Thursday, March 14Every Day Is A Great Day For Hockey

Russian Players In NHL

Alexander Avtsin: I hope to play some pre-season games

Alexander Avtsin: I hope to play some pre-season games

Russian Players In NHL
Alexander Avtsin: I hope to play some pre-season games (Photo © cyberpress.ca) 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 C...
Sergei Bobrovsky: “Philadelphia is a great city”

Sergei Bobrovsky: “Philadelphia is a great city”

Russian Players In NHL
Sergei Bobrovsky: "Philadelphia is a great city" (Photo © Jeff Gross/Getty Images) 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 ...
Alexander Semin on being playoff choker, contract with Caps

Alexander Semin on being playoff choker, contract with Caps

Russian Players In NHL
Alexander Semin on being playoff choker, contract with Caps (Photo © Luis M. Alvarez/Associated Press) Alexander Semin talked with Slava Malamud of Sport-Express about being a playoff choker and his contract with the Capitals. Here is a quick translation. Semin: "I can't get into the Caps bosses' heads. I don't know what they are thinking. Even if they trade me, so what? I'd finish the season somewhere else, then become a free agent. But I have been here for five years and I like it. It's comfortable here." Some say that you are a playoff choker. What do you think? Semin: "They can say whatever they want. I think that a player must be a player everywhere - in the regular season and in the playoffs. You know, it happens when you have no luck and it just doesn't click. And what, should I th...
Alexander Ovechkin gets Kharlamov Trophy

Alexander Ovechkin gets Kharlamov Trophy

Russian Players In NHL
Alexander Ovechkin gets Kharlamov Trophy (Photo © Getty Images) Alexander Ovechkin won the Valeri Kharlamov Trophy awarded by Sovietskiy Sport to the best Russian player in the NHL. It's the fifth consecutive win for the Washington Capitals' superstar. "I'm very happy to get the trophy named after Kharlamov for the fifth time. Deserved or not deserved, I've got it and I'm glad that the NHL guys voted for me. Now I've got to try to win it for the sixth time", said Ovechkin after the ceremony. "It's great that Alexander won the award for the fifth time", added Ovechkin's mom Tatiana. "Valeri Kharlamov was a great player and it's great that Ovechkin won the trophy named after him. It's sad that Kharlamov's father passed away, we miss him."
Ilya Kovalchuk re-signs with the Devils

Ilya Kovalchuk re-signs with the Devils

Russian Players In NHL
Ilya Kovalchuk re-signs with the Devils (Photo © nypost.com) Russian superstar Ilya Kovalchuk will be back with the New Jersey Devils as he will re-sign with the team. The contract's details will be released during a conference the team will host on Tuesday afternoon. Kovalchuk is a recent addition by the Devils as they added him to their lineup during the 2010 NHL trade deadline. But the move didn't boost the Devils like expected as they were defeated by the Philadelphia Flyers during the playoffs' first round. During this year's free agency Ilya Kovalchuk was reported to have refused offers from the Los Angeles Kings, the Atlanta Thrashers and SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.
Evgeny Nabokov signs with SKA of the KHL

Evgeny Nabokov signs with SKA of the KHL

Russian Players In NHL
Evgeny Nabokov signs with SKA of the KHL (Photo © Avelar/AP) Evgeny Nabokov has signed a 4-year, $24-million contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL, as reported by the Russian newspaper Sovetsky Sport. In the 10 seasons he played in California he recorded a 293-215-29 record, with a 2.39 goals against average. He also was awarded with the Calder Trophy of the top rookie of the year in 2001.
Sergei Gonchar signs with Ottawa Senators

Sergei Gonchar signs with Ottawa Senators

Russian Players In NHL
Sergei Gonchar signs with Ottawa Senators (Photo © Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) Sergei Gonchar signed a three year, $16.5 million contract with the Ottawa Senators of the NHL. The contract includes a No Movement Clause. Gonchar, 36, played the latest five years with the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning the 2009 Stanley Cup. The veteran blue liner had 11 goals and 39 assists with Pittsburgh last season. Recently Gonchar stated that he intends to play until the 2014 Winter Olympics that will be played in Sochi, Russia. We'll see this fall if adding a world class, puck moving defenseman will increase the Sens' odds in sports betting places.
Kirill Kabanov drafted by New York Islanders

Kirill Kabanov drafted by New York Islanders

Russian Players In NHL
Kirill Kabanov drafted by New York Islanders (Photo © Getty Images) With the 65th overall pick, the New York Islanders picked . He's the fourth Russian player to get picked in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft round after Alexander Burmistrov, Vladimir Tarasenko and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kirill Kabanov, once thought to be one of the prime candidates for the 2010 Entry Draft #1 overall pick, has experienced a serious downhill fall after his departure to Canada this fall. According to agent Ilya Moliver, Kabanov's problems are caused by his father.
Evgeny Kuznetsov drafted by Washington Capitals

Evgeny Kuznetsov drafted by Washington Capitals

Russian Players In NHL
Evgeny Kuznetsov drafted by Washington Capitals (Photo © Getty Images) With the 26th overall pick, the Washington Capitals picked wing . He's the third player to get picked in the first round after Alexander Burmistrov and Vladimir Tarasenko. Kuznetsov, 18, has recently signed a new 2 years deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL, but most likely the Caps are willing to wait a bit so that he can develop at home. Evgeny Kuznetsov had a very good rookie season with Traktor, with nine points in 35 games. He also scored once in the playoffs. He skated at both U20 and U18 WJC.
Vladimir Tarasenko drafted by St. Louis Blues

Vladimir Tarasenko drafted by St. Louis Blues

Russian Players In NHL
Vladimir Tarasenko drafted by St. Louis Blues (Photo © Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America) With the 16th overall pick the St. Louis Blues picked during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Tarasenko was the second Russian player picked in the first round after Alexander Burmistrov, picked up by Atlanta with the 8th pick. Tarasenko, 18, had two excellent seasons in the KHL. This year he scored 24 points with Sibir Novosibirsk. Tarasenko has already announced that he's going to spend the 10-11 season back home in Russia, but it looks like the Blues weren't scared about this. Tarasenko is under contract until 2012.