Evgeny Oliker
Registered User
Alexander Shapiro (Sport-Express)
Translated by William Berg
Q : What is the reason for the absence from the final roster of Sergei Zubov and Vladimir Malakhov, two very experienced players, if not the best Russian defensemen in the NHL?
Bilyaletdinov : I don’t really want to talk about Zubov, you better ask this question to general manager Igor Tuzik. Concerning Malakhov : he put forward an injury.
Q : The 10-player list that was announced a few days ago by Viktor Tikhonov included Andrei Nikolishin. However he is not on the final roster. Why?
Bilyaletdinov : There is no doubt that Nikolishin is an experienced professional, but in my opinion, it is necessarry to have young players on the team. Such as Zubrus, Chubarov, Kvasha, Kovalchuk.
Q : Who led the talks with the players : you or Igor Tuzik?
Bilyaletdinov : After my appointment as head coach of the national team, I actively influenced the formation of the roster. I talked to Vladimir Yurzinov, Viktor Tikhonov, received their advice and gave them my opinion.
Q : Why doesn’t the list include Vyacheslav Kozlov, who became one of the most efficient Russian players in the NHL last season? Same about Sergei Brylin.
Bilyaletdinov : Regarding Vyacheslav Kozlov, I can say that he rarely expressed his desire to play for the national team, therefore it didn’t make any sense to invite him. Brylin is a center, whereas we already do have four high class centers in Zhamnov, Yashin, Fedorov and Datsyuk. It wouldn’t be reasonable to keep a such player in reserve.
Q : What if one of them gets injured?
Bilyaletdinov : Viktor Kozlov can be a winger, but also a center.
Q : Many people were surprised by the selection of players such as Chubarov, Valeri Bure, Vishnevski …
Bilyaletdinov : And what is so suprising? I got a very good report on each of them, that’s why they’re part of the group that will go to the World Cu
Translated by William Berg
Q : What is the reason for the absence from the final roster of Sergei Zubov and Vladimir Malakhov, two very experienced players, if not the best Russian defensemen in the NHL?
Bilyaletdinov : I don’t really want to talk about Zubov, you better ask this question to general manager Igor Tuzik. Concerning Malakhov : he put forward an injury.
Q : The 10-player list that was announced a few days ago by Viktor Tikhonov included Andrei Nikolishin. However he is not on the final roster. Why?
Bilyaletdinov : There is no doubt that Nikolishin is an experienced professional, but in my opinion, it is necessarry to have young players on the team. Such as Zubrus, Chubarov, Kvasha, Kovalchuk.
Q : Who led the talks with the players : you or Igor Tuzik?
Bilyaletdinov : After my appointment as head coach of the national team, I actively influenced the formation of the roster. I talked to Vladimir Yurzinov, Viktor Tikhonov, received their advice and gave them my opinion.
Q : Why doesn’t the list include Vyacheslav Kozlov, who became one of the most efficient Russian players in the NHL last season? Same about Sergei Brylin.
Bilyaletdinov : Regarding Vyacheslav Kozlov, I can say that he rarely expressed his desire to play for the national team, therefore it didn’t make any sense to invite him. Brylin is a center, whereas we already do have four high class centers in Zhamnov, Yashin, Fedorov and Datsyuk. It wouldn’t be reasonable to keep a such player in reserve.
Q : What if one of them gets injured?
Bilyaletdinov : Viktor Kozlov can be a winger, but also a center.
Q : Many people were surprised by the selection of players such as Chubarov, Valeri Bure, Vishnevski …
Bilyaletdinov : And what is so suprising? I got a very good report on each of them, that’s why they’re part of the group that will go to the World Cu
