“Kravtsov must understand that his last name is not McDavid. Vitaly has problems in his head. What awaits our overseas hockey landing

1. Andrey Kuzmenko, forward, of SKA in Vancouver

26 years old, spent 8 seasons in the KHL. In the last season, he scored 53 (20 +33) points with a utility index of “+15” in 45 games

– At first glance, Kuzmenko in Vancouver should be doing well, – says Leonid Weisfeld. – But thinking about Andrey’s future in the NHL, for some reason I remember the story of Plotnikov. When Sergey went abroad, it also seemed to everyone that everything should be fine for him there, but it turned out to be different. Although Kuzmenko should succeed rather than not.

– What qualities of Kuzmenko will help him win the NHL?

– Andrey’s strongest team is attacking. And here we must take into account that now in the world there is a tendency to attack hockey. Therefore, strikers like Kuzmenko should be in demand. Andrei is not afraid to take out a penny, to go knocking near other people’s doors … “Not afraid” is not even the right word. Kuzmenko can play very neatly in a foreign zone and loves to do so. The combination of fast hands, good technique and the ability to play his best just in front of the net make him a dangerous striker. Plus a great throw. All this gives us hope that Kuzmenko will succeed in the NHL.

– Andrey didn’t stay too long in the KHL? He is already 26 years old.

– I don’t have that feeling. Because previous seasons gave no reason to think that Kuzmenko could immediately start playing in the NHL. He did well in SKA, but did not accomplish any particular feats. And this year he made a clear breakthrough – he became the leader of the club, the second goalscorer of the season in the KHL. So Andrei chose the right time to travel abroad.

2. Ivan Fedotov, goalkeeper, of CSKA in Philadelphia

25 years old, 6 seasons in the KHL. 91.9 save percentage in 26 games last season

– Whether Fedotov’s career continues will largely depend on how the season goes for Philadelphia’s primary goaltender Carter Hart. He is a few years younger than Ivan and is not stable enough yet. The second to “Philadelphia” Fedotov, most likely will be. The big question is, can he beat Hart? But in any case, Ivan went to the NHL just in time. He won silver at the Olympics, won the Cup with CSKA, became the first number in the Russian team … A very logical time to debut in the NHL.

– The only thing that is alarming is that Fedotov only spent one season in the KHL as the main goaltender. True, fabulous.

– It’s just understandable. Fedotov is a great goalkeeper. Such dimensional guys mature a little later. Koshechkin also reached his level a little later than his peers, but he still holds it.

3. Vitaly Kravtsov, striker, Traktor at Rangers

22 years old, 6 seasons in the KHL, 13 (6+7) points, +4 in 19 games

– If we talk about Kravtsov, we must highlight two main aspects. The first is his game. And the second is what Vitaly has in mind. If Kravtsov really wants to play in the NHL, then he should dive into it and not give the Rangers an ultimatum. What they tell you, do it! Well, in the end, you have to realize your last name isn’t McDavid. Or take Mogilny. If you score 72 goals in a season, everything is clear. But Kravtsov is not yet Mogilny. If Vitaly wants to play abroad, it all depends on the price he is willing to pay for it. His talent is unparalleled.

– But Rangers, despite all the steps of Kravtsov, continue to renew the contract with him. So the club is still interested in Vitaly?

– This is one hundred percent, otherwise the Rangers would not contact Kravtsov at all. But, I repeat, his main problems are in his head.

– In this qualifier, Kravtsov took on the role of leader of the tractor, as in the Gagarin Cup-2018, when he rose to fame.

– No, I don’t think Vitaliy played very well last season. He played well, but… didn’t stand out. Here we talked above about Kuzmenko. Andrei stood out in SKA, but Kravtsov in Traktor did not. This level is not enough to guarantee a place at the base of the NHL club. I wish him good luck, but what he showed in Chelyabinsk is not enough.

4. Kirill Marchenko, striker, of SKA in Columbus

21 years old, 5 seasons in the KHL, 20 (12+8), “+5” in 39 matches

– In this case, everything again depends on the thoughts with which Kirill goes to the NHL. If he thinks: “Here, I will try my hand at Columbus. But if you don’t get into the base, then I’ll be back,” that’s one thing. And if: “I will make my way to the NHL, no matter what it costs me”, that’s completely different. After all, it is highly likely that he will return home after the first connection with the farm club.

– So, again, a lot depends on Marchenko?

– If he goes to the NHL “to try”, then, most likely, nothing will work out, he will come back. There are still some small chances. And if you “succeed”, you have to use every chance. And only when you are convinced that they are no longer there at all, come back. You have to go to the NHL with that attitude.

5. Ivan Morozov, striker, of HC Sochi in Vegas

22 years old, 5 seasons in the KHL, 11 (5+6) points, +1 in 22 games

– Morozov, unlike Marchenko, has a different story. Ivan does the right thing by flying to the NHL. He simply has no other choice.

– Why?

– Yes, because with us his career is simply at a standstill, last season was lost. And the question is no longer whether Morozov will succeed abroad or not. And the fact that he has big problems in the KHL. Ivan needs to get all the headaches out of his head, focus on the game and get his career going again. Therefore, we have to leave.

– That is, Ivan has a serious motive?

– Judging by his conflict at SKA, the striker has big ambitions. But for now, these are just words. And now they will have to be confirmed by deeds. Let’s see. Morozov has a chance.

6. Yaroslav Askarov, goalie, SKA in Nashville

20 years old, 3 seasons in the KHL, 91.3% in 6 games

– Askarov has the same theme as Morozov: you need to relaunch your career. So many praises have been sung to him that unwittingly you begin to follow him closely. But the special celebrity game is not visible. I remember only one match (when SKA played against Spartak in Moscow), where Askarov showed the level that is expected of him and that is constantly talked about. At the same time, there were many games where Yaroslav acted very poorly.

Why did Askarov practice so little in Russia?

He didn’t have much training because he played badly. You are a young goalkeeper, they give you a chance. Don’t miss, grab it! And I remember the game with Riga. SKA consistently dominated and barely picked up an overtime victory. Because Askarov, like a vacuum cleaner, missed everything.

– It was possible to send it to the VHL.

– That’s how they sent him. And that there were some exploits? If you’re a star goalkeeper with potential, you need to coach the team every game. And it wasn’t.

– What are Askarov’s chances in Nashville?

It all depends on his game. Shesterkin went to the farm club, and now he is part of the symbolic team of the season. And no one has any questions! Because you have to make claims against yourself, and not look for reasons on the side – why am I not playing?

7. Daniil Zhuravlev, defenseman, from Ak Bars in Colorado

22 years old, 3 seasons with Ak Bars, 6 (1+5) points, +13 in 43 games

– I really like this guy. If Zhuravlev is mentally prepared for AHL business trips and other “inequities,” then he has a good chance. Not this year, but next.

– Maybe Daniil should have stayed in Russia for another year, worked at Ak Bars with Oleg Znark, tried to win the Cup?

– No, Zhuravlev is at a good age now, he needs to develop his career. It can be done in the KHL and the NHL. Even if Daniil spends this year in the AHL, he will still get a lot of benefits from it – he will learn the language, get familiar with the situation. It’s all good experience.

8. Shakir Mukhamadullin, guard, Salavat Yulaev in New Jersey

20 years old, 3 seasons in the KHL, 7 (3+4) points. “0” in 34 games

– Here we still have to decide whether Shakir will go abroad in principle or continue playing for Salavat on loan, as was the case last year. The situation is still incomprehensible – we have to wait for the official statement from the Ufa club.

9. Bogdan Trineev, striker, from Dynamo (Moscow) to Washington

20 years old, 2 seasons in the KHL, 0 points, “-1” in 11 games

10. Alexander Kisakov, forward, from Dynamo (Moscow) to Buffalo

19 years old, 1 season in the KHL, 0 points, “-1” in 4 games

– As for these two guys, their logic is clear to me. Clearly if they play in the NHL, then probably in a year or two, not sooner. But anything can happen in sports. But here the question is quite different. For example, in Dynamo there is their age mate Rashevsky. He is in the team in good standing, plays in one of the shock units, he came out in the majority. That is, a career in the KHL is developing well. Why would a guy break loose and go somewhere if you can keep progressing in Russia? And Trineev and Kisakov have a completely different, incomprehensible status. So it is better to go abroad and get there. After all, in the KHL, no one guarantees you anything either.

– But considering that Dynamo took a course on rejuvenating the squad, they had chances to get into the starting lineup.

– Tomorrow, the sponsor will give the club money, and Dynamo will immediately forget about this “youth course”. A place in the composition will be taken by more experienced players who have taken their place.