so i promissed and i did it. its the translation of the interview that i posted yesterday. sorry for my english, but i hope its better than google translate.
What do you feel about the words that Jaromir Jagr said about you? He is the legend. He had win the Stanley Cup two times, three and four years before you was born. Did you hear that words?
(looks embarrassed) certainly heard. Its nice, but its too early to speak about it, but I will try.
What are your ambitions? To be the best in the world?
I think that every good sportsmen should have that thoughts.
And if you was told in summer that you will be playing in Dallas Stars first line? Could you believe it?
I don’t know. I started the season badly. At some point, to be honest, it was hard. But then somehow I got out of this situation and now its getting better. I had no plans at the start, I just wanted to earn the spot in the team. And now certainly its great that I am playing in the first line, playing big minutes and coaches trust me.
At some point Mikhail Varnakov (head coach of Russian Junior Team) even sent a request for your participation in WJC. He thought that you will not play big role in Dallas this year. How do you explain to yourself that everything was suddenly turned upside down?
The head coach saw that I began to play better. It happened after the seventh or eighth game when I started to create chances, but cant score. It was before the first line.
Nerves?
No, just unlucky. And then I scored and appeared in the first line.
And what about the dinner with Lindy Ruff on which you were invited? Was it one on one?
Yes. I do not know why are you pay so much attention to that. He just wanted to talk with me. I haven’t seen my parents for a long time, with whom I could talk, played badly…it was difficult moment in my life. I was not good in practice and Ruff noticed that, noticed that I was nervous and invited me to the dinner. We were sitting and talking, he encouraged me…
What you were talking about?
He told me about his life, I told him about mine. About family…..it was funny. And there were no words about games.
How is your English?
Not good. I understand nearly everything, but sometimes its hard to speak. In summer I had a teacher, but now I have no time.
Jim Nill Said that “Lindy and Val like dad and son”…
(smiling) I think we have good relations, but if you want to know more you should ask the coach.
Lindy Ruff is an oldschool Canadian coach, and is known as not a big fan of Russian style of play. But he treats you the other way.
I don’t know why russian players cant play in Ruff”s teams. I do not feel that he treat me biased.
that's for sure, cause you are playing in the first line. So every night you are playing against the top lines? Which of them are the strongest?
Well, today we were playing against San Jose. It was really hard. But you know there is no easy games. Nearly every game is a one goal game, and only in the end you will know who wins.
When you couldnt score during the first 12 games, what did you feel, think about the returning to Russia?
Yeah, I have had such thoughts. But I just worked harder every day, believed that one day it will be ok. When you work – it always comes.
You scored your first NHL goal in the 13th game. Baker's dozen – is it your lucky number?
I didn’t think about it
And what about your number 43?
Its my number from juniors. I have a reason but I don’t wanna tell you (smiling)
Malkin’s father told me that if there is no Sergei Gonchar in team, his son come back to Russia. Is it hard for you too?
Sergei helps me a lot. But I don’t want to come back. Because the whole team supports me. To be honest I don’t even expect that I will be there. We have a big competition for free spots and even tonight we have two scratched forwards.
Everyone told me that in NHL veterans joke over young. But not in our team. Even when I couldn’t score the first NHL goal, teammates came to me, supported, prompted
With Sergei Gonchar now you have “Chelyabinsk brotherhood”?
Yes. I talk with him a lot, more than with other guys. Sometimes we have dinner together
When you play road games, do you live with him?
Ofcourse not. Sergei – alone, I – with the young guys.
And if you come back, you will not play in your hometown team Traktor, but in Dynamo? Did it stops you?
Yeah, for sure. If it was Traktor - may be, but not now. Don’t wanna think about it. Think I will never come back.
May be now you can tell us something about that trade?
Lets just forget about it
Valery Belousov, your former coach now is an assistant coach in Russia Olympic Team. Do you think it gives you more chances to play in Sochi?
From my childhood I told myself that everything in my life depends on me. What bothers me to score in every game? If I will do that – I will have a chance. An if I will sit and wait that Valery Belousov will help me – it’s bul***it.
But anyway?
I don’t know, he is not a head coach
But how do you think, you have a big chances?
If I will play like tonight (against SJ) – I have zero chances. And if like in the last games – I have some.
Will you be upset, if will not play in Sochi? Or you think that you young enough to earn the invitation?
I’ll be upset anyway. In the beginning of the season I only thought about it, but now, when people began to talk…I heard that the head coach will follow me, watch my games. Ofcourse I want to go there
Russian coaches talked to you about it?
No.
And may be you discussed this with Ruff, one of the coaches of Team Canada?
No. we don’t talk about it, we have games every day
In US You are living in a family, is it your choise or a team?
That family in good relations with a team. It’s a hockey family. Nice people. Father is a businessman, his son is playing hockey, two daughters are studying and his wife is housewife. I feel comfortable with them.
Did you have “dinner of the rookies”? Ready for the test?
No, I just didn’t think about it (smileing)
But maybe in summer you thought a lot, stay or not. Your former teammate Evgeni Kuznetsov was drafted three years ago, but still playing in Chelyabinsk. Why did you want to leave so early?
When I began to feel myself more comfortable in big hockey. To be honest, I thought that will play another year in Russia, for Traktor, but after the trade, decided to go away
And never thought that it was wrong decision?
When it was hard - sometimes I thought that may be its too early for me. I felt good but something went wrong. But now its ok, even in battles.
The final of the Gagarin Cup, the battle for you between Traktor and under-18 team, words of Tretiak in Cheliabinsk dressingroom, that you will stay with the team for the end of the series. Did you left all of this in another life?
Sure no. im upsed that we lost in the final. we had a good team. It was my first year in big hockey. I will remember it forever
When the head coach Russian under-18 team Igor Kravchuk said: “Putin will ask me: Where is Nichuschkin? – what shall I answer him?!” - your jaw have not fallen off?
Everyone knows its a joke. I didn’t play in just one game
Gonchar told me that sooner or later you will have the test of fame and money. Are you ready?
I think so. i don’t think about money. I just coming out and play. I wanna play more. Everywhere.
Your solo “from the wing to the net” in Traktor and Junior team it seems like early Valery Kamensky style. And what was your favorite player?
I had no favorite player. I didn’t watch TV at all. I was training and that’s all. I liked to play with the puck without any heroes.
You was drafted just 10th overall. Do you want to prove something to the teams that passed you over?
I didn’t think about it. Tenth – well, ok. I knew that will not be in the top-3, because NHL teams afraid to choose russians. In some way I am here spite them. I know they were disappointed, that didn’t choose me before. Now I am playing and want to prove that I am the best
If you could choose “Calder Trophy” or the spot in Russian Olympic Team, what will you choose?
(Answer came instantly, without the slightest hesitation) Olympic ofcourse! (he said that and began to laugh because the answer was so obvious for him)
