Blog

Jul12010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Sergei Gonchar signs with Ottawa Senators

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.

Jun262010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

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.

Jun262010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

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.

Jun262010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

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.

Jun262010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Atlanta Thrashers draft Alexander Burmistrov

Russian Players In NHL

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

Kirill Kabanov’s free fall

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Kirill Kabanov's free fall (Photo © cyberpresse.ca) Many pages have been inked about the once thought to be one of the prime candidates for the 2010 Entry Draft #1 overall pick, Russian , as he has experienced a serious downhill fall after his departure to Canada this fall. During the 2008-09 season the talented winger got the first taste of pro hockey experience skating in a bunch of regular season and playoff games (and getting knocked out by a hit from former NHL defenseman Vitaly Vishnevsky) with Spartak Moscow, then scored eleven points in the 2009 U18 WJC, being thus outscored by and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Getting to America He was then picked up in the 2009 CHL Import Draft by the Moncton Wildcats, and the first controversy arose. As Salavat Yulaev bought his KHL rights from Spar...

Jun242010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Announcing Russian Prospect.com

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Announcing Russian Prospect.com (Photo © Getty Images) We have started a new site dedicated to Russian prospects, RussianProspect.com. We have compiled a list of Top Russians for the upcoming draft along with players' profiles (History, Talent Analysis and Future). 1. , 9D 2. , 8.5B 3. , 8.5B 4. , 8.5C 5. , 8B 6. , 8C 7. , 7.5B 8. , 7.5C 9. , 7C 10. , 7C 11. Nikita Gusev, 7D For now the site has profiles for the top Russian players available for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, but during the summer the site will be upgraded and it will have profiles of older and younger players, news, interviews and more scout reports, to give our readers the best coverage of Russian prospects available on the internet. The "Prospects" section of Russian Hockey Fans will be shut down.

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 to...

Jun182010 by Gary LawsNo Comments

Nikita Zaytsev: “I liked interviews with Flyers and Blackhawks”

Russian Prospects Profiles, Reports and News

Nikita Zaytsev: "I liked interviews with Flyers and Blackhawks" (Photo © Elena Rusko) 2010 eligible Nikita Zaytsev, playing for Sibir Novosibirsk of the KHL, stated that Philadelphia and Chicago were the most interested teams during the recent NHL Draft Combine. In this interview by allhockey.ru he talked about the tests, about the draft itself and stated that he plans to play in the KHL the 2010-11 season. RussianHockeyFans.com offers you a translation. Not long ago you underwent the NHL Combine process, traditionally held about one month prior the NHL Draft. When did you know that they invited you there? Zaytsev: "I was having a holiday in Turkey and my father called me. He told me that they called me for the tests on May 22nd and I had to fly to Toronto." Not long ago you underwent the ...