Alex Galcheniouk – ranked attacker. Just like that, under number three in the NHL Draft, they don’t choose. Galchenyuk has already played 654 NHL games, scoring 354 (146+208) points in the regular season, adding 17 (5+12) points in 38 playoff games. At the age of 29, Galchenyuk managed to play in Montreal, Arizona, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Ottawa, Toronto, again in Arizona and Colorado.
The third visit to the Coyotes lasted only 12 days. Signing a contract this offseason, Galchenyuk quickly found himself in a scandalous story that led to litigation. Arizona immediately terminated the contract with him, and Alex, having resolved all legal issues, came to Russia to play for SKA. Only the second day has passed, and the columnist has already spoken to him.
From the interview with Alexander Galchenyuk you will learn:
“All matters related to the court, it is I who decided”
– With what feelings do you start a new stage of your career – now in the KHL?
“It’s very nice, I was looking forward to coming here. It was necessary to solve some problems – for example, to issue a visa. I can’t wait to hang out with the guys on the ice.
– “” wrote that last season Salavat Yulaev claimed you. Why didn’t you come to the KHL sooner?
– There were a lot of rumors about me, but there were no full details. Last year, I knew I was still in the NHL. So don’t react to what journalists have written about me. Yes, their job is to make the news. But if we start now from the facts, this season, a few KHL teams applied for me. However, I wanted to play for SKA.
— But why exactly SKA?
– There were conversations, I entrusted the agent to solve this problem. Especially while my trial was ongoing. I was still in California, but the conversations with SKA have already started. I spoke with Roman Borisovitch (Rotenberg) and from that moment the option with St. Petersburg was the most serious. I was destined for SKA and wanted to play here, even though there were discussions with other clubs. A great team that has a good chance of winning the Gagarin Cup.
– This scandalous story with the police did not destabilize you?
– No. All matters related to the trial, I decided. Draw conclusions and move on.
– A great contribution to your career was made by Igor Larionov, who was your agent. Under him, in the 2012 rookie draft, you were selected third overall and Nail Yakupov went first…
“Yes, that was a long time ago. Many years have passed since we worked together. Igor Larionov is a good person and he gave a lot of good advice. When we play against Torpedo, we will see each other and talk.
“Radulov plays like he’s 27”
– If a fan who doesn’t know you very well asks, “What kind of guy?” What video are you going to let him watch? What stage of a career?
“The best stage is the one that awaits us. And if we talk about the past, then I had good times in Montreal, in Toronto… In general, everything does not always go well during a career. There are positives and negatives. But they are still needed. You have to extract the useful from everything, extracting the very experience from the negative.
Now I am an experienced hockey player. And I’m starting a new stage of my KHL career with the hope and belief that everything will be fine. It’s time to go out and fight!
– The main celebrity of the KHL – Alexander Radulov. You and him played together for the Canadiens. What impression did it make on you?
“It looks like a nuclear power plant on ice.
“We called him the Tasmanian Devil in Montreal.
Well, they didn’t call it that. But Alexandre is very energetic. We played with him on the same line. I had a lot of fun dating. Radulov’s energy comes both on and off the ice. We are on good terms with him. When we meet, we will certainly talk. According to his passport, Radulov is 37 years old, but in reality he seems to be 27. He is handsome!
– Now KHL foreigners began to take Russian passports. What do you think about it?
“It is still too early to think about it. Step by step – step by step, as the saying goes. You ask me such a general question, but I only flew to St. Petersburg on Friday at five in the morning and I didn’t even have time to sleep. It’s not even the first game to take place in the KHL.
Is applying for citizenship a common part of everyday life? That’s what the Russians do in the NHL.
For them, yes. And for me everything is new here, I only come from the plane. So step by step.
“I have just arrived in Saint Petersburg and Maltsev has already offered me an apartment”
– What did Father Alexander Galchenyuk Sr. tell you about moving to Russia?
– Let’s start with the fact that dad himself played for SKA in the 2002/03 season. Then I was eight years old. I already remembered then that St. Petersburg is a big and beautiful city. Hockey atmosphere. I only have positive memories, but that was a long time ago.
The whole family supported me in this decision. Everyone is very happy that I came to Russia. Dad said that even then the organization was good, but now the SKA is doing very well. The city lives for hockey and it inspires a good game.
– Did you study the KHL before joining the SKA? Maybe you watched the Gagarin Cup final between CSKA and Ak Bars to understand the league level? Or the Western final, where SKA played with CSKA?
– I will not say that I have watched the KHL so much abroad. For example, with friends, I could snag the semi-finals or the finals. I noticed that in the KHL, they play good offensive hockey. Everyone tries to focus on speed. Which team is the fastest wins. But now, of course, I will study the KHL in depth.
“Have you found an apartment in St. Petersburg yet?”
– No, no, and once again I repeat: step by step.
– No one offered you their apartment?
– Mikhail Maltsev, with whom we were in Colorado, wrote to me and told me that if an apartment in St. Petersburg was needed, then he had it. We have a good relationship. So let’s get in touch and let’s talk. And it’s okay when hockey friends rent each other’s apartments. I just haven’t gotten there yet. I just checked into the hotel, I’m still in the process of acclimatization. You have to pass the tests, go out on the ice, get to know the guys, the team presentation on Sunday. I am not looking for an apartment yet. But there will be free days ahead and I will fix this.
Your family has a website called Galchenyuk Business Enterprises (GBE). So you are a family business? What service do you provide?
– You can contact us and suggest something interesting. For example, my father put me on skates, my mother and my sister always helped me. We have a whole family that plays sports, we are very active, we can share our experience. Dad can train students. Without my family, I could not have built a hockey career.
– Let’s build a symbolic team of partners for your career. Who do you remember?
The goaltender is Carey Price from Montreal. Especially in the 2014-2015 season, when he collected all the major NHL awards, including the Hart Trophy. He was the best goaltender in the world and everyone said Price should play in his own league. Very calm and confident.
Two defenders – Andrey Markov made good passes in the majority, the minority and “5 against 5”. Well, it takes a power defender, let’s put Lekha Emelin here.
Forwards – let’s mention Sasha Radulov, we were good at playing together. I’ve played with many Toronto stars – Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares. Leave Matthews alone. And the third is right-handed Nylander.
– Finally, I’m going to ask you: why did you decide to take the number 89 in SKA?
– I have been approaching this number for a few years, for some reason I liked it. And now I’ve decided it’s the right time. It has nothing to do with Alexandre Mogilny or his year of birth. I love this combination of numbers.
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.
