Radel Fazleev interview to Russian media outlet
Below is my translation of excerpts from Fazleev's interview to a Russian Media outlet.
I omitted some stuff not related to Phantoms/ Flyers. Additionally, I am not a professional translator- I speak broken English fluently. Please reach out to me for clarifications.
Radel Fazleev: Only time will show who made a mistake “AK Bars†or me.
Interview to Business on line
https://sport.business-gazeta.ru/article/192547
Recorded by Djaudat Abdullin
“The coach asked me to play a simple game.â€
Q: Radel, you had not played in play-offs. Were you injured?
A: No, my health was OK. Psychologically I had a tough season. I was not able to find common language with the coach. Why? Let’s start with the fact that the team had not made playoffs in prior 7 seasons. That’s why the roster was greatly improved in off- season and it was much different. I befriended a lot of guys in my first year, but was not able to play due to the arm fracture. I hardly recognized the team when I arrived to the preseason camp last year. The club had spent some money to sign veterans and was evident that they would play on the first 2 lines. There were 3 very strong centers, and, realistically speaking, the only place available for me was the fourth line. I do not mind, but that’s totally different style of play. The coach’s objectives for me were to run, hit, and intimidate opponents with my energy. The main task was not to let a goal against, scoring a goal was a bonus that was not required of us. I realize that the team needs role players, but that does not play to my strong suits. To begin with, I am not that fast, additionally my trump card is play-making and that was not welcomed by coaching staff. I tried to play according to coaches’ plans, but it was not good. When I tried to create plays, to make a positive impressions I happened to make mistakes and I had been benched for that. The coach had pointed out my deviations from the plans. Nevertheless, I had played pretty regularly before the New Year. Then we started playing more important games and the coach made a decision to play more experienced players. There was a situation when one of the players was PKing 3-5 for entire 2 minutes.
Q: Nevertheless, team’s site had a banner; “Thank you for the fantastic season!â€
A: I do not argue with that, it was really fantastic season. The team made playoffs for the first time in 7 years. I just explained why I was not able to contribute at the top of my abilities. The closer to the playoff we were the more I was scratched, and an older veteran was playing in my place.
“One needs to continue thinking positivelyâ€.
Q: Did that upset you?
A: Of course it did. It was as well noticed by a development coach. He told that me that he had not recognized me; that I used to be upbeat, but hardly smiled at that time. In particular, he advised to change my mood, because my despair was helping neither me nor the club. By the way, the approach there is very different. In Russia if you are benched and you continue smiling the coaches consider you not being punished enough and continue benching you. It’s not the same in America. Therefore, I had realized that I had to revert back to positive thinking, find silver lining.
Despite everything, I gained a valuable experience, understood and reevaluated a lot.
It’s absolutely different hockey. When you are watching NHL games there are very few errors and giveaways. Perhaps, someone does not like the style of “dump and chase†hockey, but it allows offence to keep pressure and forecheck if puck is lost. It’s much better than having lost a puck at the blue line and allow a breakaway. It does make sense.
I understand my coach, but my style of hockey requires some freedom, some improvisation. And this freedom was afforded only to the experienced players, they were afforded a right for an error. As for the younger players- we had to play a very simple game. The veterans explained to us that it’s a rite of passage for everyone. Hence, I should not fault anyone, just keep working hard on my development. As for the fault- it’s mine. No coach will make decisions that hurt a team.
Q: Aren’t you afraid that you next season will look exactly like the previous one?
A: It won’t be! I have gained a lot of experience during last season. I am glad that I’ve gained it now not when I am benched at 25-26.
Everyone goes through this.
“There are a lot of little things in hockey that make a huge differenceâ€
Q: What was the priority for the Phantoms: to make playoffs or to develop prospects for the Flyers?
A: This is an interesting question for me. It seems that when the team was weak the prospects had more playing time. This year, however, 3 Flyers prospects seemed to have limited playing time.
Q: Including Sanheim?
A: No, Travis played a lot. He was a first round pick and he was afforded certain freedoms on the rink. Perhaps, he played timidly in the beginning, but began to realize his potential by the end of the season. I, on the other hand, was picked in the 6th round and that is a fundamental difference. At some point of time, all 3 of us were not listed for the games. We began to ask the same question between ourselves: what is more important for the team- victories or our development. We did not find the answer, but we agreed that it was more important to us to be with more experienced players in the AHL than to play more minutes in juniors. I had thought I knew everything about hockey before I started playing for the Phantoms. But knowledge is not equal to skills. Many a time I have asked my senior partners to stay on the ice after the training and teach me nuances.
There are a lot of little things in the NHL that make a huge difference. In essence, I understand that being among professionals I have to learn, learn, and learn. And that’s just the AHL. It’s easy to imagine that had I played against Crosby or Malkin right now I would have, probably, quit hockey.
“Everyone in the AHL dreams to play in the NHLâ€
Q: In the light of the NHL ban on the Olympic participation, do you think that AHL players can play in the Olympics instead of the NHLers?
A: I have read articles discussing this idea, but we even have not talked about this opportunity. Everyone’s dream is to play in the NHL. As for the players’ skill level, I am confident that they would be competing for the gold in the Olympic Games.
Q: “AK Bars†general manager stated that you had made a mistake signing an ELC with the Flyers and that you would be back in the KHL soon. (I loosely translated this question, because it was to convoluted)
A: I read this statement in your interview. I do not want to argue with him. All due respect to him, he has his own opinion, and I have mine. The matter of fact is that I did not sign the contract right after the draft. I signed it a year after, when I had not received any offers from AK Bars. I was 19 years old then, and I wanted to be financially independent from my parents.
My father, who has been my role model for my entire life, was supporting a family at 19. And I was ashamed to ask for money, especially then (my father was just laid off from AK Bars junior program). Meanwhile, the Flyers offered me a contract with the sign-in bonus. How could I refuse it? Of course, I will always remember my years in AK Bars junior program fondly. It’s the best junior program in Russia. But only time will tell if I made a mistake by signing the contract, or, perhaps, the club that had forgotten about me.
Q: What are you expecting from the upcoming season?
A: Most likely a transition into absolutely professional, without any discounts for myself, hockey. I realize that hockey is my job with the professional accountability for it. I believe, I spent previous year for the adaptation to the new league, new level. I will travel to the USA in July to participate in the development camp and will stay there to prepare for the new season. From July to September I will devote myself to training only. It will not be easy, but I have to do it in order to elevate myself to a new level.
