to stay in Sweden for the whole year?

I honestly have no clue how well he will fair. He will for sure have to do his very best to be able to grab a spot on Färjestad's roster. It will be easy to get rid of him if they find his attitude or work ethic in question...

Can you talk us about Farjestad? Is the team a contender for the Elitserien title?

Färjestad has really started the season lousy are currently placed last. On paper, the team is good enough to be top 4-5 in Elitserien, but they are really underachieving at the moment.

What kind of role Kabanov can get on the team? Could he potentially compete for a top 6 spot?

Färjestad's needs scoring and offense, so if they are bringing in someone now, they want him to contribute offensively rather than having a limited role. I think Kabanov will get the chance to see quality ice-time, and some time on the pp unit.

Last question. Considering Kabanov's history, do you think a move to Sweden is potentially good for his career? Better than spending another season in the juniors?

Not knowing the exact current status of Kabanov, but looking at his history, it might be good for him to be playing in a men's league. In a professional organization with many high quality players and where he will not be thought of as the obvious star/key player. It ought to get some pressure of his shoulders and maybe that could have a positive affect on his game.

Alexei Kovalev recently signed a 2-year deal with Atlant Mytischi of the KHL, and he confirmed that he still had offers from the NHL.

"I had two offers from NHL teams", 38-years-old Kovalev told Russian newspaper Sovetsky Sport. "But I chose Russia."

Kovalev, who played more than 1300 games in the NHL, scoring more than 1000 points, explained one of the main reasons for his move to the Moscow region team.

"The lenght of the contract was a problem. I don't want to pack my suitcases every year. I understood that in North America I wouldn't get more than an one-year deal, while Atlant offered me two years."

Kovalev also explained other aspects of his transfer.

"I didn't play much in Russia. I got to the Rangers when I was 19 and I played in the NHL all my career. It's hard to get used to something new, but I have a profession and I will keep on playing. I am healthy, I still have hands and conditioning. Yes, I'm going to another place, but hockey is hockey. I love it and I enjoy playing."

Former Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers player, forward Fedor Fedorov, broke the glass during the warm-up before SKA St. Petersburg's KHL regular season game on October 16th against Avtomobilist Ekaterinburg.

SKA eventualy won the home game with a 5-1 score, and Fedorov had one assist.

RussianHockeyFans offers you a video of this curious incident:

During a pre-season intrasquad scrimmage, Habs' prospect Alexander Avtsin played on a line with Mike Cammalleri and had one goal and one assist. Everyone note that the 20-years-old player managed to learn good English in just one year. And now he knows what the team needs from him. He also fairly judged himself, saying that it’s too early to talk about the NHL, and most likely he will spend another season in the AHL.

"I've spent half of the summer in Moscow, then I left to Montreal to get ready for the new season, I had a strengthening program", Avtsin told in Russian. “I worked with a group of players gathered by my agents. There were many Czech and Slovak players, like Havlat, Michalek"

You did look good in Cammalleri's line.

Alexander Avtsin: "We played with 10 forwards, three lines and one spare. We changed a lot and thus I didn't play with Mike only. I played in any position and with any other player."

Why did you decide to play in the AHL and not in the KHL?

Alexander Avtsin: "Every player has his own path. Every player decides for himself, and decides for what can be better and more needed."

Belarusian forward Mikhail Stefanovich has been assigned to Dynamo Minsk of the KHL by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dynamo Minsk secured Stefanovich's right as he was a second overall pick of the 2009 KHL junior draft.

Stefanovich, who played for the Dynamo Minsk organization up to the 2004/2005 season, played only six professional games this year, with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL and the Reading Royals of the ECHL.

After a couple of seasons in Belarus Stefanovich crossed the ocean to play in the QMJHL for the Quebec Remparts and in the 2007-08 season he won the Mike Bossy Trophy as QMJHL's top prospect of the year. Stefanovich spent in the Q also the two following seasons. He also started playing for the Belarusian national team.

Most likely Stefanovich's first game with Dynamo Minsk will be played on November 30 against Sibir Novosibirsk.

Evgeny Artyukhin's contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL has been confirmed and the player is now free to play, Russian press reports. The 27 years old forward's signing was delayed due to some heart problems risen during the first medical checks.

Artyukhin, who will play with the #44, is set to debut with SKA today against Metallurg Novokuznetsk.

Artyukhin has been drafted in the NHL by the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2001 Entry Draft. In 199 NHL games scored 19 goals and 30 assists for a total of 49 points. He won a gold medal at both U18 and U20 WJCs.

24 years old Karri Ramo is one of the top KHL goalies. His NHL rights were recently traded to the Montreal Canadiens and he's expected to join the Habs during the next summer as his deal with Avangard Omsk of the KHL will run out on the next April 30th. In this interview with Ilya Elchaninov of sports.ru Ramo talked about his future plans, about his past experiences with Tampa Bay and about life in Russia.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

Russian rookie Sergei Bobrovsky is surprising many with his play in the NHL for Philadelphia Flyers. In this interview with the press club of his former team, Metallurg Novokuznetsk, Bobrovsky talked about his new life in Philadelphia, about the sensations of the first game and about his mask.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation:

Sergei, how did you settle down in Philadelphia? Do you live alone there?
Bobrovsky: "I live alone for now, waiting for my girlfriend. There are some problems with the American embassy. It's not easy to get a visa to the USA! My parents and my sister are going to visit me after the New Year."

How are you doing with the English language?
Bobrovsky: "I wouldn't say that I have big problems with it. I get what they say me, but it's hard to talk myself. My team mates are good guys, there is a great atmosphere. In such an environment I don't feel myself out of place because of the language. I arrived three weeks before the training camp's start and they assigned an English teacher to me and I studied almost every day. Now that the games are started there is no free time and I cope with the language myself. I have to go nowhere, all the people around me talk in English!"

With whom do you talk more? Did you befriend someone already?
Bobrovsky: "I talk mostly with Nikolay Zherdev, he's the only one I can actually discuss with. There is also Oskars Bartulis from Latvia, he talks Russian as well. With the other guys I can only exchange a couple of phrases, things like 'Hi, how are you?' 'All good, thanks'."

What is your ipression of the city?
Bobrovsky: "The team's training center isn't in Philadelphia, but in a nearby city called Voorhees. I live in a hotel not far. This is why I didn't have the chance to visit all the important parts of the city. Philadephia is a great city. There are a lot of great buildings, I put one of them on my mask. Also the arena is great."

Talking about your mask, how long did you think about what to draw there? And why did you choose that? Didn't your team mates asked about the tower of Novokuznetsk's fortress depicted on the mask itself?
Bobrovsky: "My father helped me! I thought a lot, I don't even know for how long. And when they asked, I replied that the tower is the top attraction of my city!"

Did you think to get a spot with the Flyers already on the very first game of the season?
Bobrovsky: "I trained for the season with the team, getting ready to play. This is why when I got to know that I was going to play it wasn't for me like a bolt from the blue. But for many fans it was unexpected."

What did you feel playing against Pittsburgh and players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin?
Bobrovsky: "It was nothing new before the game. You can't waste time on emotions. But after the game I was, of course, very happy! I'm glad that the team won and that I had a good game."

If it's not a secret, how many messages did you get on your phone and/or social networks after the game?
Bobrovsky: "A lot, I don't even remember. It was very pleasant."

Do you miss your home?
Bobrovsky: "I have no time to miss something. Here it's a whole another life, and I'm deeply immersed into it!"

Vyacheslav Kozlov was officially signed today to a 1 year contract by CSKA Moscow.

The former component of the famous Russian Five joined the Red Army a couple of days ago and will depart with the team for their upcoming away trip. Kozlov will wear the #72 jersey.

Vyacheslav Kozlov was Stanley Cup Champion in 1997 and 1998 with the Detroit Red Wings. Kozlov played a total of 1182 NHL games, with 853 points.

Kozlov: "I'm glad to be back in the team which is almost my home club, and it's the greatest team in Russia. I'll do all I can to help the team fighting for the Gagarin Cup. I think I am in good shape and I'll be able to help my team mates very soon. Recently I underwent the physical examinations and the doctors were satisfied about my shape. I hope I'll be able to play my first game with my new team on Friday against Yugra."

It was reported that also Spartak Moscow offered Kozlov a contract, but Slava preferred the Red Army, with whom he played in 1991-92 and 1994-95.

28 years old Marek Svatos signed with Avangard Omsk of the KHL. He was an unrestricted free agent.

The forward was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2001 NHL Draft, and played with the Avs a total of six seasons.

Svatos scored a 164 points in 316 NHL career games. He won the Memorial Cup with the Kootenay Ice of the WHL in the 2002.

Svatos struggled in producing constantly, mostly due to his size and injury proneness. Avangard Omsk now has a good contingent of Czech and Slovakian players, having in their team also Jaromir Jagr, Roman Cervenka and Martin Skoula.

Svatos signed a one year deal with the Siberian team.

The former Washington Capitals forward Chris Bourque, who moved this summer to Atlant Mytischi of the KHL, gave an interview to SportsDaily.ru.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

The story of your signing with Atlant was pretty long. Were you hesitating?
Bourque: "I just wanted to see how it'd turn out with the Capitals. When the situation wasn't clear I had to told Atlant that they'd have to wait."

But then finally the Capitals offered you a contract. Why did you decide to move to Russia?
Bourque: "Things were going the way that I'd not get a spot with the Capitals. I have won everything in the AHL - like the Calder Cup and the playoffs MVP. Besides I was soon to reach the age limit, which would mean I'd have to part ways with the AHL. And since I wasn't completely sure that I'd make the first team, I decided to move to Russia. I got sick of constantly waiting for my chance and then being used to plug holes in the roster."

Quite surprising that the son of Ray Bourque had to ride the pine in the NHL
Bourque: "Nobody in the NHL cares who your parents are. If the coach doesn't like you, you won't get ice time even if you are the President of the USA. And I think they called me to Atlant not because of my father."

As for you father, what was his reaction?
Bourque: "It was good. He wished me good luck and professional growth. He didn't wish me to return soon - I have a two-year contract, and I'm going to spend these two years here. Then, who knows, maybe the KHL experience will help me to attract attention of the NHL. In Russia there is a great school, traditions, strong teams. And it seems to me that I can take a lot from the Russian style."

Why you didn't become a defenceman like your father?
Bourque: "That's due to my frame. In today's NHL defencemen are really strong, and I wasn't big enough. Maybe that's the reason why I didn't get a spot in the NHL. In Russia I'll try to find out what can be improved in my game while not having a big frame."

What can you say about your new partners?
Bourque: "They are really skilled players with great skating and puck control. We are passing a lot here. The team welcomed me really well. I hope to get used to the game style in Atlant as soon as possible and start producing more. By the way, even though I didn't play in the NHL's Atlanta, these consonance gives me comfort. And also they say that the Russian language is something unique."

Do you speak Russian?
Bourque: "Just a few words. Have to master the hockey language first to understand partners better."

Do you have any problems with everyday stuff?
Bourque: "No, not at all. And after these continuous bus trips in the AHL I have just nothing to complain about."

Can you compare KHL and AHL?
Bourque: "Can't go in details yet as I don't have much KHL experience. But in my opinion you can't compare them at all. The KHL is a separate league, the best in Europe. And in the AHL there are farm teams with the purpose of giving experience to youngsters and practice to those not making it in the NHL. The KHL is, of course, a step forward for me."

How ready do you feel for the season?
Bourque: "As for now, I haven't shown even the half of what I'm capable of."

You were already trusted with a shootout in the game against SKA...
Bourque: "Well, shootouts are what I practiced a lot. They are all the same in the NHL, KHL, AHL - come to the ice and shoot. You have just the goalie in front of you, though his level depends on what league you are playing in."

Atlant didn't start the season pretty well. And now you lost to SKA, even though in the shootouts. Are you upset?
Bourque: "I'm actually more upset that Nabokov didn't play against us. I wanted to face him. And going one-on-one in the shootout against such an ace is a special occasion. As for the defeat, I'm sure we will get our points later, I see that we doing better every day. Our coach said that we were doing everything right and that we are progressing from game to game."

Chris Bourque in 6 games this season: 1G, 0A, -2, ATOI 7:31.