Vladimir Tkachev has already played his third match at the Blinov Cup, gradually getting involved in the Avangard team. In August, the striker extended his contract with the Omsk club for three years, which caused a wave of enthusiasm among the fans of the “hawks”.
The most expensive hockey player in the KHL in every sense of the word gave an interview to , in which he explained that he did not go to the NHL and what to expect from the new season .
“I didn’t ask for a lot of money in the NHL – just over a million dollars a season”
– It has been reported that you have two options in the NHL: San Jose and Nashville. Have you seen yourself in these two teams?
– As they said in Nashville, they have their place in the team. But for some reason the matter dragged on for a long time, it went on day after day and there was no time to wait. I spent the whole month of July, but the details did not appear. So I decided to stay home.
As for San José, they also had their place there. But they said to me: “Wait, we are waiting for the exchange. After that, everything will be clear. And there were no details, but nothing major.
– Did you insist that the NHL give a unilateral contract?
Yes, but I didn’t ask for a lot of money. It was a little over a million dollars. But something went wrong in the negotiations. Moreover, the NHL clubs only granted a one-sided contract. At first everything was fine and positive, but then this bureaucracy started. Maybe something changed in the intentions, although I can’t tell.
— Tell us about your visit to Sochi for the Avangard game. After all, everything was decided by contract.
– I flew to Adler to not sign a contract with Avangard. This trip was planned in advance. I went to the match between Avangard and Sochi, our team lost. I clearly intended to try again in the NHL. Then the agent phoned America, they started getting the rubber out again: “Now wait…”
And then I said, “Okay, that’s enough.” The American clubs have had time to make a decision about me. Well, if not, then no.
“Knight was my best center forward ever”
– The next day, you signed a three-year contract with Avangard, becoming the most expensive player in the league. Does this status change anything for you?
– Especially not. It’s just that there is even more desire to prove it by participating in every game and working for the team. There are also personal ambitions, but above all I have a team. I try to be helpful. And if at the same time you are the best paid or not, it does not play a big role. It is important to get results.
– How important was the role of Korban Knight in your bond last year?
— It was very pleasant to play with Korban. Knight was probably the best centre-forward I’ve ever had. Except for the Admiral guys, I had good crosses there too. But you yourself know how strong Knight is, how good he is in face-offs. All the time on offense, he made great rebounds. His teammates didn’t expend any extra energy in the fight for the puck. God preserve us that everything works out for him in the Swiss championship, where he evolved. I have no right to condemn him.
– Do you agree on a link with Knight and Reed Bush, who will do what?
“Of course, we should always talk. Sometimes things don’t work out. And some, on the contrary, should be studied on video. Well, I think everyone understands what to do in a given situation. And the guys in the league know each other well. I hope we will quickly find a common language with Ryan Spooner and that everything will be fine for us. I remember him from Dynamo Minsk, he made a good impression on me with his game.
“There are few people like Nikolishin in our league”
– In addition, Ivan Nikolishin moves to Omsk. What do you think of this centre-forward?
– We are a plus when such good players arrive in the team. I think Ivan will be a great fit for our team and will feel comfortable in the right boat. I speak figuratively. We play good hockey. I hope we will continue in the same spirit. He has everything to grow in the Avangard.
– Do you know each other?
– Yes, and besides – we recently skated with him at the Arktika Palace. We communicated well and Vanya told me he could move to Avangard. I’m just happy for him. Creative centre-forward. There aren’t many in the league. I hope he will come to us and help us.
– Avangard enters a season in which there are three favorites in total: CSKA, Ak Bars and SKA. What, in this regard, catches “the Vanguard”?
“We have a whole season ahead of us. You have to believe in your guys, develop youth. The championship is long – there will certainly be victories and recessions. The best option is to come into the playoffs in good shape. Well, there, I think, we’re going to make a rustle.
— How strong is hockey in Omsk?
– First of all, among the fans. Hockey has always been loved here, even when I was little, and the Blinov sports and concert complex gathered a full palate for every game. The city is very worried about his team. Well, they recognize him on the street, of course. People ask questions about Avangard and our game. Adapted in supermarkets, I never refuse a photo or an autograph.
– Finally, I’m going to ask: do you like football? Which player do you like the most?
– Usually I only watch the Champions League. I used to play football myself, but in general I like football players who play in the center of the field and give passes and direct play. My favorite is Manchester City attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. He is very creative and comes up with great programs all the time. It’s the style I love.
Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
