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Ivo
Jaschick's
Eye on Europe
Reporting from Germany
and
across Europe
Russian Super League
Traffic in Both Directions on Former
One-Way Street: North Americans to Russia & European Returnees
by Ivo Jaschick
Hockeytalk.biz
In former times there was a one way road between Russia and the US into the NHL. The best players from all over the world were played in the NHL for a lot more money than in Russia´s Super League.
But times have changed. A large number of players are going east (especially goalies) to play in Russia, and a swelling number of North Americans are joining them.
NOTABLE:
Naturalized American citizen Darius Kasparaitis played many seasons as a defender for the Islanders, Avalanche, Penguins & Rangers (946 games; 29 g,146 a=175 p; 1486 PIM). In the end, the four-time Olympian had to step back from the NHL, playing for the Hartford Wolf (AHL). But in the minors was not for Kasparaitis and he accepted one of many offers to play in his native Russia. In St. Petersburg he stabilizes the defence reportedly earns 2.5 million dollars a year. The Rangers still retain his NHL rights.
1.
Salavat Yulayev Ufa:
Salavat Yulayev Ufa is at the moment the top team in the RSL. Vladimir Antipov, Mikhail Chernov, Kirill Koltsov, Alexei Shkotov returned after some years in the minors. Alexander Boikov (10 games Nashville), Stanislav Chistov (196 – Anaheim, Boston), Konstantin Koltsov (144 – Pittsburgh), Oleg Tverdovsky (713 – many teams), Alexander Perezhogin (128 – Canadiens) & Vladimir Vorobiev (33 – NYR, Oilers) went home after ending in the minors or seeing a better future in Russia.
Alexander Buturlin (draft by Montreal, ‘99) played two successful seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (114 games/112 pts) with Sarnia but followed the call of RSL money.
2.
St. Petersburg SKA:
St. Petersburg SKA is one of the top teams in Russia. This team has a lot of former American Hockey power. Darius Kasparaitis, Konstantin Gorovikov was drafted by Ottawa in ´99 had two seasons in their farmteam. Russian Alex Riazantsev who started in Victoriaville (QMJHL) played for the Hershey Bears. Kirill Safronov was drafted by Phoenix (99) made 35 games for the Coyotes & Trashers. Denis Shvidki went back after six years in North America with 76 NHL games (Panthers). Alexander Suglobov played two games with New Jersey, then mostly in the AHL. St. Petersburg also has two Swedish forwards, NHL proven Andreas Johansson (377 games) and Mika Hannula, who spent a season in the Wild´s affiliate in Houston. 31 year-old Canadian David Nemirovsky played 91 games with the Panthers but disappeared in the minors. Also Canada born defender Jamie Heward (381 NHL games) & goalie Marc Lamothe are earning their money there.
3.
Metallurg Magnitogorsk:
This team is the defending champion! Yuri Babenko, Ravil Gusmanov, defender Vladislav Boulin, Alexei Kaigorodov, Denis Platonov & Slovakian Martin Strbak played a few games in the NHL & much more in the minors. With the hope of more ice time they went to Russia. 37 years old Igor Korolev had 795 games (119g+227a) in the NHL – went home because of the lockout and never returned. Goalie Andrei Mezin made many saves in different minor leagues of America and in the German Hockey League (DEL). Forward Igor Yemeleyev started his career in the QMJHL - but followed the call of the RSL.
4.
CSKA Moscow:
Former military hockey club CSKA Moscow is now the home of Canadian Tom Lawson, who spent most of his career in various leagues in North America. Timofei Shishkanov split his last US season (05-06) between the St. Louis Blues and its AHL Peoria Rivermen. Victor Dovgan (Capitals draft pick), Vadim Epanchintsev (drafted by Tampa), Georgi Misharin, Sergei Ogorodnikov & Andrei Shefer played in the minors or major junior hockey leagues but saw more money or icetime in Russia´s capital Moscow. Czech Ladislav Kohn (186 NHL games) and left wing Oleg Saprykin (325 NHL games) got better contracts in the east.
5.
Mytishi Khimik:
Together with left wing Roman Bashkirov, twin brother Ruslan played one year in the QMJHL but then both went back to Russia. Sergei Mozyakin played in this league too but saw a better opportunity in the RSL where he became a dangerous forward. He would be an interesting addition to any NHL team. Defenders Vadim Khomitski & Enver Lisin have mostly minor league experiences and returned. Defender Dmitry Bykow played a full season with the Red Wings in 02/03 but got a better contract in Russia´s capital. With goalie Vitaly Kolesnik the Moscow suburb hockey club Khimik has a man between the pipes who already played eight NHL games and many more for their AHL club. Noted NHLers including Czech Jan Bulis (552 NHL games) and Swede Nils Ekman (264 NHL games) also joined the club.
6.
Yaroslavl Lokomotiv:
As #5 in the standings Yaroslavl Lokomotiv has seven North Americans. Artem Anisimov (drafted by the Rangers 2006) is still having fun in Russia. After one season in the QMJHL, Gennady Churilov found the way back to Russia where he expects more ice time and money. Center Alexei Kudashov explored the hockey world in five years - ´93-´98 (25 NHL games, AHL, Germany – DEL; Finland – FNL). Last season Alexei Mikhnov split between Yaroslavl, Edmonton (NHL-2 games) & Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. With his experience veteran Igor Ulanov (739 NHL games) is a big help for the defence. Alexei Vasiliev (picked by the Rangers (95)) made one NHL match - returned after 219 AHL/IHL games.
NHL star Alexei Yashin returned after 850 games for Ottawa & Islanders. Now he is showing his skills in Russia and gives his team a lot of dangerous power by creating many chances & scoring goals.
7.
Dinamo Moscow:
This club has become the home of Canadian Mark Giordano who played 55 NHL games & went east after returning to the AHL. The other Canadian on this team is Eric Landry who now continues his hockey trip to Moscow after different stations in the NHL (68 games), AHL & Switzerland. Dmitry Afanasenkov played 10 years in different leagues including 227 NHL games. Fedor Fedorov, right wing Alexander Kharitonov, Ukrainian Gennady Razin, Vitali Yeremeyev & Sergei Vyshedkevich only had a few games in the NHL and saw their future in Russia. After 232 NHL games Edmonton born Jamie Lundmark went east. Vitali Yachmenev went home after 487 NHL games joining Danil “Danny” Markov with 538 games. Markov wanted a yearly salary of three million dollars but the Red Wings didn´t want to pay that much. So he went east and found Dinamo willing to pay.
8.
Avangard Omsk:
One of the better teams in the RSL is Avangard Omsk. Six players with a good deal of NHL experience are showing their skills now in their home country: winger Evgeny Artyukhin, Anton Babchuk, center Artem Chubarov, Alexander Fomitchev, Sergei Klimentiev & Alexandr Svitov. Czech Pavel Rosa played 36 NHL games & after playing in some other European leagues he found his home in Omsk. Edmonton born Canadian Ross Lupaschuk was drafted 34th in´99 but only appeared in three NHL games – after a long time in the minors he went to Sweden, Finland and finally ended Russia.
9.
Cherepovets Severstal:
Five players from the States are now active in Cherepovets. Mikhail Deev made his first professional steps on the ice in the QMJHL; Alexei Glukhov & Mikhail Yakubov (53 NHL Blackhawks) mostly played in the AHL but saw better chances in the Russian league. After fulfilling their dream Andrei Kovalenko (620 NHL games) & Dmitri Yushkevich (786) went home and are now helping their new team into upper regions.
10.
Balashikha MVD Tver:
For Balashikha MVD Tver there are five former NHLers playing: Igor Bashkatow, Evgeny Konstantinov (one NHL game/Tampa), Igor Knyazev & Alexander Korobolin played in different minor leagues. NHL veteran Andre Bashkirov played 10 years in the States with 30 NHL matches and a lot more minor league games.
11.
Tolyatti Lada:
Tolyatti Lada is placed in the middle of the standings. Canadian goaltender Mike Fountain (drafted by Vancouver in 2002) who only played 11 NHL games for the Canucks joins the club, giving Lada a top goalie. Also Viktor Gordiouk (26 games for the Sabres) had to play in the minors – played five years as a Metro Star in Dusseldorf (Germany DEL) on his way to Russia. Alexander Kozhevnikov (drafted by Chicago in 2002) went from Russia west for two years (QMJHL, ECHL) but saw his future in the RSL. Konstantin Panov went the same way (drafted by Nashville ´99). Defender Dmitry Vorobiev (drafted 2004 by Toronto) will be a future addition to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
12.
Novosibirsk Siber:
Novosibirsk Siber has the power of 750 NHL games in its lines: Czech Miroslav Guren (36 for the Canadiens), veteran Alexander Karpovtsev (596 NHL), Center Dmitri Nabokov (55 for Blackhawks & Islanders) & Sergei Varlamov (63 for Flames & Blues) are showing their skills now in Russia. Defender Vladimir Gusev & Alexei Krivchenkov returned with hopes into the Super League after being stranded in the minors. But Novosibirsk is still playing with closer contact to the lower regions than to the top.
13.
AK-Bars Kazan:
This team, located about 500 miles east of Moscow features three North Americans. Ray Giroux is a 31 year-old defenceman from Ontario who played nearly all over Europe and 38 NHL games. 32 year-old Cory Larose was born in New Brunswick and joins Kazan as a center after playing seven NHL games for the Rangers and a lot more in the AHL. The Quincy, MA born Mike Mottau appeared in 36 NHL games. Finland´s Mika Noronen had been in the NHL for 67 games. Nikita Alexeev started his career in the OHL (97). Denis Arkhipov (drafted by Nashville in 1998) joins Kazan after 352 NHL games. Alexei Morozov showed his skills in Pittsburgh (451 games-84g/135a), returning home after 7 years. Denis Zaripov started his career in the WHL but returned after one season. 27 years old Sergei Zinovjev made 10 games for the Bruins (03/04) – but saw his future in Kazan.
14.
Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo:
With Evgeny Shaldybin, Nikolai Tsulygin & Alexander Zevakhin Torpedo has only three actors on the ice who played a total of 25 NHL games (Shaldybin & Tsulygin) but disappeared in the minors.
15.
Traktor Chelyabinsk:
Traktor Chelyabinsk is the home of: right wing Vladimir Artyushin, defender Nikita Korovkin, Andrei Mikhnov & Denis Yachmenev. They started their career in the major junior hockey leagues (QMJHL, WHL) but before ending in the minors they saw their better chances to play hockey in their native homeland, returned and found a team in Chelyabinsk. But they can not prevent their team from sliding into the lower part of the standings.
16.
Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik:
This team can be found in the lower part of the standings. With 22 years old right wing Dmitri Chernykh (drafted by the Islanders, 2003) and played last season in the ECHL for the Dayton Bombers. Defender Evgueni Nurislamov started in the QMJHL where he had some games in different minor leagues and returned in 2006. Jakub Cutta (26) appeared in eight NHL games as a defender for Washington. The rest of his eight US seasons he had been in the minors. 25 years old goalie Michael Garnett from Saskatoon in Saskatchewan played all his life in different American leagues (including 24 Trashers games) is now looking for more success in the RSL.
17.
Chekhov Vityaz:
For Chekhov Vityaz following 12 players have NHL/minors experiences: Czech defender Jan Horacek, Andrei Kozyrev, goalie Vladimir Kulikov & Alexei Volkov played in the minors but had no chance to advance to the NHL – so they decided to go east. Left wing Igor Radulov, defender Andrei Skopintsev and Andrej Podkonicky made a few NHL games but returned. Stanislav Hudec started his career in the QMJHL – but saw no chance of playing in the best league. Stanislav Hudec, Alexander Korolyuk, Maxim Kuznetsov & Oleg Kvasha have the combined experience of 925 NHL games but will be hard pressed to help their team to advance in the standings. Canadian left wing Darcy Verot is now in his first season in the RSL.
18.
Spartak Moscow:
The Russian capital’s fourth hockey club became the new home of American hockey experienced actors Maxim Rybin, Goalie Konstantin Simchuk, Kazakhstanian (also a part of Russia before it became autonomos) Pavel Vorobiev (57 NHL games), Andrei Yakhanov & Alex Zhdan. They only made several games in the NHL & minors – saw no future in America & returned.
19.
Amur Khabarovsk:
Khabarovsk is the hockey town furthest east in the RSL – because of the time zone difference, western RSL teams don´t like to play there. Goalie Tyler Moss (born in Ottawa) played 30 NHL games but saw his future in Russia playing for Spartak Moscow in 2005 and Khabarovsk in 2006. Vladimir Antipin played one season in the CoHL with the Detroit Falcons (93/94). Vladimir Chebaturkin (drafted by the Islanders, 1994) was also added. Sergei Kuznetsov & Czech Jan Platil only played in the minors and went east. Alexei Tezikov (30 NHL games) & right wing Ivan Novoseltsev (234 games for Florida & Coyotes) are helping Amur to bounce back. They have managed to join the other teams.
20.
Novokuznetsk Metallurg:
Novokuznetsk you find deep low in the standings although they have a lot of American league players in their lines: Maxim Balmochnykh (6 games - Mighty Ducks); Maxim Galanov (6 years in the minors – 122 NHL games); Defender Evgeny Korolev (minors – 42 games for the Islanders – went home in 2002); 33 years old Sergei Krivokrasov (450 NHL games); Igor Mikhailov played one year for the Spokane Chiefs (96/97 - WHL); Slovakian Peter Podhradsky was drafted in 2000 by the Mighty Ducks and played 178 games for AHL Cincinnati.
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