I spoke with Dan just after the end of the first round of the draft, which included defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (#10, Anaheim), forwards Ivan Miroshnichenko (#20, Washington) and Danila Yurov (#24, Minnesota ). “).
There were doubts that the Russians would not be drafted after stories about how Ivan Fedotov was suddenly drafted into the army, and other hockey players had questions about this.
I asked Milstein, “Are 10 more Russians going to be drafted on day two?
Dan replied confidently, “There will be more – about 20 people.”
It turned out – exactly 20. The officer looked into the water.
“The first round is not a guarantee of a good career”
– That is, the “Russian factor” did not affect the project?
– This postman was. We assumed that up to six Russians would go in the first round. Two days before the draft, there were a lot of team calls. Representatives of the 32 NHL clubs were alarmed. Some general managers have even requested a personal meeting. They just didn’t know how to behave towards the Russians. The opinion of a person familiar with this subject was important to them.
“The Russians began to be massively integrated into the army,” they said. — Is it a one-time action or a trend? And if we take a player in the repechage, and he will serve a long time?
I talked about how 11 Russians were selected in the US Student League draft – and they all received US visas. We have tried to calm this situation. But we fully understood that many guys with long-term contracts in the KHL would not be selected in the first round. And it happened.
On the other hand, look at Tampa’s front row: Nikita Kucherov – second round, Braden Point – third round, Ondrej Palat – seventh round. On the first day of training camp, no one shouts: “First round – to the base, the rest – to the reserves.” There is no such thing. The rules of fair competition apply here.
“Let Kuzmenko give the surfboard to Mintyukov”
– Introduce your client Pavel Mintyukov, who was selected above all in the project. What kind of defender can the Russian team have?
Pasha was born in Moscow. We met when he was 16. Alexander Tyzhnykh, the chief scout of our Gold Star company, called me: “You have a one in a million chance. You must meet Mintyukov. And sent his video.
And I was just in Moscow. Pasha came to the Ritz-Carlton with his family. And ironically said, “I want to play in North America. I want to work with you. My desire is to be drafted into the Canadian junior leagues at 17 and develop as a defenseman in the CHL.
We drafted him, the Segino club chose Mintyukov. Pasha left in a covid year. They canceled the season in the Canadian leagues. We took him to training camp. Interestingly, he arrived in America the day before the Stanley Cup parade in Tampa.
He spent his first day with Kucherov and Vasilevsky, when they celebrated victory on the yacht and drank champagne from a silver bowl.
Mintyukov is a very smart and independent guy. Super talented. It was understood that Pasha would be selected between numbers 7 and 12. Vancouver really wanted him, but the Canucks were chosen 15th.
Why Anaheim – Pat Verbeek became the general manager of this club. He worked second in Tampa with Steve Yzerman. Then he was second to Detroit. He took the Russians in the draft, traded Misha Sergachev from Montreal, was responsible for selecting players. He played with the Russians and as a manager he made his career with the Russians. Anaheim didn’t pick the Russians for 11 years (2009-2020), but now that’s all changed.
By the way, two weeks ago, representatives of Anaheim met with Andrei Kuzmenko. And gave him a surfboard. It is known that Andrey is very fond of this sport.
And now, after the draft, the Ducks coach joked: “Let Kuzmenko pass the board to Mintyukov. I now have another favorite Russian player.
– Which defender does Mintyukov (188cm / 88kg) look like according to the prototype?
– One of the general directors approached me and asked: “Is Mintyukov the next Mikhail Sergachev?” I replied: “No, this is the next Pavel Mintyukov.”
He’s highly mobile and has all the attributes to become Anaheim’s best defenseman, play in the first pair, and earn a spot on the Majority First Team. Time will tell us…
“Romanov was sleeping when he was traded”
– Is it a sensation that two Slovaks were chosen under the first two numbers – Juraj Slafkovski (Montreal) and Szymon Nemec (New Jersey)?
– A big surprise that draft favorite Shane Wright only arrived in Seattle with the fourth number. Many saw it at number one.
“Montreal” in the last two days has exceeded its decision, took Slafkovski. New Jersey (German) and Arizona (Logan Cooley) have already listened to those caught. As a result, we saw a little sensation.
Slafkowski didn’t just become the most valuable player at the Olympics. He can break into the Montreal base next season. He has excellent prospects.
In this case, no one will be in a hurry. On average, it takes four to five years for a player to level up.
Several teams think so: why keep the boy in the NHL, giving him three to five minutes per game? This is the way of degradation. Let him spend 25-30 minutes in the junior league, progressing as a hockey player. And in a year, he will enter the NHL.
In general, the first-round pick of the draft is implicitly estimated at five million dollars. It’s the weight of how highly selected players are treated, how much they value their development.
– Under what circumstances did the Canadiens trade defenseman Alexander Romanov to the New York Islanders?
“Islanders general manager Lou Lamorello immediately texted me. I met him a few days before the draft. At that time, we did not even discuss Sasha Romanov. We talked about another defender entering the free agency market.
But Lamorello has been watching Romanov since he joined the NHL — with Ilya Sorokin, by the way, defending the Islanders’ goal. Lu didn’t even think he could get Sasha. But Romanov is clamoring for a good contract and Montreal has no money at all under the salary cap. And they think how to strengthen the attack.
Consequently, the Canadians made the decision to trade Romanov, and Lamorello was there, as several other clubs wanted Alexander. But the case was born on Thursday. Even Sasha himself was unsuspecting, but was sleeping soundly when the exchange took place. Lamorello has already called five times, wanting to personally congratulate Romanov on the transition …
“St. Louis” wanted to take Barbashev Jr.
— Are there any problems bringing Russian players to North America?
We have been working on this mode for three years. The US Embassy in Moscow has stopped issuing visas. Therefore, our agency sends them through other countries. We have people who deal specifically with visas – with the support of our lawyers. Therefore, there will be no problems.
— What can you say about the second day of the repechage? 23 players – it turns out there is no Russian factor?
– The nuance is that when you take a North American playing in the CHL, you have two years to sign him. USHL player – four years to sign him. If a hockey player is from Russia, you own the rights to him until he turns 27, until he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Therefore, the same Caroline, having a good farm club, can accommodate many Russians in the future. There is no need to quickly drag the player to North America. He can mature at the age of 25-26, like Andrei Kuzmenko. The guy is already ready to go to the NHL, and the rights have already been transferred to the Hurricanes. So there is a logic there. And I would say that’s a trend among NHL clubs.
– It is curious that on the second day they chose Maxim Barbashev, the younger brother of Ivan Barbashev, who won the 2019 Stanley Cup with St. Louis.
– Of course, Vanya came to the draft, her parents came specially from Moscow. When the fifth round started, the general manager of St. Louis called me and said, “Do you mind if I draft Max?” “Of course, take it! He wants to play on the same team as his brother. Although Ivan can become an unrestricted free agent in a year.
But as we were talking, the Rangers chairman wrote to me: ‘If I can’t get the eldest Barbashev, then I’ll draft the youngest.’ With these words, they chose Maxim.
– In the past three years, 13 Russian goalkeepers have been selected in the repechage. What is this boom about?
– Watch how Russian goalies play in the NHL. Vasilevsky, Sorokin… Remember who won the Vezina Trophy this year? Many call Vasilevsky the best goalkeeper in the world in principle. Hence the interest.
All Russians selected in 2022 NHL Rookie Draft
1.h Pavel Mintyukov (#10, Anaheim)
2. Ivan Miroshnichenko (#20, Washington)
3. vs. Danila Yurov (#24, Minnesota)
4. c Artem Duda (#36, Arizona)
5. f Dmitry Buchelnikov (#52, Detroit)
6. f Gleb Trikozov (#60, Carolina)
7. f Alexander Perevalov (#71, Carolina)
8. against Viktor Neuchev (#74, Buffalo)
9. f Kirill Dolzhenkov (No. 109, Columbus)
10.d Daniil Orlov (#110, New Jersey)
11. Sergey Murashov (#118, Pittsburgh)
12. s Arseniy Koromyslov (No. 120, St. Louis)
13. s Vsevolod Komarov (No. 134, Buffalo)
14. f Nikita Grebenkin (No 135, Toronto)
15. to Sergei Ivanov (No. 138, Christopher Columbus)
16. Maxim Mayorov (#147, Dallas)
17. h Vladimir Grudinin (No. 156, Carolina)
18. f Maxim Barbashev (#161, New York Rangers)
19. Vyacheslav Buteets (#178, Anaheim)
20.s Nikita Evseev (No 190, Edmonton)
21.d Artem Barabosha (#198, New Jersey)
22. a.m. Alexander Pelevin (#205, Carolina)
23. d Kirill Kudryavtsev (No 208, Vancouver)
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
