Former vice president “Metallurgy” Gennady Velichkin believes that the goalkeeper’s potential Ilya Nabokov allows him to play in the NHL.
On Saturday, the Colorado Avalanche selected Nabokov 38th overall in the second round of the NHL Draft. The 21-year-old goalkeeper will be able to leave for the United States in the summer of 2025, when his agreement with the Russian club expires.
— If Nabokov confirms the level he showed last season, he will probably go to the NHL. The main thing is that the guy is allowed to play in Metallurg. His potential allows him to play abroad. I think he is one of the star goalies of Russia in the near future.
— Did you expect Nabokov to produce this level in his first season in the KHL?
– Not expected. There is a coincidence here. We all depend on certain circumstances. The situation was such that Metallurg had a problem with goalkeepers. First with Zagidulin, then again and again. It worked, so Nabokov got a chance. I don’t understand what’s going on in the team. But I think the guy got a chance temporarily, they started looking for another goalkeeper, time passed and the guy showed that there was no need to look for anyone,” Velichkin told .
Last season, Nabokov made 66 appearances for Metallurg, conceding 121 goals. With the Magnitogorsk team, Ilya won the 2024 Gagarin Cup and was recognized as the most valuable player in the KHL playoffs.
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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.
