Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

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.

From RussianProspect.com

Alexander Avtsin and Dynamo Moscow decided to break the player's contract as he wants to try and get a spot with the Canadiens, as reported by Sport-Express.

During the last couple of months there was a lot of speculation around Avtsin's contract as he was under contract with Dynamo, but now he decided to report to North America.

Avtsin, 19, will skate in next week's rookie camp with the Habs, and then will skate in the main team's training camp in late August.

The promising right winger had three goals and six assists with Dynamo last year, but a wrist injury in January prematurely ended his season.

Many pages have been inked about the once thought to be one of the prime candidates for the 2010 Entry Draft #1 overall pick, Russian Kirill Kabanov, as he has experienced a serious downhill fall after his departure to Canada this fall.

During the 2008-09 season the talented winger got the first taste of pro hockey experience skating in a bunch of regular season and playoff games (and getting knocked out by a hit from former NHL defenseman Vitaly Vishnevsky) with Spartak Moscow, then scored eleven points in the 2009 U18 WJC, being thus outscored by Vladimir Tarasenko and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

We have started a new site dedicated to Russian prospects, RussianProspect.com.

We have compiled a list of Top Russians for the upcoming draft along with players' profiles (History, Talent Analysis and Future).

1. Kirill Kabanov, 9D
2. Vladimir Tarasenko, 8.5B
3. Evgeny Kuznetsov, 8.5B
4. Alexander Burmistrov, 8.5C
5. Stanislav Galiev, 8B
6. Ivan Telegin, 8C
7. Alexei Marchenko, 7.5B
8. Nikita Zaytsev, 7.5C
9. Maxim Kitsyn, 7C
10. Sergei Barbashev, 7C
11. Nikita Gusev, 7D

For now the site has profiles for the top Russian players available for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, but during the summer the site will be upgraded and it will have profiles of older and younger players, news, interviews and more scout reports, to give our readers the best coverage of Russian prospects available on the internet. The "Prospects" section of Russian Hockey Fans will be shut down.

2010 eligible Nikita Zaytsev, playing for Sibir Novosibirsk of the KHL, stated that Philadelphia and Chicago were the most interested teams during the recent NHL Draft Combine. In this interview by allhockey.ru he talked about the tests, about the draft itself and stated that he plans to play in the KHL the 2010-11 season.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

Not long ago you underwent the NHL Combine process, traditionally held about one month prior the NHL Draft. When did you know that they invited you there?

Zaytsev: "I was having a holiday in Turkey and my father called me. He told me that they called me for the tests on May 22nd and I had to fly to Toronto."

In spite of the recent news it looks like Alexander Avtsin will spend the 2010-11 season in the KHL with Dynamo Moscow. Dynamo's General Manager Andrei Safronov declared through the team's official site that all the young players remain property of the new formed OHC Dynamo and all contracts are valid.

"At the end of May the KHL confirmed that all the contracts with our players are valid. Our youngsters will stay. Avtsin and Dvurechensky have a contract up to April 2011 and 2012 respectively. Anton Krysanov (Phoenix Coyotes) and Andrei Plekhanov (Columbus Blue Jackets) are among the group of players that will skate in the team's training camp in Belarus.

We will part with Pavel Valentenko. He has a big contract and we can't afford that. According to my informations he plans to get back to North America."

As widely reported in the latest few days, Kirill Kabanov and his agent JP Barry parted ways. "I wish Kirill all the best" - Barry told The Hockey News. "It just wasn’t a fit. We advised him to seek other representation."

The collaboration between Kabanov and Barry (whose agency works with, for example, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar) lasted a few months only. They helped Kabanov in the preparation toward the upcoming NHL Draft and the NHL Draft Combine. But they refused to work with him any longer.

So far Don Meehan (and his Russian representative Sergei Isakov), Jay Grossman and Scott Greenspun (Alexei Kovalev's agent) parted ways with Kabanov.

Russian popular newspaper Sovietskiy Sport had an interview with Russian agent Ilya Moliver, who works for Jay Grossman's agency. Some of his clients are Ilya Kovalchuk, Nikolai Khabibulin and Pekka Rinne.

RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation.

Florida Panthers' prospect Sergei Gaiduchenko has been traded to CSKA Moscow prior the 2010 KHL Entry Draft in exchange of a first round pick.

Gaiduchenko, 21, spent the last year with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, playing 20 regular season games as back up of Georgi Gelashvili. His contract run out on Aprl 30st and wasn't renewed by Lokomotiv, thus making him a RFA. As he's going to join CSKA, most likely he won't transfer to the Panthers this summer.

Read also:
- Sergei Gaiduchenko: "You can't judge me by one game only"
- Sergei Gaiduchenko: I have a chance to move on as Florida drafted me

The International Scouting Services announced its final rankings for the upcoming 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Vladimir Tarasenko, playing for Sibir of the KHL, is the highest ranked European, having the 4th spot in the rankings.

There are three more Russian prospects in the Top 30, they are:

14. Alexander Burmistrov (OHL, Barrie Colts)
19. Evgeny Kuznetsov (KHL, Traktor Chelyabinsk)
24. Stanislav Galiev (QJMHL, Saint John Sea Dogs)

The notorious Kirill Kabanov has fallen out of the Top 30.

Young goalie Sergei Gaiduchenko, who was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, had a rocky season with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. He gave an interview to Russian sport site Yarosport.ru in which he tried to analyze the situation. Let's remember that his contract with Lokomotiv ran out on April 30th and he's still yet to sign.

Sergei, do you have an explanation regarding your benching at the end of the season?

Sergei Gaiduchenko: "Honestly speaking, no. After the end of the regular season the coaches told me to get ready to play for the second team (Loko in the MHL). No one told me explanations or complains about my game."

Did you try talking about your fate with the team with the staff boards?

Sergei Gaiduchenko: "I wouldn't have been against such a discussion, but I had to focus on the playoffs, and then this argument lost sense."

How the move to MHL can affect your career?

Sergei Gaiduchenko: "From one hand I practiced with the goalie coach that followed me a lot, Sergei Kotov. But on the other hand I lacked game practice against men and interaction with experienced defensemen. I wasn't prepared to play with 91 or 92 born players."

Didn't the release of goalie coach Ilari Näckel decrease your level of play? There were rumors that no one cared about you and you had to work by youself.

Sergei Gaiduchenko: "Anyway, if this had an impact, it wasn't on me only. And about working by myself, these weren't my words."

It's understable that you played less than starting goalkeeper Georgi Gelashvili. Almost in all teams there is a starting goalie and a reserve. How did you deal with this during the practices and after the demotion to MHL?

Sergei Gaiduchenko: "I work hard in the practices. And in the games in which I played I played practically at the same level as Georgi [Gelashvili]. If you want the proof, just look at the stats."

But then how to explain the four goals you allowed in your very first KHL game?

Sergei Gaiduchenko: "Well, then how to explain the five goals allowed in two periods by [Spartak's goalie Dmitri] Kochnev in the first game of the playoff series against them? (Note, Kochnev recently signed with Lokomotiv) Of course, a goalie has to save everything. But you can't judge by one game only."

Your contract is now over. Did you change your plans according to the latest events?

Sergei Gaiduchenko: "Generally speaking I wouldn't want to burn the bridges with the team. But I also don't like to live in such state of uncertainity."

During an interview with portal Sport Novokuznetsk, Washington Capitals' prospect Dmitry Orlov stated that he still doesn't know where he will spend the 2010-11 season.

Dmitry Orlov: "I still don't know if I'll go to the NHL this summer. I still have two more years of contract with Metallurg Novokuznetsk. I don't really know, we'll see what will happen."

The blue liner, who did skate in last year's rookie camp with the Capitals, has just been in the roster of the MHL runners-up. The Kuznetsk Bears lost the Russian Junior League finals 3-1 to the Steel Foxes from Magnitogorsk. Playoffs' top scorer was 2010 eligible Maxim Kitsyn with 20 points in 17 games, while Dmitry Orlov was third in the standings with 19 points (9+10).