Russian Prospects Review Part IV
Lazarev
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Drafted by the Colorado Avalanche, 79th overall in 1998 NHL Entry Draft
2002-03:The winger has exited Colorado's farm system and returned to
Russia during the summer of 2002. The young player was apparently hurt during
the training camp, which was his last chance to make an impact in front of Avalanche's
coaching staff. Lazarev did not leave his problems behind in North America,
unable to initially find a home in Russia. However, after a short stop with
Ak Bars Kazan, the young winger settled in Cherpovets with Severstal.
Outlook: Lazarev had minimal impact with Severstal last season, and
hopefully will be able to offer more to one of Russia's top teams, Severstal
Cherpovets.
Luchkin
Drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks, 225th overall in 2000 NHL Entry Draft
2002-03:Vladislav Luchkin was unable to follow up an impressive 2001-02
season with a solid 2002-03. He started the year with Severstal Cherpovets,
but turning 20 meant that he could no longer satisfy the league's junior player
requirement and the arrival of youngster Yevgeniy Issakov (who was drafted by
the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer) from Tyumen effectively knocked Luchkin
out of the lineup. After playing a few minutes a game early on for Severstal,
the Cherpovets club loaned the forward to SKA St. Petersburg, where the club,
surging with Mikhailov at the helm, found space for the youngster in only two
games.
Outlook: Thinks are not looking great for Luchkin with Severstal. He
will have to move on to a different, less wealthy and deep Super League club
to find any ice time.
Lyubushin
Drafted by the Los Angeles Kings , 215th overall in 2002 NHL Entry Draft
2002-03: Mikhail Lyubushin earned a spot in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft,
a year after he became eligible, by skating for Russian Super League's 2001-02
Cinderella club, the newly promoted Soviet Wings. While he did not have an impact
role with the squad, he did receive enough minutes a game to be noticed by the
scouts and the Russian national team coaches. This past season Lyubushin returned
to the Soviet Wings, which were now in a different financial situation, struggling
to find a stable sponsor. Due to the club's financial difficulties, the young
blueliner was promoted to the top defensive pairing. He performed quite well
during his unexpected promotion and helped the team stay respectable, if not
competitive.
Outlook: The Soviet Wings made an exit from the Super League back to
the Upper League after just a two year stay and a playoff birth the previous
season. With the club's departure from Russia's top league, Mikhail Lyubishin
left as well. At first he was favored to go to Kazan, following his club's head
coach, who took an assistant coach position with Ak Bars. However, the young
defender decided to remain in Moscow, and signed with Dynamo Moscow for the
2003-04 season. Lyubushin had some troubles adjusting to his new team and was
hurt by Atlanta Thrashers top defensive prospect Ilya Nikulin remaining with
Dynamo and a homecoming of a Dynamo Moscow defensive product and Washington
Capitals prospect Igor Schadilov. The crowded blue line is good news for Dynamo
fans, but may mean a long season for Mikhail Lyubushin.
Malenkykh
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins, 157th overall in 1999 NHL Entry Draft
2002-03:Vladimir Malenkykh seems to be turning into another Oleg Orekhovsky
- a talented Russian blue liner who was expected to make his way to North America
for several summers, but never signed with the NHL club that drafted him. Malenkykh
was excepted to sign with the depleted Penguins last summer, and then again
this summer, but both times he reported to Lada Togliatti's training camp and
took his place at the top of the Super League squad's defensive corps. Malenkykh
missed a big portion of the beginning of the 2002-03 season with a knee injury,
coming back in late November. He quickly regained his form and by early January
was back to his old self. He proceeded to earn a spot on Russia's national team
for the EuroTour tournaments, where he had mixed success and did not continue
to the World Championships. The talented defensive defenseman's performance
in the playoffs was a big part of the reason why Lada finished with the bronze
medals, in third place.
Outlook: Vladimir Malenkykh will be have another solid season on Lada's
top defensive pairing. Offensively minded Detroit Red Wings blue liner Alexander
Seluyanov complements the experienced defensive Malekykh well and the two promise
to have a solid 2003-04 season.
Medvedev
Drafted by the Calgary Flames, 56th overall in 2001 NHL Entry Draft
2002-03:The incumbent goaltender for the Russian U18 and U20 teams came
on "barreling" into his last season in the juniors. Expected to earn the backup
job for Spartak Moscow this summer, the young goaltender known for being overweight
came into training looking like a barrel and weighing in the vicinity of 260
pounds. Disappointed, the club was forced to sign goaltender Denis Khlopotnov
for the backup job. He also looked shaky in Russia's first U20 international
tournament and lost significant ground to the up and coming '84 born Konstantin
Barulin who actually played more games for the national team before the U20
WJC then Medvedev. Fortunately, Medvedev's situation improved in October, when
Denis Khlopotnov suffered a season ending injury, forcing Spartak to fill the
backup position with the young Russian. Medvedev did not see much ice time in
the fall, as Steve Plouffe played most of the games, and Spartak's coaches simply
did not trust the young goalie. When Plauff started to struggle in late November,
Medvedev was finally worked into the fold and did not disappoint, backstopping
Spartak to a couple of victories and close losses before the December break.
Despite his steady play, Spartak was still one of the four clubs to leave the
Super League. However, Medvedev battled through an important proving season,
showing that he is a backstopper with a wealth of potential.
Outlook: Andrei Medvedev will likely be Spartak's starting goaltender
this season, albeit it will be in the Upper League, a notch below the Super
League. He finished off his junior career in style with three gold medals in
a row (one U18 and two U20 WJCs). Spartak will likely return to the Super League
after 2003-04 and Medvedev will be there in the club's net.
Mokhov
Drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks, 63rd overall in 1999 NHL Entry Draft
2002-03:After attending Chicago Blackhawks camp during the summer of
2002, Mokhov was unceremoniously sent back to Russia, advised to improve his
conditioning. Upon his return, the blue liner was unable to catch on with any
of the Super League squads, and spent the 2002-03 season with Upper League's
THK Tver.
Outlook: The young defenseman's NHL future is very much in doubt, considering
his poor showing in Russia. He stayed in the Upper League for the coming season,
joining the recently fallen Soviet Wings. It is unlikely that Mokhov will cross
over to North America.
Mozyakin
Drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets, 263rd overall in 2002 NHL Entry Draft
2002-03:The smallish, speedy sniper delivered a solid season for CSKA,
successfully making the transition from the Upper League to Russia's premier
Super League. The young forward managed almost a point per game ratio last season,
taking his place as one of the Super League's most dynamic scorers. Besides
further developing his technical skills, Mozyakin's hockey sense came along
quite well last season. He has started to play smarter, relying more on his
playmaking ability. Mozyakin also shored up some of the defensive shortcomings
he carried with him in the Upper Leauge.
Outlook: During the 2003-04 season, Mozyakin will again average almost
a point a game in the Super League. Next summer, this young forward will likely
cross the ocean to Columbus along with his teammate and Columbus' top pick in
2003, Nikolai Zherdev.
Nepriayev
Drafted by the Washington Capitals, 163rd overall in 2002 NHL Entry Draft
2002-03: Nepriayev followed up a solid 2001-02 season with a less then
successful sequel. During the 2002-03 season, he was forced to compete for ice
time with several young, dynamic talents, and often ended up watching the games
from the stands. Curiously, the lack of ice time in the Super League did not
defer the Russian main national team's head coach, Vladimir Plyuschev, from
calling up the youngster, who was one of Plyuschev favorites, while he coached
Russia's junior squads several years earlier. On the international arena, Nepriyev
showed off his ability to compete at the highest level, peaking the interest
his NHL club, the Washington Capitals. The Capitals extended the young forward
an offer, but were unable to bring him over to North America this summer. Allegedly,
the agreement has been reached and Nepriayev will be in North America next summer.
Outlook: Nepriayev will once again have to compete with youngsters for
ice time on the veteran filled squad. While Kriukov, Vorobiev and Suglobov have
gone to North America, a new crop of youngsters the likes of Glazachev and Shafigullin
have risen out of Lokomotiv's farm system.
Nikulin
Drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers, 31st overall in 2000 NHL Entry Draft
2002-03:Nikulin had a relatively quiet 2002-03 season on Dynamo Moscow's
third defensive pairing. Slowed down by a leg injury early on in October, he
started the season struggling, but quickly recovered. Widely expected to arrive
in North America this summer, the young blue liner has surprisingly remained
with Dynamo Moscow for another year.
Outlook: Nikulin will be one of Dynamo's top defensemen during the 2003-04
season. His stock will likely rise significantly, and the young defenseman will
be in North America next summer.
Orekhovsky
Drafted by the Washington Capitals, 206th overall in 1996 NHL Entry Draft (Acquired
by the Minnesota Wild in the expansion draft)
2002-03:Orekhovsky spent another season on Dynamo Moscow's top defensive
pairing. He performed relatively well, but compared to the previous two seasons,
his stock has begun to fall. The seasoned blue liner has continued to be solid,
but has now been surpassed by several newcomers on Dynamo's roster. He also
failed to receive an invitation to join Russia's national team. He is a great
utility defenseman in Russia, but it is unlikely that Orekhovsky will ever cross
over to the NHL.
Outlook: Orekhovsky started the 2003-04 season with a new club, switching
clubs for the first time in his career, leaving Dynamo Moscow for the wealthy
Avangard Omsk. Omsk lost two key defensemen to the NHL this summer, and Orekhovsky
will shore up the club's blue line. Look for Orekhovsky to have a consistent,
though unspectacular season.