The Capitals have used other teams’ fear of drafting Russians to their advantage by getting skilled guys with late picks
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The Russians Are Coming – May 30, 2011 - Vol. 64, Issue 25 - Brian McNally
In some NHL quarters there is always doubt. Do you draft a talented, young Russian and deal with the potential headaches? Kontinental League contract issues, the language barrier, the possibility he could bolt for home if things go sour…
For the Washington Capitals, those complications remain a consideration. But with a handful of Russian stars already in place, they maintain a comfort level most other NHL teams just don’t have.
The organization is willing to take that risk because the draft is still the cheapest way to replenish talent and avoid salary cap-crushing free agent contracts. And it also has the best Russian recruiter in the world. “Our locker room is unbelievable, the atmosphere in the room and outside the room is unbelievable,” said Alex Ovechkin. “We will support them.”
Since 2002 the Caps have drafted eight Russian-born players in the first three rounds. “Thank goodness we’re drafting well,” said Washington GM George McPhee. “And we have real good players coming in, real difference-makers that make up for a free agent that we might lose.”
One of those possibilities is center Evgeny Kuznetsov, the 26th pick in last summer’s draft. The Caps were ecstatic he fell to them as other clubs hedged their bets. Within months Kuznetsov proved to be one of the world’s best teenagers, leading Russia to world junior gold with a game that prompted Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson to call him the tourney’s “most dynamic player.” That performance carried over to the KHL season, where Kuznetsov had 17 goals and 32 points in 44 games with Traktor Chelyabinsk, terrific numbers for a teen in that league. He has a year left on his KHL contract and has said he will fulfill the deal. But nothing is set in stone. “We have lots to talk about over the summer,” McPhee said. “If he feels he’s ready to play here, we can talk about that, too.”
Kuznetsov would have lots of Russian company in Washington. Alexander Semin is under contract for one more season; goalie Semyon Varlamov was injured much of 2010-11, but started the previous two playoffs; and, of course, there’s Ovechkin.
The Caps’ pipeline is also stocked with Russians: Dmitri Orlov, a 2009 second-rounder (55th); Hershey center Dmitry Kugryshev (58th in ’08), 21, who struggled in the American League this season; and Stanislav Galiev (86th, ’10), who had 37 goals and 65 points for Saint John in 64 Quebec League contests.
Orlov, 19, joined Hershey in late February. The defenseman played 25 games in all, scoring two goals and 10 points and finishing plus-1. He’s a big, mobile puck-mover with an edge to his game the Caps love. After his AHL debut, the team’s internal report called it among the best first periods by a 19-year-old at that level. Hype? Maybe. But the track record is there.
This is an organization that said similar things about Mike Green, John Carlson, Marcus Johansson and young goalies Varlamov, Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby. All were chosen 23rd or later in the draft. And it won’t hurt that Kuznetsov et al. – whenever they arrive – will have a support system in place. “Of course it’s on us because we’re leaders and we’re experienced guys,” Ovechkin said. “We’re going to help everybody, rookie or two-year guys.”
RUSHIN’ BEARS
CAREER RUSSIAN NHL GOALS LEADERS
Sergei Fedorov
483 goals
Alexander Mogilny
473 goals
Pavel Bure
437 goals
Alex Kovalev
428 goals
Ilya Kovalchuk
369 goals
Vyacheslav Kozlov
356 goals
Alexei Yashin
337 goals
Alex Ovechkin
301 goals
Alexei Zhamnov
249 goals
Sergei Samsonov
235 goals
4 Under-20 KHLers who reached double digits in points this season.