Will the following Russians ever play in the NHL?

Habsfan18

The Hockey Library
May 13, 2003
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Semen Varlamov - Washington
Igor Makarov - Chicago
Artem Anisimov - NYR
Alexander Vasyunov - New Jersey
Vladimir Zharkov - New Jersey
Sergei Shirokov - Vancouver
Alexander Bumagin - Edmonton
Ilja Zubov - Ottawa
Alexei Emelin - Montreal

also, this awesome Cherepanov kid, is there any doubt about him coming over to NA after he gets drafted?
 
Last edited:

Blind Gardien

nexus of the crisis
Apr 2, 2004
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I suppose there's doubt with any of them given the current climate. But on talent alone, you'd think they could all play. Varlamov, Makarov, and Bumagin have probably imrpessed me most so far. Followed by Zubov and Shirokov. With Anisimov, Zharkov, and Vasyunov having the most risk in the group. But based on practically nothing and a lot of hearsay, so take your lakes of salt with those opinions. :GWC:
 

Habsfan18

The Hockey Library
May 13, 2003
30,614
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Ontario
I suppose there's doubt with any of them given the current climate. But on talent alone, you'd think they could all play. Varlamov, Makarov, and Bumagin have probably imrpessed me most so far. Followed by Zubov and Shirokov. With Anisimov, Zharkov, and Vasyunov having the most risk in the group. But based on practically nothing and a lot of hearsay, so take your lakes of salt with those opinions. :GWC:

thanks for the info.

bump. Anyone else?
 

Stephen

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Feb 28, 2002
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Gord Miller was saying Varlamov wants to play in the NHL and is willing to apprentice in the AHL, unlike a lot of Russians nowadays, so that sounds good for Washington.
 

Cush

Registered User
Dec 1, 2002
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Northern Virginia
Gord Miller was saying Varlamov wants to play in the NHL and is willing to apprentice in the AHL, unlike a lot of Russians nowadays, so that sounds good for Washington.

Good to hear. Dave Prior (Caps goalie coach) really pushed for Varlamov (and Neuvirth) at the '06 draft, so they're pretty high on him. Will likely do whatever it takes to get him over.
 

CapsWolverinesUSA

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Jan 3, 2007
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Good to hear. Dave Prior (Caps goalie coach) really pushed for Varlamov (and Neuvirth) at the '06 draft, so they're pretty high on him. Will likely do whatever it takes to get him over.

Neuvirth is on fire in Plymouth. I've gotten the chance to see him play twice this season, and he was good both times. His weakness is concentration. Makes 5 amazing saves, but then allows a softy. If he can improve his focus (maturity may have a lot to do with it), he's going to be very, very good.

Varlamov also has a ton of upside. It will be interesting to see what the Caps do here. Maxime Daigneault is doing pretty well in Hershey and Johnson is probably on his way out after this season. Do we risk going into 2007-2008 with 1 old goalie and one totally unproven backup? If we do, do we try to get both 2006 draft picks into the AHL? If not, and Daigneault plays another year at Hershey, who do we try to get into the AHL first--Neuvirth or Varlamov?
 

Garl

Registered User
Oct 7, 2006
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Semen Varlamov - Washington
Igor Makarov - Chicago
Artem Anisimov - NYR
Alexander Vasyunov - New Jersey
Vladimir Zharkov - New Jersey
Sergei Shirokov - Vancouver
Alexander Bumagin - Edmonton
Ilja Zubov - Ottawa
Alexei Emelin - Montreal

also, this awesome Cherepanov kid, is there any doubt about him coming over to NA after he gets drafted?

IMO:
Anisimov, Vasyunov, Zharkov, Bumagin, Zubov - NO.
Emelin, Shiriokov, Makarov- maybe
Varlamov-for sure
 

Drake1588

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Jul 2, 2002
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The Caps' podcast this week addressed the sudden glut of goaltenders in the Washington system, and the effect it may have on Varlamov, who has indeed expressed a willingness/eagerness to come over to North America next season.

The Caps still have Calder Cup MVP Cassivi signed through next season to backstop Hershey, and are carrying Caps prospect Maxime Daigneault, who has looked good in a backup/injury fill-in at starter role for a very good Hershey team. Caps G prospect Daren Machesney has received a callup from the ECHL during Cassivi's injury and fared well himself. Two other Bears goalies got wins in their first AHL starts last week in consecutive games, so the team's in many ways full up at the position.

With their prospect cupboard, the Caps are already stashing significantly more players at Hershey than Bruce Boudreau strictly speaking needs or can juggle when the roster is healthy, finding ice time for everyone. The Caps have more prospects playing for their ECHL South Carolina affiliate than anyone can remember in a long time. That includes goal, where they are carrying Machesney as thier starter, when the Bears aren't frocking him for AHL duty, as well as skaters like Steve Werner, Viktor Dovgan, Matt Stefanishion, and at times Jonas Johansson, who has rode the shuttle.

Because of the glut, the Caps are already expected to stash Neuvirth at OHL Plymouth a while longer before signing him. So going back to Varlamov, it's something of a dilemma, though a good problem to have, of course. Getting him quality minutes/starts over here would be the challenge, in an environment that would be measurably better than serving as a regular starter in the RSL.

Might come down to whether the Caps re-sign Brent Johnson, or promote Daigneault to back up Kolzig for 2007-08.

Link: 57:10 minutes into the podcast.

My guess? If he's not in the AHL in 2007-08, they'll sign him and have him over here for the 2008-09 season. He's hungry to play in the NHL, though.
 

xander

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Nov 4, 2003
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IMO:
Anisimov, Vasyunov, Zharkov, Bumagin, Zubov - NO.
Emelin, Shiriokov, Makarov- maybe
Varlamov-for sure

the word around the water cooler is that the Rangers intend to bring Anisimov over to north america next year (he is curently in the last year of his contract with his russian team.) Now weather he ever makes the jump from the AHL to the NHL is highly debatable, but he should be playing in north america next year at the very least.
 

Redwingsfan

Global Moderator
Jul 15, 2006
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The Caps' podcast this week addressed the sudden glut of goaltenders in the Washington system, and the effect it may have on Varlamov, who has indeed expressed a willingness/eagerness to come over to North America next season.

The Caps still have Calder Cup MVP Cassivi signed through next season to backstop Hershey, and are carrying Caps prospect Maxime Daigneault, who has looked good in a backup/injury fill-in at starter role for a very good Hershey team. Caps G prospect Daren Machesney has received a callup from the ECHL during Cassivi's injury and fared well himself. Two other Bears goalies got wins in their first AHL starts last week in consecutive games, so the team's in many ways full up at the position.

With their prospect cupboard, the Caps are already stashing significantly more players at Hershey than Bruce Boudreau strictly speaking needs or can juggle when the roster is healthy, finding ice time for everyone. The Caps have more prospects playing for their ECHL South Carolina affiliate than anyone can remember in a long time. That includes goal, where they are carrying Machesney as thier starter, when the Bears aren't frocking him for AHL duty, as well as skaters like Steve Werner, Viktor Dovgan, Matt Stefanishion, and at times Jonas Johansson, who has rode the shuttle.

Because of the glut, the Caps are already expected to stash Neuvirth at OHL Plymouth a while longer before signing him. So going back to Varlamov, it's something of a dilemma, though a good problem to have, of course. Getting him quality minutes/starts over here would be the challenge, in an environment that would be measurably better than serving as a regular starter in the RSL.
Might come down to whether the Caps re-sign Brent Johnson, or promote Daigneault to back up Kolzig for 2007-08.

Link: 57:10 minutes into the podcast.

My guess? If he's not in the AHL in 2007-08, they'll sign him and have him over here for the 2008-09 season. He's hungry to play in the NHL, though.


talent wise. the RSL is the second best league in the world, but its better for players from europe to play in the AHL for one reason. to adjust to the north-american game and the small rinks, but talent wise there is a lot of leagues in europe that is better the the AHL:
 

Kaizer

Registered User
Apr 26, 2003
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Berlin, Germany
Semen Varlamov - Washington -He is interested
Igor Makarov - Chicago Considering SKA's situation, he can try
Artem Anisimov - NYR NYR is interested in him AFAIK
Alexander Vasyunov - New Jersey
Vladimir Zharkov - New Jersey
Sergei Shirokov - Vancouver - No, will not change leader's role in his for AHL. Will be good player at EuroTour and WC just not NHL type of player, Imo.
Alexander Bumagin - Edmonton See Shirokov
Ilja Zubov - Ottawa
Alexei Emelin - Montreal

Just humble opinion.
 

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