Russian players in NHL

The Washington Capitals of the NHL signed Russian winger Dmitry Kugryshev to an entry level rookie contract. He has been drafted by the Capitals during the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, with the 58th overall pick.

Kugryshev, who turned 20 in January, has spent the latest two seasons with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL, scoring respectively 74 and 81 points. The Moscow, Russia, native won a gold medal with Team Russia U18 back in 2007, with a silver and bronze medal at the WJC stage. He has been included in this year's WJC long roster, but he has been cut during the preparation camp.

Kugryshev also skated with the Capitals in the training camp on September and during other rookie camps.

Russian star Evgeni Malkin gave an interview to Vasili Osipov of Sport-Express after the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers at the Madison Square Garden. In this interview Evgeni talked about the reasons of Team Russia's defeat to Canada at the latest Olympic Tournament, examined the differences between the management of the two national teams and tried to suggest some changes to get the revenge in Sochi.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation of the interview.

Another Russian player joined the Atlanta Thrashers as they got Evgeny Artyukhin from the Anaheim Ducks. Ilya Kovalchuk's former team features in their lineup also Maxim Afinogenov, Vyacheslav Kozlov and Nikolai Antropov.

Evgeny Artyukhin this season scored four goals and nine points in 37 regular season games.

The Ducks obtained defenseman Nathan Oystrick and a 2011 conditional draft pick.

Artyukhin's first match with the Thrashers will be played tonight against the Florida Panthers.

Let's remember that in February Atlanta got the young defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy from the Dallas Stars.

Russian defenseman Denis Grebeshkov has been traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Nashville Predators as the trade deadline is approching.

The Oilers got a second round pick for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

In the 2009-10 regular season Grebeshkov scored 19 points (6 goals and 13 assists) in 47 games.

His contract with the Predators will run out on June 2010 and he'll thus be a free agent at the end of the season.

He will play his first match as a Predator tonight, against his old team, the Edmonton Oilers.

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 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.

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.

After the Habs lost 4-3 in an overtime to the St. Louis, Russian defenceman Andrei Markov had something to say to their goalie Carey Price.

According to the TEAM990 radio, Markov told Price "If you are not going to play with heart, stay home. We don't need you here."

The same radio station reported that some players supported Markov while some part of the team sided with Price.

The Montreal Canadiens didn't comment on the situation yet.

NHL star Alexander Semin gave an interview to Russian newspaper Sovsport.ru which was translated on the popular Washington Capitals' blog Japers' Rink. In this interview he talked about the upcoming Olympic Games in Vancouver, about 2008 WC final match and about his composed personality. Special guest of the interview: Ovechkin's dad.

RussianHockeyFans.com collected the most interesting parts of the interview.

The Philadelphia Flyers signed Denis Bodrov to an AHL deal. The Russian defenseman was a second round pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and was released by KHL's Atlant Mytischi in November due to bad performances.

"He hasn't played in about a month," GM Holmgren said to philly.com. "I don't really know the process over there in Russia, but it worked out where he was free to do what he wanted. He's been here the last few days."

Bodrov, 23, started his pro career with Lada Togliatti. He was drafted by the Flyers after his good performances at 2006 WJC, where he won the silver medal with Team Russia. He was then traded to Atlant Mytischi after he was rumored to have a bad influence on the team's youngest players. In the Moscow Region team he didn't manage to play up to the expectation and he was finally released in November.

"He was a highly thought of defenseman in our system at one time," Holmgren said to philly.com. "He was on our reserve list. He's not in shape right now. He needs to get down there and play. We'll see what happens."

The move to North America might be a successful change of scenario for the young defenseman, who was very near to sign with the Flyers already on summer 2007, but then he decided to spend a further year with Lada.

Read also:
Denis Bodrov leaves Atlant

Russian goalie Alexander Pechurski played his first NHL game on Saturday and he was named 3rd star of the match thanks to his 12 saves in 35 minutes. In an interview with Russian website allhockey.ru he talked about his eventful weekend and his NHL experience.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.