Russian Players In NHL

Jun262010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Atlanta Thrashers draft Alexander Burmistrov

Atlanta Thrashers draft Alexander Burmistrov (Photo © AP Photo/Reed Saxon) The Atlanta Thrashers picked up with the 8th overall pick at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The center's selection was a bit of a surprize, but anyway the Thrashers decided to draft him most likely because of his skills set. Burmistrov, 18, played with the Barrie Colts of the OHL this year, with 65 points during the regular season and 16 during the playoffs. Even if he joined the OHL on loan from Ak Bars Kazan, most likely Burmistrov will be back in North America for the next season.

Jun252010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Detroit Red Wings offer Evgeny Ryasensky a contract

Russian Players In NHL

Detroit Red Wings offer Evgeny Ryasensky a contract (Photo © hcneftekhimik.ru) Detroit Red Wings offered 23-years-old defenseman Evgeny Ryasensky a contract. As reported by Sovietskiy Sport, he will move to Detroit in September to skate at the Wings' training camp. Ryasensky is a physical player who likes to hit and has decent offensive abilities. He was a key part of Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk's surprize run in the latest KHL playoffs, even if he didn't score any point. Later after the season he skated with Team Russia at the Swedish Hockey Games, the last stage of the Euro Hockey Tour, in which he was named tournament's best defenseman, but he didn't make the cut for the 2010 WC in Germany. Ryasensky: "I've talked with my North American agent and through him Detroit offered me to play for...

Jun242010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Sharks to part with Nabokov

Russian Players In NHL

Sharks to part with Nabokov (Photo © Avelar/AP) After 10 years and 563 games Evgeny Nabokov is going to part ways with the San Jose Sharks. As Nabokov's contract will run out next week, the team's General Manager Doug Wilson stated that the Sharks will walk away from one of the team's cornerstones players. Evgeny Nabokov will be the most interesting goalie in the summer's free agency. 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. Nabokov was interested in signing a new contracts with the Sharks, but now he'll have to find himself a new team. As the free agency will start on July 1st NHL betting will move from results to signings. As one of the t...

Jun152010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Nikita Nikitin signs with St. Louis Blues

Russian Players In NHL

Nikita Nikitin signs with St. Louis Blues (Photo © Ilya Korneev) 24 years old Nikita Nikitin has been signed to an entry level contract by the St. Louis Blues, as reported by the team's official page. Nikitin played his whole career with Avangard Omsk. Last season he scored four goals and 13 points in 43 regular season games. "His top feature is his excellent first pass. He can launch a forward one-on-one against the goalie directly from his own zone", Russian reporter Ilya Elchaninov based in Omsk said to RussianHockeyFans.com. "He's got a very strong shot, but he lacks accuracy." Nikitin played with team Russia one of the stages for the Euro Hockey Tour, even if he couldn't score a single point in the three games he wore team Russia jersey. "He's a fairly fast skating and is very good o...

Jun72010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

SKA offers Kovalchuk $14M per year

Russian Players In NHL

SKA offers Kovalchuk $14M per year (Photo © nj.com) SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL has offered Ilya Kovalchuk a $42M, 3-year contract (which makes its $14M per year), as reported by Russian newspaper Sport-Express. In case Kovalchuk accepts the offer, he will also get a huge signing bonus. SKA has long been trying to get Kovalchuk (we wrote about this in November, December and February).

May302010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Yuri Alexandrov signs with Boston Bruins

Russian Players In NHL

Yuri Alexandrov signs with Boston Bruins (Photo © Ilya Korneev) Soon to be 22-years-old Yuri Alexandrov has been signed by the Boston Bruins of the NHL to a two-year contract, as reported by Capgeek.com. Alexandrov had a career season this year in the KHL with Severstal Cherepovets, with 21 points (five goals and 16 assists) in 56 regular season games. In the past Alexandrov skated with team Russia on the international stage in two WJCs (2007 and 2008) and in one U18 WJC (2006). Most likely the young defenseman will start the season with the Providence Bruins of the AHL.

May212010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

St. Louis Blues sign Evgeny Skachkov

Russian Players In NHL

St. Louis Blues sign Evgeny Skachkov (Photo © Ilya Korneev) As reported by Sport Express, Russian forward Evgeny Skachkov has been signed by the St. Louis Blues to an Entry Level Contract. The 26 years old left winger had a breakout season in the KHL this year with Traktor Chelyabinsk as he scored 22 goals and 36 points in 51 regular season games. He was left pointless in the team's short post season campaign. Actually this is the third season in which he is delivering for Traktor in spite of the team's lack of success. Skachkov is a quick left winger with very good technique and excellent skating. He skated with Team Russia in the WC preparation camp, but he didn't make the team.

May172010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

NHL – Evgeni Dadonov: “If Panthers don’t guarantee me a spot in the NHL, I’ll get back to Russia”

Russian Players In NHL

Evgeni Dadonov: "If Panthers don't guarantee me a spot in the NHL, I'll get back to Russia" (Photo © Turner.com) As the hockey season is just finished, Evgeni Dadonov of the Florida Panthers has got back to his home town Chelyabinsk to rest after his first North American season. In this interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda he talked about his debut season and about the future. You said that your dream was to play in the NHL. And at the end of the season it happened. Evgeni Dadonov: "Yes, it did. At the end season, when Florida had no chances to get to the playoffs. The team's sport director, Jack Birch, said that he wants to see me in the main team. He said that I looked good in Rochester and then they wanted to see me in the NHL. They called me to the Panthers as many first team players w...

May72010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Alexander Avtsin leaves KHL, joins Canadiens

Russian Players In NHL

Alexander Avtsin leaves KHL, joins Canadiens (Photo © Getty Images) Alexander Avtsin is going to join the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL this summer, as reported by sportbox.ru The 19 years old wing spent the latest season with the Dynamo Moscow of the KHL, scoring nine points in 30 regular season games, before picking up a wrist injury that shut down his season in late January. Most likely Avtsin will start the 2010-11 campaign with the Canadiens' AHL affiliates, the Hamilton Bulldogs.

May42010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Maxim Goncharov signs with Phoenix

Russian Players In NHL

Maxim Goncharov signs with Phoenix (Photo © Sportbox.ru) 20-years-old, Russian defenseman Maxim Goncharov signed an Entry Level Contract with the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL. His contract with CSKA Moscow run out on April 30th. Maxim Goncharov is an offensive defenseman with a great shot and an excellent technique. During this season he scored four goals and a career high seventeen points in 51 KHL regular season games, finished +5. In the 2008-09 campaign Goncharov amassed seven goals and as many assists. In his junior career he won a gold medal in 2007 U18 World Junior Championship in Finland and captured a silver medal in the 2009 WJC, where he scored five goals in seven games, the tournament's best result for a blue liner.