Defender of HC Lokomotiv Vladislav Gavrikov in the second part of the interview to Yaroslavl Sport spoke about the first steps in professional hockey, and also told about how he conducts free time... - Remember the moment when you signed a professional contract for the first time. What feelings did you experience? - I signed my first professional contract with the youth team “Loko”. Naturally, I was very glad and happy that the management of my native club pins certain hopes with me and gives me a chance to prove myself. As I remember now, I signed the first agreement in the summer of 2011. - Do you remember your debut in the KHL? - It was at the very beginning of last season with Sean Simpson in one of the away games. Before the game, of course, there was a little excitement, but after the starting whistle it completely disappeared. Went out for a couple of shifts. Even though I didn't play so much, I got a good experience. Then King came - I was lowered to the MHL, then I was raised to the VHL. More and less constantly in the first team began to appear after the World Youth Championship under Dave King. “King didn't really trust young people. Did you not feel it yourself? - Perhaps, such a moment really took place. But this fact only angered me in a good way and added motivation to work even more on myself. But I would by no means say that King treated young people badly. He is constantly in training process helped, gave us a lot of advice. And the fact that he did not see us in the line-up ... Well, as I have already noted, but there was an even greater incentive to work on oneself. - If I'm not mistaken, you scored the first goal for Lokomotiv this season. Remember how it happened? - Yes I remember. It was an away match against Barys. The goal turned out to be a bit “junk” - he was throwing almost from a zero angle in the hope that one of the guys would play successfully on the finishing move. Of course, I kept the puck as a keepsake. After the game, they congratulated the team, as well as parents, relatives, friends. It is a pity that my first goal in the KHL did not bring us points, which significantly spoiled the overall impression. - The most unpleasant striker against whom you had a chance to play in the KHL? - I don't get hung up on personalities. It’s not easy with anyone. There are a lot of cool strikers in the KHL with good technique, skating and a high level of performance. It is very difficult to single out one attacker. For example, Ak Bars' striker Aizavedo is very fast, nimble, so it is very difficult to catch him. There are techies like Mozyakin, with whom it is never easy. Or Radulov, who, in addition to possessing outstanding skill, is very strong physically. At the same time, it is difficult to play against Evgeny Artyukhin, because he stands out for his dimensions and tries to use them in his game. This is one of the most aggressive and hard hitters in the KHL. - In one of Lokomotiv's home matches, you were not afraid to use a forceful technique against Artyukhin himself. - The usual strength technique. I have forgotten it for a long time. Nothing special. Did I expect after this forceful reception of some kind of trick from Artyukhin? I do not think that he is looking for a moment to specifically hit someone in revenge. - What did you spend your first salary on? - The first salary was small - 800 rubles a month. I bought a small cake for home and flowers for my mother. This is exactly what the whole salary was spent on. - How did it happen that the youth team paid only 800 rubles? - It was not in the youth team! At the graduation in the children's school, they paid a small scholarship. I was fifteen then. - And now the salaries of young hockey players in the KHL allow you to live in a big way? - It depends on what is meant by a wide leg. I will not hide our salary more than enough to live a normal life and help our parents. - Big money doesn't kill hockey? After all, a young player who gets into good club with a large salary, motivation will surely disappear ... - It all depends on the person. If he does not reduce the requirements for himself and adequately treats his salary, while not allowing himself too much, then everything will be fine. It should be something like this: a good contract is an incentive to improve your game, to show your maximum. The player should love hockey, not money. Vladislav Gavrikov: A player must love hockey, not money! - There are people who do not understand what is behind all this and what was worth sacrificing for a good contract and professional career... Is not it? - I agree. Children from the age of five choose their own path and begin to train hard. As I recall, how many trainings were in childhood ... Believe me, this is very hard work. Many children never dreamed of such work, the rhythm of life. Some are not even used to getting up early. And we had training at 6.00, and there were vice versa at 11 in the evening. So the path to becoming a professional is not easy. Moreover, it is difficult not only for the boys, but also for the parents who put their soul into the child, sacrifice their free time. This is very important point... You know that if you study hard, try, then there will be a return. And the time spent in sports will not be lost. - V professional sports there are downsides, one of them is that you are little at home. When you started to play sports seriously, did you think about these disadvantages, about the other side of the medal? - I didn’t pay any attention to it. On the contrary, as a child, I always liked trips, and even now I like going out on the ice in other cities - be it in Russia or abroad. Gathering, moving is part of our professional responsibilities. - By the way, what is your nickname in “Locomotive”? - Le Havre. Briefly and clearly. - Does Vladislav Gavrikov have a hockey dream? - I would like to achieve high goals with my current club - Yaroslavl “Lokomotiv”, and for this you need to win the Gagarin Cup. the main objective for me now to help Lokomotiv, and then life will show. - A year and a half ago, you attended the 2014 draft. Why didn't you get drafted then? - This is not a question for me, but for the clubs that are drafting. - Probably, they expected a different development of events. Have you regretted going overseas? - There was a hope that I would be drafted, but I was not very upset. Together with “Lokomotiv” we were at a training camp in North America... Literally two hours drive to Philadelphia, where the draft took place. Together with Nikita Cherepanov we went to see what the draft is like. All liked it. - Most bright moments on that draft? - First of all, I was struck by the excellent organization and attention to this event. In the first round of the draft Ice Palace in Philadelphia it was almost packed to capacity - 15,000 people came. These are players, parents, friends, agents, fans. Many sat with a piece of paper all day. We were constantly recording something. In general, the event dragged on for a long time. You can understand - to each player great attention from the press, clubs. This is fine. - Six months ago you were named the best defender of the World Youth Championship. Did you expect to be drafted earlier than number 157? - For me, the number is not so important. It's good that we were drafted, and under what number is a secondary matter. - What preferences were there before the draft? Which club did you want to be in? - There were no preferences. The day before the start of the draft, I knew that Columbus could pick me, so I had little doubt that this particular club would draft me. - Is Columbus in your area of focus now? “Not only do I follow Columbus. I wonder what is happening in other NHL clubs. I always watch match reviews in my free time. - Many have their own preferences at the club level, they like the manner of play of various forwards. What team and player do you like in the NHL? - I will keep silent about the teams. If we talk about the players, I will single out Pavel Datsyuk, who with his game thinking and skill, even in his middle years, looks like a monster on the ice. Among the defenders, I am impressed by the performance of Drew Doughty from the Los Angeles Kings. Vladislav Gavrikov: A player should love hockey, not money! - Professional hockey players have little free time, but they do have it. How do you spend your weekend? - I try to spend them with close people or with my girlfriend Nastya, whom I have known for four years. As soon as the opportunity presents itself, we spend time together with friends. Sometimes we go to the movies. - The last film that made an impression? - The film "Lefty", about a boxer. A very memorable plot! This film has both a life and a sports component. - Are books and Gavrikov compatible things? - As a rule, I read on trips. Usually I take detective stories with me with a good plot. It tightens up. If the book absorbs, then I can calmly read it during the trip. - Who are the main book lovers in Lokomotiv? - Here, perhaps, I will single out two hockey players - Ilya Gorokhov and Sergey Konkov. That's who really reads a lot. - Do you spend a lot of time on the Internet? - Not so much. There is no internet addiction at all. I need the internet just to be in touch. - Favorite vacation spot? - As such - no. This vacation went to rest in Sochi. We looked at the Olympic facilities and sights. The beauty! Everything is very beautiful. In just a few years, the city has been transformed beyond recognition.
Since the moment when the transition was announced Vladislava Gavrikova from Lokomotiv to SKA, a little less than a week has passed, but emotions from the loudest transfer of this summer do not subside. There are not so many intra-league transfers in the KHL between clubs that set themselves the highest goals. However, after the sale of Gavrikov in the cup ambitions of Lokomotiv, willy-nilly, you begin to doubt.
In general, the comments that both clubs accompanied the news about Gavrikov's transfer should be included in the PR textbook with the note “how not to do it”. Every line is absurd. The residents of Yaroslavl, having declared that having sold their pupil, are on the right track, signed their readiness to be donors for the club from the Northern capital. What is forgivable to "Forge" or "Siberia" looks wild when applied to three-time champions of Russia.
SKA bought Gavrikov from Lokomotiv! For only 115 million rubles
Vladislav Gavrikov moved to SKA, "Forge" was admitted to the VHL, and Burmistrov will leave "Arizona" - at the end of the day.
It is not shameful to be such a hockey "Udinese", but only if the sale of their pupils or the resale of visiting young people is the only possibility of existence. Lokomotiv, behind which is a rich history and such a powerful structure as Russian Railways, in a different situation. Just a couple of months ago, the "railroad workers" fought almost on equal terms with SKA in the final of the conference, and now in another battle - transfer - they throw out the white flag.
SKA's press release looks no less comical. Petersburgers would have received much less angry responses if they had simply announced the transfer of Gavrikov. Now we are forced to read about partnerships with Lokomotiv and thanks to Russian Railways as a sponsor of the club. “The clubs jointly prevent the outflow of young players overseas, which is seen as especially important in view of the upcoming Olympic Games,” - all this sounds nothing more than a mockery. However, it is not the first time for the St. Petersburg CSKA to hide behind good intentions.
SKA's attempts to disown the transfer amount, which first appeared in the Championship's messages, also look funny. On the news that Gavrikov cost the Petersburgers 115 million rubles, the club from the banks of the Neva reacted in its usual style, starting the game "Refute the fake". The irony is that SKA did not specify whether the real amount of the transfer was greater or less, and soon colleagues from Business Online published their version, according to which the army team paid for the defender ... 125 million. If so, then we are even a little ashamed, that we unwittingly underestimated the amount so important for Russian hockey transactions.
In fact, in the amount of Gavrikov's transfer, be it 115 or 125 million, there is nothing sensational. Per Sergey Shumakov and Maxim Shalunova CSKA laid out 150 million rubles each, although neither one nor the other for world championship did not play. All the same Moscow "army team" a few years ago paid for Gavrikov's partner in the Russian national team Bogdan Kiselevich 100 million. For oil and gas oligarchs, as if there are no amounts less than this "cherished" mark. And what to talk about, if only for the rights to Evgeniya Kuznetsova, not going to Russia in the coming years, SKA is ready to fork out for $ 150 million?
“However, nothing new,” we could say in the words of one odious TV presenter. Yes, only now we are talking about a pupil of Lokomotiv and, concurrently, about one of the most progressive defenders of the country. It is customary to blame both SKA and Vladislav himself for leaving the banks of the Volga. Like, he betrayed his native club, chased a long ruble, and so on. Of course, not all Lokomotiv fans throw curses in his back, especially since there is a reliable three-letter lightning rod. But what if you look at this story from a different angle?
If the case with Gavrikov was an isolated one, SKA could be accused of robbing the Yaroslavl club, and the player himself could be touched on a tangent. However, this transfer is not the only example of how the management of Lokomotiv cynically and without regret let go of their leaders. As a rule, all to the same club from St. Petersburg. For Yegor Yakovlev, the "railroad workers" stopped fighting when, as a result of the bidding, the sum of the defender's contract reached 90 million rubles. Yaroslavl residents did not hold on to Sergey Plotnikov when he decided to return to Russia from across the ocean. And Plotnikov himself was not eager to put on the Lokomotiv uniform again for reasons that we will talk about later.
What if SKA is not a robber at all, taking away Lokomotiv players by force, but just a club ready to pick up those who are not particularly clinging to in Yaroslavl? Do you remember at least one hockey player for whom the leadership of the "railroad workers" really fought? And it is not necessary to reduce everything only to the "arms race". Sometimes the difference in the contract offer can be compensated for by something intangible, but no less important for the players - human attitude. Lokomotiv shows that there are no irreplaceable ones, and every hockey player is just a gear in big mechanism... So about Gavrikov it reads between the lines: "If one leaves, we will educate others."
You can respect Yuri Yakovlev for the fact that he adheres to certain principles and does not give the players more than they, in his opinion, deserve. Business and nothing personal. If all the leaders in our hockey had such a position, perhaps there would be no inflated salaries in the KHL. But this seemingly reasonable strategy has a downside. The Lokomotiv president distances himself so much from the players, sometimes even without answering their calls, that they may have fair doubts: do the club and all hockey Yaroslavl really need me?
Lokomotiv shows that there are no irreplaceable ones, and every hockey player is just a gear in a large mechanism.
“We held negotiations with Yaroslavl, but Lokomotiv is not yet ready to accept our terms. The attitude to Loktionov from the side of the club is not entirely adequate ", - told about the course of negotiations in an interview with our portal Igor Larionov... If this concerned only Loktionov and his agent, one could close our eyes to this. Larionov is not the easiest person, but like any agent he tends to exaggerate the importance of his clients. But the fact of the matter is that the same “not quite adequate attitude” is not only about Loktionov, but also about Gavrikov. According to our information, since the beginning of the year, Vladislav has been patiently waiting for an offer from his native club, days and months passed, but it didn’t come. In addition, in Yaroslavl, they were ready to give him a contract for only one year, while in St. Petersburg they put a two-year agreement on the table.
One can only guess why in Yaroslavl they did not fight for Gavrikov, whose salary requirements were moderate. Perhaps the management of Lokomotiv has come to terms with the fact that the defender will sign a contract with Columbus in the offseason. Vladislav had other plans. Unlike Antipin, Mironov, Shipachev and other Russians who went to the NHL this summer, he really dreams of playing at the Olympics. After Gavrikov became the most useful player of the Russian national team at the World Championship and played the entire tournament in the first pair, this goal became tangible. Without offering their pupil a contract, Lokomotiv, in fact, left him no choice: either you move to St. Petersburg with high chances of a trip to Pyeongchang, or you go to the NHL and remain without the Olympics.
The Olympics are more important than the NHL. Who stayed in Russia for a trip to Pyeongchang
Gavrikov refused to “Columbus” and moved to SKA, and Tkachev was promised a star partner in the top three. Who else decided to stay in Russia for the Olympic Games?
Of course, it's not worth making a martyr out of Gavrikov. Even though it was not easy for him to leave his home club, in SKA, in addition to the opportunity to play in Korea, he will have a fight for the cup, good salary and trust from Znark, who highly appreciates the Yaroslavl citizen. It makes no sense to justify SKA, which primarily worked not to strengthen the Olympic team, but to eliminate one of the competitors. But all this does not negate the fact that Lokomotiv in this story is not a victim at all, as many are trying to imagine, but full participant deal that reaps what sows. When another talented pupil of the club, having seen enough of the attitude towards Gavrikov, decides to go where he is more appreciated, no one will be surprised at this.
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The father of the Olympic champion, defender of SKA and the Russian national team Vladislav Gavrikov, Andrei Evgenievich used to be a military man, and now he is engaged in construction. At the same time plans to create in his native Yaroslavl Education Centre, in which growing up hockey players with the help of special training simulators could develop their skills. Andrei Evgenievich spoke about how the champion character of his son was formed, why he did not become a goalkeeper, how through tears and participation in children's tournaments came the understanding that hockey is not just a game, but a science.
Vladislav Andreevich Gavrikov
Age: 22 years old
Weight: 97 kg
Height: 190 cm
Position:
Defender
Career:
2011-2014 Loko (Yaroslavl) MHL
2014-2017 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
2017-present v. SKA (St. Petersburg)
Achievements:
Silver medalist of the youth world championship, bronze medalist of the world championship, Olympic champion.
Going in hockey is a balanced peasant decision
No one except his parents knows better than his son. What are the main qualities of Vladislav?
A.G. Firstly, Vlad is a fairly purposeful person who clearly understands the tasks that he has set for himself. When he was 13-14 years old, we had a conversation with him: either continue to play hockey, or education. He studied very well, and all teachers spoke of him as a good, promising, capable student, despite the fact that Vlad was constantly distracted by sport competitions and training.
Then Vlad decided that he would go in for hockey, and I told him that this decision was already weighed, let's say, peasant and determining his future life.
With which he agreed and, I hope, is now following the right path, overcoming certain difficulties: injuries, missing the squad, there is also a negative attitude from the coaches, but the son clearly knows the goal. Plus he's pretty humble person, does not like to get into some incomprehensible stories, like some other hockey players. Polite enough on the court: does not use forceful techniques to harm the opponent.
Vlad from childhood could take on the role of a leader
Vlad is also quite sociable, and his partners trust him. From the age of 13 he was a captain of all ages at Lokomotiv, then from 15-16 he was an assistant to the captain. When they were on youth championship peace, Bragin also entrusted him with the "captain's armband". I think Vlad did an excellent job with this responsibility.
tell your friends
When did you yourself realize that he is capable of becoming a professional? After that same conversation?
A.G. No, a little later. He always seemed promising, but not every promising player then grows into a good specialist. Those guys, who were much better than him at their age, finished hockey a long time ago ... It is important to move forward without jerks, without jumps. Plus he came across very good trainers: Kazakevich, Suyarkov, Kapranov and later Bragin are those specialists who predetermined him as a player and gave him all their best qualities.
Let's go back to the very beginning. Fathers usually bring them to hockey. Was it so with you?
A.G. It all started with the fact that the coach Alexander Vasilyevich Savchak came to the kindergarten, selected Vlad as a game boy, and we came to training.
Vlad was 6 years old when his father brought him to the hockey section at the Torpedo Sports Palace
The first time was difficult - classes were held at six in the morning. I put him sleepily in these hockey pants, put on a helmet for him, took him to training, and he slept in my car. But as soon as Vlad approached the ice, he was transformed.
I quickly learned to skate. I really wanted to become a goalkeeper as a child. Even Boris Tortunov (at one time there was such a goalkeeper, he is still alive and well) gave him a trap. At home, I constantly threw balls and pucks at him, and he caught them. But in the end it didn't work out somehow - we had a lot of goalkeepers, Vlad became a defender. I played at one time in the attack, but he did not like it. There he had to run a lot, and he was a plump boy in childhood, he was lazy, he was more comfortable in defense.
The son was always equipped "with a needle"
Do you remember Vlad's first form? Where did they get it?
A.G. He always bought a new whole uniform for him, and he tried, as soon as new collections appeared, to take more advanced bibs, leggings, and shorts, since the funds allowed him. Then, over time, everything began to be given out in the club. And so, I always tried to buy good skates, and my friends from Canada brought the most modern hockey sticks, they also took the old Lokomotiv players here. So, of course, I remember his first form. He has always been "with a needle" with me. It was difficult at that time: all these travels to tournaments and so on. My friends and I sponsored the team, helped as much as we could.
What was Vlad interested in as a child?
A.G. He always loved aviation, airplanes, helicopters. I bought him all these models for his birthdays. And when he became more or less an adult, of course, he dreamed of Canada. He has a lot of idols there, I can't even remember all of them.
Maybe a couple of names at least?
A.G. From Russian hockey players whom he raved about since childhood - Andrey Kovalenko, Yegor Podomatsky, Vladimir Lutchenko (he is one of the old defenders of the Soviet national team, and now the New York Rangers scout). Foreigners - Bobby Orr, Bobby Hull.
What team did you support as a child?
A.G. He sympathized with Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers. He always admired these top teams, as well as the hockey players who were playing at that time: Sergei Fedorov, Alexei Zhamnov. If we talk about those who are younger, he knows Sema Varlamov very well. When I was in America, I met Alexander Ovechkin, they also communicate periodically. Vlad has been traveling on national teams since the age of 15, so he has a lot of friends all over the world.
tell your friends
He would make a good diplomat
And who could he have become if it hadn't gone well with hockey?
A.G. I don't know, but he could have studied at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. From him, with his endurance and tact, it would have turned out good diplomat.
Vlad became a diplomat in hockey
There were enough children's tournaments in Vlad's life. How did they affect his hockey development?
A.G. I don’t know of a single tournament where he didn’t participate. And from the age of 15 he was involved in all the national teams, he went from junior to main ... Naturally, the more playing practice, the more a person's perception of hockey not as a game, but as a science. The greatest science to be learned daily.
As a child, I laid artificial ice for him, and he, standing in front of the TV, honed his club skills.
We went through a lot, and through tears, including when we had to go outside every evening after school and throw the puck a hundred or two hundred times in order to feel the club and have the correct perception.
And when you trained through tears, did you have a desire to quit sports?
A.G. Of course, every boy of his age wants to play and run with the boys somewhere ... Any skill comes first through strength, you need to force a person to do this business, and then, when he already begins to understand, he does everything himself. Therefore, at certain points, we were more persistent. He also had disappointment when something did not work out and, I will not hide, sometimes children's tears. But over time, Vlad realized that it was a great responsibility to play in a hockey team. This is hard work, and you are responsible not only for yourself, as in individual sports, but for your partner, for the team as a whole, for the result, for the coach. So he has a sense of collectivism since childhood.
The above-mentioned endurance was also taught by hockey, or was it from him from birth?
A.G. Hockey, I think. He realized that emotions should not always prevail over reason. Therefore, Vlad is not so much removed from the site, he practically does not get involved in any conflicts when provoked. For a hockey player, I think endurance is an important quality.
Remember when he received his first salary and what did he spend it on?
A.G. He was 14 years old, came joyful. Two hundred rubles, or something, they gave him then. I remember that I bought flowers and a cake for my mother with my own money, she even shed a tear. We also have twin daughters, Vlad spoils his sisters and his mother with gifts. Sometimes dad gets something.
Final of the Championship of Russia among youths born in 1995 (2012)
I was sure that our team would win
Do you know hockey yourself?
A.G. For so many years, I think so. Not as a professional, maybe, but as a good amateur. Without delving into some of the nuances, I understand the game well enough, I see the mistakes that hockey players make on the ice.
How did you feel when your son was first called up to the national team?
A.G. Pride, of course.
And with what emotions did you watch the final of the Olympics?
A.G. Even when they lost 2: 3, I was sure that they would win.
Alexander Barabanov's father admitted that only the outer grille prevented him from throwing the TV out of the window. Didn't you have that?
A.G. He was absolutely calm. Although I am an explosive person, in certain situations I also show restraint.
The son became the Olympic champion - this is, perhaps, the highest achievement in sports. What can you dream about now?
A.G. Better to ask him, but most likely - to win the World Cup, Stanley Cup and become a member of the Triple Golden Club. And at the same time play until forty years old, like Pavel Datsyuk.
The transfer of the Russian national team defender Vladislav Gavrikov to SKA is the main hockey theme of the summer.
In June, he made two decisions that might come as a surprise. He left his native Lokomotiv and rejected an offer from the NHL. Match TV contacted the player to understand how this happened.
This is the life of a hockey player, - our call found Gavrikov in Columbus, where he arrived at the invitation of the club that drafted him in 2015. - I am a native of Yaroslavl, I always wanted to raise the Cup over my head in my home arena. I perfectly remember my emotions after the club's last championship at the moment, feelings after the well-known tragedy. From childhood I was imbued with the victorious traditions of Lokomotiv, for me this is not an empty phrase. We do not know how things will turn out next. Maybe there will still be a chance to play in Yaroslavl.
Can you imagine how you will enter the Yaroslavl arena in the SKA uniform?
- It will be a special day in my life. It is difficult to imagine that I will find myself in a guest shop. But I don't think about it now.
Are you ready to be greeted not very friendly?
- Everyone has their own story, but I did not betray anyone. We talked about a childhood dream, and can anyone really think that I easily abandoned it. I hope for the understanding of the Yaroslavl fans. If only because he honestly worked for the success of the club since he came to hockey. I love my city, it was an honor for me to represent it at the level of the major league. I cannot predict the reaction of the fans, but I want to say a huge thank you to them. Both in the days of victories and in the days of failure, the support was crazy. I always felt it. The joy of the tribunes inspired, and the criticism helped to grow.
How did your Lokomotiv partners react to your transfer?
- We had a great team that I will miss. I have a lot of real friends in my team, with whom we went through a lot. But no one began to pull the veins, did not climb into the soul.
Columbus was shocked by your decision to stay in the KHL. Has your personal attitude changed after that?
- Many thanks to Columbus for the invitation to come, for the attention the club paid me. Here are all professionals who are not the first year in the hockey business. Of course, it is interesting to try your hand at the NHL in the future, but now the goal is to spend the next two seasons at a high level.
How do you explain your decision?
- The choice was very difficult, but you understand that such decisions are not made alone. I have a family, close ones. Moreover, a career in the KHL is on the rise. I believe that I am growing as a player, and I hope this progress will continue in SKA. Look at the club's defensive line: it is a big challenge to face this kind of competition and get a lot of playing time. And in two years, when the time comes to make a new decision, I will only be stronger.
There is an opinion that in some matches the Petersburgers do not have to give their best. Is it possible to progress in such an environment?
- Everyone is used to judging by the score. Lokomotiv lost to Peter in the last semi-final 0-4, but I think we had a great fight, and with a certain amount of luck we could count on more, right up to reaching the final. I'm sure the opponent had to play to the limit.
Tell us about your debut at the World Championships, where you ranked second in plus or minus.
- I was ready for high level rivals, so I was not particularly worried. I felt comfortable paired with Bogdan Kiselevich. And for the "plus or minus" still need to thank the attackers, but you should not dwell on this indicator. He's not the most important in hockey, and I don't have a gold medal. But experience remained big tournament, which will help in your future career.
At the World Championships they trusted me: decent playing time, minority. I hope the club will be the same.
When are you returning to Russia?
- I arrive on the 29th, then we go with my girlfriend Nastya to settle in St. Petersburg. And then - the time of hard work.
Petersburg SKA signed a two-year contract with the defender of the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv and the Russian national team Vladislav Gavrikov, who remained in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The 21-year-old hockey player will not leave for the National hockey league(NHL), despite the interest of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Thus, the player will be able to ride Olympic Games 2018 in Pyeongchang, if he is included in the application by the coaching staff of the Russian national team, headed by Oleg Znark, who also heads SKA.
- This is the decision of the player himself, and one can only rejoice in the patriotism of Gavrikov, who wants to play for the national team, gain some experience and go to the NHL after the Olympics as an accomplished hockey player, - said "Izvestia" two-time Olympic champion, Stanley Cup 1996 Valery Kamensky. - At the last world championship, he showed that he is a promising defender. He still has a lot of work to do to reach the top level, but Vladislav proved that he has the data and the desire to develop. Now he goes to good team- SKA, which is the current owner of the Gagarin Cup. There he will play and train with the best KHL players, which will help him improve his skills for the Games. It is always encouraged when strong players remain in the national team and can be counted on for the Olympics. This is always a plus for the national team and its coaches.
At the World Championships held in Cologne and Paris in May, Gavrikov played in the first link, and the Russian team, which became the bronze medalist, did not miss a single goal on his shift.
“The management and coaching staff of SKA select players for the national team,” two-time Olympic champion Alexander Kozhevnikov told Izvestia. - For Gavrikov, the competition in the St. Petersburg team will be tougher than in Lokomotiv, but before the Olympics it will only benefit the hockey player. After all, even from the World Championships it was clear that Znarok believes and hopes for Vladislav, so it is clear that he will be one of the candidates for a trip to Pyeongchang. God grant that the injuries do not interfere with him.
Newcomer SKA turned out to be the first of the national team players to make a choice in favor of the Olympics over the NHL in the current offseason. Earlier, SKA striker Vadim Shipachev, defenders of Metallurg Magnitogorsk Viktor Antipin and Alexei Bereglazov, and also defender of Dynamo Moscow Andrei Mironov left overseas. In addition, striker Evgeny Dadonov's departure from SKA is not excluded.
- I will not say that it was vital to keep Gavrikov in Russia for the Olympic season, added Alexander Kozhevnikov. - Anyway, someone else in the next six months will show himself in the context of the national team. Even when Antipin and Bereglazov left for the NHL, I thought that it was good players, but not so outstanding as to make their absence in Korea a universal tragedy. And Gavrikov's departure to Columbus would not be a disaster for me. All three are good, stable, average players, but they played in good lines, so they opened up. Someone else will surely reveal themselves. At the same time, Gavrikov will not be superfluous at the Olympics. At the World Championships, he played well, and his growth potential is visible. Coaching staff the national team trusts him. This means that they will create some kind of pair in defense for the Olympic Games. Perhaps one of the experienced defenders will be assigned to him. Or maybe they will play a bunch of Gavrikov with Artem Zub in SKA. It is possible that Vladislav will become a first-line player, but here the coach knows better.
In 2015, Vladislav Gavrikov was selected by Columbus in the 6th round draft under the overall 159th pick. In June of this year, the club made him an offer to join their ranks.
- I think the refusal to move to Columbus now will not complicate Vladislav's future relationship with the club and the transition to the NHL. On the contrary, the hockey player will raise his price, - said Valery Kamensky. - Since the Blue Jackets are interested in Gavrikov, they will try to get him to the end. From my own experience, I know that such clubs respect the decision of hockey players and are normal about their desire to play for the national team, so after the Olympics they will try to get Vladislav again.
Last season Vladislav Gavrikov was one of the leaders of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, which reached the final of the Western Confederation of the Gagarin Cup. Earlier, the Championat.com portal reported that SKA will pay the "railroad workers" compensation of 115 million rubles for the player. CSKA denied this information, but at the same time the vice-president of the St. Petersburg club and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (FHR) Roman Rotenberg told Sport Express that the club "received fair compensation, with which it can carry out further transfers."
- The tendency has developed such that the one who has more money, - summed up Alexander Kozhevnikov. - And while it will continue. At the same time, I am sure that Lokomotiv will not become weaker. Yaroslavl has a good team and a wonderful school. The club keeps average level and will definitely find a replacement for Gavrikov. The team there is young and promising.
Vladislav Gavrikov is a native of Yaroslavl and a graduate of Lokomotiv, for which he played in the KHL in 2014-2017. In 2012 he won gold youth championship world (U-17), and in 2015 - silver of the youth World Cup.
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