HIGH HOPES FOR PICKS
Spitfires draft two Russians
Russia has been pretty good to Windsor Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel over the years.
The club has landed standouts like Mikhail Sergachev, Andrei Loktionov and Alexander Khokhlachev in the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft and Rychel hopes he landed two more gems on Wednesday.
The Spitfires grabbed 18-year-old Russian forward Kirill Kozhevnikov with its first pick, 40th overall, in the draft and then added 16-yearold Russian defenceman Lev Starikov in the second round with the 64th pick overall.
“I’m grateful to be chosen by the managers of the team,” Kozhevnikov said. “I’m looking forward to moving to Windsor, meeting my new teammates and being a part of (the) team.”
The six-foot-two, 205-pound Kozhevnikov was rated 96th among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting for this month’s draft, but was not selected.
“From what I know, I’m surprised he didn’t get drafted,” Rychel said. “He plays really hard and has straight-line skill.”
A left-handed shot who can play either wing, scouts commented on Kozhevnikov’s strong skating and ability to shoot, calling him more of a north-south player rather than trying to stickhandle through the neutral zone.
“Usually, Russian forwards are more perimeter guys, but this kid’s not,” Rychel said. “He’ll be more accustomed to our league (style) and he’ll be a top-six forward.”
Kozhevnikov had 10 goals and 26 points in 46 games playing for Mamonty Yugry in Russia’s top junior league. He also had 71 penalty minutes and played four games in the Kontinental Hockey League with Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk.
While not drafted by an NHL club, Kozhevnikov’s agent, Alexey Dementyev from IDEAL agency, said he will be attending prospects camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“I’m not disappointed, not being taken in the NHL Draft, because there is a time and place for everything,” Kozhevnikov said. “I hope to work as hard as possible and become a player of the NHL in the future.”
Starikov will not turn 17 until September and the six-foot-six, 187-pound defenceman won’t be eligible until the 2019 NHL Draft.
“He’s a project,” Rychel said. “He’s big, but really surprised how good his feet are for being that big. I classify him as a two-way guy. He’s going to be fine.”
Dementyev said Starikov was the youngest player in the MHL, which is Russia’s top junior hockey league. In 39 games for Tolpar Ufa, Starikov had two goals and 10 points in 39 games.
“His father was a Greco-Roman wrestler,” Dementyev said. “A huge man and very strong. (Lev) is a very good skater for his height. He has soft hands, jumps into the rush and is a good two-way defenceman.”
Dementyev said Kozhevnikov already has his visa sorted out and Starikov is in the process, but neither has any contractual obligations that would keep them from playing in Windsor in 2017-18.
“They are both very excited,” Dementyev said. “Everybody will come. No one has a contract, so all is good.”
Clubs are only allowed to carry two import players. Rychel expects Sergachev to play in the NHL next season with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Finnish centre Julius Nattinen, who is signed by the Anaheim Ducks, would only be able to return as an overage player.
If either of those players returns to Windsor, Rychel must either deal them or release Kozhevnikov or Starikov because neither can be traded in their first year in the CHL. However, Rychel sees both as part of the team’s puzzle moving forward.
“We get five years (eligibility) with these two players and I’m really happy with that considering where we picked,” Rychel said. “I think they’ve got potential and I think they fit in well with what we’re trying to build.”