Recycled Russians making a mark in NHL
DETROIT, Michigan — Down the street from where the Red Wings’ ‘Russian Five’ took the NHL by storm in the 1990s, defenseman Nikita Zaitsev sat with his agent and explained that the pain of being passed over in the NHL draft three times was gone.
Just four months into his rookie year with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Zaitsev realized not being drafted was the best thing to happen to him.
Artemi Panarin of the Chicago Blackhawks told agent Dan Milstein the same thing as he earned rookie of the year honors with 77 points last season.
Zaitsev and Panarin are on the leading edge of a generation of Russian stars coming to North America from the Kontinental Hockey League in their 20s and making an immediate impact.
Washington’s Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov and St. Louis’ Vladimir Tarasenko developed after being high draft picks, and Alexander Radulov returned last year and experienced the kind of NHL renaissance with the Montreal Canadiens that Ilya Kovalchuk hopes to find as he looks to return to North America next season.
The expansion Vegas Golden Knights hope to get the same kind of results from KHL All-Star center Vadim Shipachyov, Colorado is counting on defenseman Andrei Mironov to play right away and Buffalo is figuring the same from Victor Antipin as Russia is proving to be a reliable pipeline for NHL ready talent.
“Years ago, we had (Igor) Larionov and (Slava) Fetisov coming over and it took them a little time, but in recent years players like Panarin and Radulov and Zaitsev have come over and done very, very well,” said Golden Knights GM George McPhee.
“Especially with the experienced players, a bunch of them just got to play in the world championships and they’ve played in international tournaments, so I think having that experience, playing against some of the best NHLers, has really helped.”
A combination of factors has made the NHL assimilation for Russian players quicker than ever.
The comfort level of being able to develop and play professionally at home, combined with improved coaching and the assistance of veterans such as Kovalchuk and former Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk have all contributed to easing players’ adjustment.
Despite thoughts that some Russian players might leave the NHL for the KHL for the chance to play in the 2018 Olympics, there seems to be an exodus the other way, with top players even taking pay cuts to come to North America. Some of that has to do with financial turmoil in the KHL, including concerns over late or missed paychecks.
“It’s always nice to see Russian guys come here, especially undrafted, try to get a shot here,” said Orlov, who quickly became a top-pairing defenseman for the Capitals.
“The NHL is the best league in the world. I think you need more time to get used to how you play here and how the coach is going to give you ice time and everything like that.”
Shipachyov, who just turned 30, won’t have that problem with the Golden Knights after signing a $9 million, two-year deal to play a prominent role. His KHL teammate Evgeny Dadonov could soon join him in Vegas, or at least follow him to the NHL, a handful of years after his first try with the Florida Panthers didn’t work out.
Executives can look at Radulov’s 54-point season with the Canadiens as a reason to take a chance on established Russian players.
“They’re good players for free,” New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero said. “You’re going to take a chance on them. We’ll see in January or February how effective they are.”
Kovalchuk is still a good player at age 34 after putting up 78 points in 60 games with SKA St. Petersburg. The Devils own his NHL rights, and his return is contingent on Shero consummating a trade if the 2004 Maurice Richard Trophy winner doesn’t play for New Jersey.
Kovalchuk is much like Radulov in that he left the NHL, produced back home and could make a big impact the second time around.
There was less certainty about Panarin and Zaitsev, but their success is an indication that teams can expect plenty from first-time NHL Russians when they are put in the right situations.