“Staying in Tampa is murder. Who will need me in two years? How to get back from the NHL in Sochi

I spoke with Alexei Melnichuk at the 3 × 3 tournament, which was held under the auspices of the FHR in Balashikha. I’ve always loved this keeper. I thought he could become the first number for the San Jose Sharks, where Lesha left to pursue his career. Then he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and now Melnichuk has moved to Sochi for two years. That’s how he rolls it along the beaches – from California and Florida to Adler.

The interview was delayed a bit, because something from Ivan Fedotov was taken to the army, and then rumors swirled around Kirill Kaprizov and other hockey players. This summer, the news agenda in the hockey world is only exploding. But the conversation with Melnichuk did not become less relevant because of this.

“My chance to play in the NHL was ruined by covid”

– So explain, Alexey, why you went to the resorts.

– Spell! This is how the curve takes me. But the woman is happy. We live in paradise!

– What do you think of last season? How did it go for you?

– It’s a difficult season. It is clear that I am not happy with them. But I have no complaints about the San Jose Sharks. They did what they said.

It is precisely there that they promised me: “Play, play, you will have your chance”…

– You played for the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL, where in 31 games you saved 86.7% of shots with 3.92 missed goals. Poor stats.

– As for the NHL – at the Sharks there was an incomprehensible situation with the goalkeepers. Who’s number one there – Adin Hill (90.6%), James Rymer (91.1%)…

Then Hill was out for a month. And they say to me: “Now, after Christmas, there will be a time for you. Wait.” I’m going out after the holidays – and for the first time in two years I tested positive for covid.

They took Zach Savchenko for me, who was second in the AHL. And that’s it, he took a chance, started playing for the Sharks. And in theory, this was my chance. If I played in the NHL, both ways, it would be more interesting. And so – on whom to be offended, besides yourself?

– In fact, Savchenko’s statistics in the NHL are also not impressive – 90.1% in seven games. But this is San Jose, the team didn’t make the playoffs.

– There, in the NHL, it is very important to seize your chance. They gave it to me and I sat at home. And then he left, but we had a tough team in the AHL. A lot of guys have been taken upstairs in the NHL. We had a lot of guys from the East Coast League playing for us. As a result, we have become 31 out of 31 clubs. We finish in last place…

I played in such a way that even five missed goals was a very good result for me. There is only horror. I have never been in such a situation. It looks like now any club will look like a big top to me. In general, in terms of life, it is very interesting. And as for the NHL, it’s a shame that I never used that chance.

“A lot depends on chance. The same Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers brilliantly took advantage of him.

– Igor has been playing since the AHL. He showed his hockey, he had great stats. Shesterkin brilliantly seized his chance, and now all of Madison Square Garden is chanting, “Igor! Igor! He’s a big boy, and we can only be happy for Igor.

“I’m laying by the pool, and they’re like, ‘Tomorrow you’re flying to Tampa’

– Evgeny Nabokov is in charge of goaltenders at the San Jose Sharks. Did he contact you in any way?

Yeah, we’ve talked all season. Eugene encouraged: “Tomorrow, tomorrow…”

Then I came down with covid. When he came back on the ice he was very heavy, to be honest. He stayed home for 10 days, the illness was not easy. Nabokov said, “Come on, play in the AHL, get in shape. And we are already in February. We called, contacted, but the championship was coming to an end.

– Why were you traded to Tampa? By the way, for the first time in the history of the NHL, three Russian goalkeepers came together in one club at once – Andrei Vasilevsky, Amir Miftakhov and you.

“I don’t know how it happened. I’m laying by the pool, and they’re like, “You have a flight to Tampa tomorrow.” I’m like, “Okay.”

In general, the Lightning had a problem with the AHL’s primary goaltender. He went to the doctor, and there – either a knee or a heart. I’m flying to Tampa. They tell me, “Go to the east coast league for two games. And then we’ll decide what to do with you.”

I played two games for Orlando. We won, even gave away a prize. But from “Tampa” still does not call. And I look – this problematic goalkeeper came out, plays.

I think, “Well, I’m sorry, but I’m not going to sit in the East Coast league.” And he returned to San Jose – already to rest, to prepare for next season.

– There was no desire to stay in Tampa?

– What’s the point? Bezvylazno plays in the AHL, when there is Vasilevsky – the king in the door?

– By the way, Lightning terminates the contract with Miftakhov. Soon he will sign a deal with Ak Bars.

– As you see. Staying in Tampa in this situation is murder. In two years, no one will need me. And if you’re waiting for the trade, then the agent said to me, “Some NHL clubs can pick you up, but it’s July.”

If nobody took me, I would have to stay in the East Coast League. Well, that’s just a cross on a career. Anywhere but not there.

– So what’s next?

– HC Sochi made an offer and I accepted the contract.

“Barracuda and I lose 0:5, and the locker room is a disco”

– A contract with Sochi for two years, and there is a chance to become the first goalkeeper of the KHL club.

— I look on with optimism. Young team. I watched the last games of Sochi, when the club was already managed by Andrey Nazarov, they played well in defense. Yes, after the “Barracuda”, the 31st club in the AHL, I will do everything for happiness!

I missed good hardworking hockey. I do not like losing. And in “Barracuda” we lost a lot. And no one cared. The scoreboard is 0:5, and we have a disco in the locker room. I’m sure that won’t happen in Sochi. I have been added to the team chat. Everyone writes: “We want to play the playoffs.”

And it’s not just the rewards. Everyone wants to grow as an athlete, to go as far as possible. And in my San Jose system, I haven’t had that for two years, how can you dream of the playoffs. Therefore, I am very happy.

How was your life in California? What to do there when there is no hockey?

– In terms of life for me, these are the best two years. It is true that it is very expensive. You can’t live on the AHL money at all. Renting a one-room apartment costs $4,500 per month.

– 283 thousand rubles. Not everyone will shoot.

– It’s just normal. But it was 15 minutes from my home to Silicon Valley, Apple and Google. For this reason, these prices simply insane. But in terms of life, California is very beautiful. I really fell in love with her. My wife loves it and our dog loves it. Every weekend – to the ocean, to the mountains. Everything was great.

Also, there were enough Russian guys around. Alexander Barabanov with his wife, Kolya Knyzhov, Timur Ibragimov, Artemy Knyazev… Perfect company.

– Remind me, did you play a game in the NHL?

– Three. I came off the bench in Los Angeles. And we spent two at home.

– What do you remember from the NHL?

– Understand that it is possible to play it. And it’s not that difficult. You just have to start playing. Become addicted.

Because my last two games in the NHL were exhibitions, postponed due to championship covid (4:5 OT with Arizona, 0:6 with Vegas). We were already on our suitcases. We discussed with the coaches, with the management: the team did not reach the playoffs, the matches were postponed to mid-May. They tell me: “Come.”

I played them and the coach said, “Sorry, I didn’t know it would be like this.” And he added: “We are counting on you, you are great.” It’s their American theme.

I played and I was happy. Because I understood what the NHL is, what we should aim for. Even from these two games you could learn a lot of useful things for yourself.

“Shesterkin went to the cosmic level”

Who is the best goalkeeper in the world right now?

– If now, then it’s Shestera.

– Vasilevsky beat him in the playoffs.

“But they have slightly different teams. I just watched the games and saw the New York Rangers defense play. It’s harder for the goalkeeper there, and it’s not for nothing that Igor made 40 saves per game. Shesterkin has shown himself to be great before, but this season he’s reached a kind of cosmic level.

In fact, the Vézina Trophy is such a guarantee of quality that you are the best goalkeeper in the world during the 2021-22 season. In addition, Vasilevsky also flew from space.

Andrey is good at dueling with his eyes. I saw the moment he ran under the podium, settling down.

– In general, there are many different shades in the NHL. When you don’t let a player out of the door, they start saying nasty things to your face. There it is highly developed and well received. The so-called thrash current.

– Well, and you?

– At first I was seething, like Petya Kochetkov (from Carolina, this year he became the AHL champion). And then he stopped, starting to focus more on his game. And that all comes with experience too.