Pavel KLIMOVITSKY

Is it worth leaving Russian juniors overseas at 16-17 years old? You cannot answer this question straight away. The brightest examples of failures of young stars, who rushed to the other side of the Atlantic too early, set up to choose the option "no, not worth it." However, each case is individual - it is not at all difficult to find counterexamples of hockey players who destroyed their careers in their native land. In general, there is something to argue about - the topic for discussion is the most grateful.

But another, simpler question can be answered right now. Yes, maybe someone was heading to Canada with the local goal of making progress and improving hockey skills, but usually the tasks are much more specific - to appear in front of the NHL club general managers and get on the draft. They say, it's easier to do this overseas, because scouts rarely reach Russia and can miss someone.

Three or four years ago, it all sounded logical and really worked. However, it is not at all because the Canadian junior leagues are studied under the magnifying glass of a microscope, but the existence of the JHL has been completely forgotten. The "Russian factor" caused by Radulov's escape and a whole heap of other, smaller incidents, worked flawlessly. Eighty percent of the NHL clubs were very frightened by the "problem" Russians, and only two things could convince them to take a player with a "bad" passport: a mega-talent or the conviction that the junior wanted to play overseas and not at home. And leaving for Canada for someone really turned out to be a necessary argument.

However, the "Russian factor" no longer exists - the collapsed ruble exchange rate and the financial weakening of the KHL have reversed the trend and turned it in the opposite direction. And then an amazing thing turned out: a Canadian residence permit not only does not help to get to the draft, but, perhaps, even hurts. Judge for yourself: out of 17 Russians selected this year, only five compete in North America... Three of them - Sergachev, Abramov and Sokolov- before departure, were the main stars of the junior team Vitaly Prokhorova and no additional introduction for the scouts was needed.

Moreover, if Sergachev playing for Windsor may have helped to get to the top ten of the draft, then the other two contenders for the opening round fell off decently - Abramova in an absentee dispute was bypassed by another technical winger (who played in the U-18 project) Arthur Kayumov, but Sokolov and completely fell to the end of the second hundred. A pupil of "Avtomobilist" Vladimir Kuznetsov, who took places in the third and fourth rounds in many ratings, and was not drafted at all.

Among the chosen Russians this year there are many unexpected characters from the MHL - the reserve goalkeeper "SKA-1946" Konstantin Volkov, an oversized forward from another St. Petersburg club "Silver Lions" Vasily Glotov Finally, the tallest hockey player in this draft Oleg Sosunov(height 202 cm), who plays at all in the MHL-B for the second youth team of Lokomotiv. The Tampa Bay that seized him was apparently inspired by the success story of another Russian giant in Vancouver. Nikita Tryamkina, which immediately got into the basis of the “Canucks”.

Now even those who, as it seemed, have forgotten about Russia forever, are "at risk" - for example, "New Jersey", which ignored our juniors for ten years, decided to secure the rights to two hockey players of the SKA system - the defender Egor Rykova and striker Mikhail Maltsev... The draft in the last two seasons has finally become objective in relation to the Russians: now there is no fashion for hockey players whose surnames end in "ov" or "in", as it was at the beginning of the 2000s, no prejudice against them. And this is great - excessive attention to the player's passport, both positive and negative, usually does not end well.

TOP 10 NHL Draft 2016

Player	Country	Team
1. n. Auston Matthews
2.n. Patrick Laine	Finland	Winnipeg
3.n. Pierre-Luc Dubois		Columbus
4.n. Esse Pulljärvi	Finland	Edmonton
5. h. Ollie Juolevi	Finland	Vancouver
6.n. Matthew Tkachuk
7.n. Clayton Keller
8. n. Alexander Nylander
9.h. Mikhail SERGACHEV		Montreal
10. n. Tyson Jost (CN)		Colorado

ALL RUSSIANS SELECTED IN THE 2016 NHL Draft

Player	Team
9.h. Mikhail SERGACHEV	Montreal
22 n. Herman RUBTSOV	Philadelphia
31. n. Egor KORSHKOV
50. n. Arthur Kayumov
65. n. Vitaly ABRAMOV	Columbus
95 n. Anatoly GOLYSHEV	Islanders
102 n. Mikhail MALTSEV	New Jersey
122 n. Vladimir BOBYLEV
132. h. Egor RYKOV	New Jersey
157. c. Mikhail BERDIN	Winnipeg
168. c. Konstantin VOLKOV
175. Maxim Mamin
178. h. Oleg SOSUNOV	Tampa bay
182. Nikolay CHEBYKIN
190. n. Vasily GLOTOV
196. Dmitry SOKOLOV	Minnesota
207. h. Dmitry ZAITSEV	Washington

Previously, such an honor was not given to the "city of angels", and indeed for the first time in its long 46-year history of the draft league will be held in California. The Staples Center itself, built in 1999, is home arena for five teams at once - Los Angeles Kings (NHL), Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers, (NBA), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) and Los Angeles Avangers ( AFL). It is curious that the capacity of the arena may vary depending on the event that is going to be held there.

Participants can participate in the draft procedure:

Hockey players who are 19 years of age or older;
- hockey players who will turn 18 years old no later than September 15 of the year when the draft procedure takes place;
- hockey players who turn 18 between September 16 and December 31 of the year in which the draft takes place, upon presentation of a written notice to the League management before May 1 or no later than 7 days after the club initiating the participation of this player in Draft procedure, completed his performance in the season.

Thus, the maximum capacity for hockey is 18,118 spectators, for basketball 18,997 people, but for fans of modern music, the arena can accommodate up to 20,000. Staples Center owners are hoping for the last figure in the number of tickets sold, since the draft ceremony itself has long attracted increased interest among hockey fans.

What is this draft and what is it eaten with? The Draft is an annual event that transfers rights to young hockey players through choice. At first glance, it looks very simple, if not boring. The general manager of the team, who got the right to choose the first number (until recently, the most unfortunate person in the League, because his team did not shine a priori in the regular season), enters the stage, approaches the microphone and pronounces his first and last name. For example, like this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N4C3N6kfuA&feature=related.

This is preceded by the tremendous work of scouts, and each NHL club has at least 20 people in its staff, passing tests, communicating with the general managers of other clubs (and not only the NHL), and, of course, the most important thing is the game of young talents.

The draft itself is held once a year. It first took place on June 5, 1963 in Canada and was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada. This hotel was the "home" for the NHL draft until 1972. At first, the ceremonies were held only in hotels, which were attended by only experts close to the NHL behind closed doors, and the ceremony itself was not so bright. For the first time, only six teams chose 21 young hockey players. Of course, any student in school will reveal a mathematical mistake: for six teams in four rounds, there must be at least 24 players. But here everything is explained simply: “Detroit” refused the choice in the third and fourth rounds, and the general manager of “Chicago” could not find a fourth hockey player worthy of his team. Many of the best young players by that time already had contracts with NHL clubs and could not participate in the draft. So out of all the selected hockey players, only five played in the NHL, and the draft received the status of "amateur".

Another feature of the first draft was that players who at that time were already 17 years old had the right to be selected. It is worth noting that even despite the scarcity of choice, the general manager of Detroit was able to take the second number Pita Mahovlich... The one who will later play 894 games for the Red Wings, will score 288 goals, give 485 assists and spoil a lot of blood for the Soviet guys in the 72 Super Series. But then the Montreal Canadiens chose the first, and Harry Monaghan forever inscribed his name in the history of the National Hockey League as the very first player to be honored to be selected in the NHL draft.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that in the same 1980, the first public draft took place. And it took place again in Montreal, in the legendary "Forum" in the presence of two and a half thousand spectators. Well, the first draft outside Montreal was held at the Metro Convention Center in Toronto in 1985.

After that, it became finally clear that the event was of interest to the fans, and the issue of crossing the border remained temporary. And on June 13, 1987, for the first time in history, the draft took place in Detroit at the legendary Joe Louis Arena.

The draft was first televised in 1984, when the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation received the rights to broadcast it. And since 1989, the Sports Channel began broadcasting the draft live to the United States.

In order not to cloud our brains with the NHL philosophy and lengthy reasoning, let us turn to interesting facts and important statistics... The maximum number of players selected for the draft was 293. This historical event took place at the turn of the century - in the two thousandth year. In recent years, thirty NHL clubs fit well into seven rounds, and the total number of selected players did not exceed 211 people.

It is believed that players from Europe have recently become a hot commodity in the NHL draft. However, this is not quite true. Already in the 1969 draft, teams could choose hockey players from all over the world. And, I must say, they did.

Finn is the first drafted European Tommy Salmelainen, which in 1969, under a total of 66, was chosen by the St. Louis Blues team. The first Swedes got into the NHL draft after five years Toronto chose center forward Pera Alexandersson from the club "Leksand" under the 49th number. At the same time, five more Scandinavians were selected, one of which - Stefan Persson- became the first European whose name appeared in the Stanley Cup. The first Russian drafted player was a representative of the club "Dynamo" (Riga) Victor Khatulev... The Philadelphia Flyers drafted him under No. 160.

True, all this was in the later rounds, but the first European, whom the American clubs did not disdain to take in the first stage, was the Swedish defender Bjorn Johansson, ranked 5th in the California Seals. It happened in 1976, when a Swiss hockey player was selected for the first time in the draft - the center forward Jacques Sogel.

First Czechoslovakian in NHL Draft - Ladislav Svozil(Number 194) - got into the Detroit camp in 1978. In the same season, the Atlanta Flames chose the first German goalkeeper Bernard Englebrecht under number 196.

An exceptional event occurred ten years later, when a Soviet citizen Sergey Pryakhin, No. 252, became the first legal Russian player in the NHL. That is, he was not only chosen by the Calgary Flames, but also came to play.

Inscribed his name in draft history and Mats Sundin, becoming the first European selected by the Quebec Nordics club in 1989 at number 1. A year later, he entered the dense ranks of draft newcomers and Cech Peter Nedved who left Czechoslovakia at the age of 16. He played one season at the WHL's Seattle before being picked by Vancouver. Peter became the first European to be drafted from the minor leagues.

Not eligible to participate in the draft:

Hockey players whose age does not meet the above conditions;
- hockey players whose names are included in the official list of any of the existing NHL clubs;
- hockey players who have already been drafted in the previous two years;
- hockey players who have already played for any NHL club and then became free agents;
- Hockey players who are 21 years of age or older who have played in any of the North American leagues for at least one season at the age of 18, 19 or 20.

A joyful event for us happened in 2001, when Atlanta Thrashers chose the Spartak player Ilya Kovalchuk under the first number. None of our compatriots have ever received such recognition. And in 2004, for the first time, two Russians became the first and second draft picks. Washington chose the player of the Moscow Dynamo Alexandra Ovechkina, and "Pittsburgh" - the representative of "Magnitka" Evgeniya Malkina.

Returning to the history of the draft, we note that until 1980 there were minor changes in the draft rules, which were related to both the age of the players and their professional status, but it was in the year of the Moscow Olympics that the draft procedure took its final form.

The first choice was traditionally received by the clubs that did not manage to break into the playoff stage. Moreover, the order of choice is determined by the number of points scored during the regular season: the club with the lowest number of points received the right of the first choice. But in last years the first number of the draft was drawn by lot - as some teams specifically lost matches in order to get the first choice. Especially if among potential newcomers a star shone, whose brilliance was impossible not to notice. So, in 1993, the management of San Jose almost openly accused the players of Ottawa that they did not resist too much in games with their rivals in order to get Alexandra Daigle... The league took note of this signal, and in 1995 introduced the draft lottery, which is still used today.

Interestingly, since then, there have been many cases where the luck of the general managers allowed their teams to get very valuable players. In 2001, "Atlanta" took 28th place in the regular season, but in the lottery the general manager of the club got the right to the first night, and determined the place of work Ilya Kovalchuk for the next nine years.

And in 2006 and 2007, the “black hawks” chose Chicago first, first “legally”, taking the last place, and then, thanks to luck, from the 26th “regular” place.

In exceptional cases, the order of selection in the draft among clubs that did not make the stage of the playoffs may be determined by drawing of lots. The likelihood of getting the first pick in the draw is as follows:

1. 30th regular season team - 25.0 percent.
2. 29th team - 18.8 percent.
3. 28th team -14.2 percent.
4. 27th team - 10.7 percent.
5.26th team - 8.1 percent.
6. 25th team - 6.2 percent.
7.24th team - 4.7 percent
8.23rd team - 3.6 percent
9.22th team - 2.7 percent.
10.21st team - 2.1 percent
11.20th team - 1.5 percent.
12.19th team - 1.1 percent.
13.18th team - 0.8 percent.
14. 17th team - 0.5 percent.

Subsequently, clubs that participated in the Stanley Cup in the season preceding the draft but did not win it (with the exception of clubs that won the regular season in their divisions) join the draft procedure. They get the right to choose in accordance with the number of points scored during the championship: the fewer points scored, the higher the choice number he has.

Following them are the clubs that have won their divisions in the regular season leading up to the draft season. As in the previous cases, the rule is that the club scored fewer points during the regular season gains an advantage. The current Stanley Cup winner picks last.

To be continued…

As you know, many hockey players get into the team through the procedureDRAFT... Many professional and junior hockey leagues have this process. What hockey draft? NSThis is an annual event held by the National Hockey League to transfer the rights of eligible young hockey players to professional league clubs. NHL draft held once a year, usually within two to three weeks after the end of the previous season (at the end of June). Draft takes place in 7 rounds.

For example, to get into the youth The Canadian hockey league CHL (Canadian Hockey League) which includes three hockey leagues OHL (Ontario Hockey League), WHL (Western Hockey League), QMJHL (QU ÉBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE), you need to be noticed hockey agent, a hockey scout who directly represents the interests of the club, and the general manager with coaching staff will already make a positive or negative decision about you.

By the organization annually Memorial Cup , a tournament between four teams: the current cup holder and the winners of the three subleagues. In addition, various exhibition matches are regularly held, where young players can demonstrate their capabilities to scouts and thereby raise the NHL's supraft rating. For example, CHL Top Prospects Game- competition between national teams of forty best players leagues, Subway super series - a series of games in which the national team of all the stars of the league opposes the best Russian juniors performing in MHL.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to simply come to this CHL league, unlike the USHL American League, which is also a forge of players for NHL and NCAA.

You need to understand, if you are going to play in the CHL Canadian Junior Hockey League, then the road to student hockey NCAA It is closed for you, as the athlete is a professional and receives a salary, and according to the rules of the student association, all NCAA athletes must have amateur status. This rule does not apply to the league USHL, NAHL.

As everyone knows, there is a draft NHL, KHL. Junior fair KHL or Junior Draft KHL - an annual event held at the Continental Hockey League to transfer the rights of eligible young hockey players to professional league clubs. Draft KHL held once a year, usually within two to three months after the end of the previous season.

Draft in AHL, ECHL no. Junior Hockey League Draft USHL (United States Hockey League) usually takes place in the first week of May, and the draft in NAHL (North -American Hockey League) in the first week of June, and in CHL in early July.

Accordingly, in one case or another, in order to be noticed, you need to work in this direction in advance, and not at the last moment. Hockey agency KeySport Agency has an extensive base of partners and is ready to consider the application of each player.

Please, or contact us by phone +7 929 9778757, +7 499 390 9796.

Matveev Andrey Igorevich is the official partner-representative of the NSM agency licensed by the NHL.

Defender of the youth national team of Russia and “White Bears” Nikita Nesterov spoke about his trip to the NHL draft and plans for the upcoming season.

- The other day you were summoned to the youth team, do you expect to go to the MFM-2012?
- Of course, I would like to go to the World Championship, for this I will work on myself, try to prove myself at all tournaments, and if everything works out, I will be glad to be in the national team in Canada.

- What did you remember about the youth world championship in Germany?
- We played normally, however, we were almost unlucky in the final with the Swedes: the referee did not count the goal, and we did not make it to the final. The match for the third place was no less important: we managed to pull ourselves together and beat Canada, so only positive emotions remained from the tournament.

About a year ago in the CHL-2010 draft you were chosen by Tri City, where you did not go, thereby disappointing many overseas specialists and somewhat lowering their shares in the NHL draft. What happened then?

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to go to Canada, it’s just that my parents didn’t let me go.

- So, you are determined to "break through" in the NHL, having first thoroughly established yourself in the KHL?
- Yes, I hope to get into the first team this year and make my debut in the KHL. On the next year everything should become clear, and in the upcoming season we need to get to the MFM and show our best side.

- In the NHL Draft, you were picked by Tampa Bay in the fifth round. Were you supposed to "leave" so late?
- I really wanted to get directly to the Lightnings. I like this team, and it didn't really matter in which round I got picked.

- Do you know Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikita Kucherov, who were also chosen by Tampa?
- Yes, I am familiar and I am very glad to be with them in the same "system", because with both we managed to play in the national team on youth championships the world.

- When do you plan to go to the training camps?
- I was supposed to go to the first training camp, but, unfortunately, it didn’t work because the visa was over. I plan to go next year.

- Where do you expect to spend the season in youth team or in "Traktor"?
- Of course, I would like to play in the first team, but for this you need to work on yourself, show yourself in the “Polar Bears”, and then go on the ice in the “Traktor” will definitely introduce itself. Before the start of the season, we will have to play in several home tournaments, and after that, we will play for the national team with dignity.

- Tell us about your playing style.
- Attacking defender with good skating... I like to connect, I quit normally.

- In what component would you like to add in the upcoming season?
- We need to improve in all components to get into the NHL.

- How do you spend your free time?
- Free time I spend with a girl, relax at home, get ready for training, on the Internet - I hardly "sit".

- How Russian leagues can interest young hockey players in continuing their careers at home?
- I think we need to involve young players in main team, give them more playing time, create all the conditions for development. And yet, any young player wants to go for the Stanley Cup. You understand, at the present time, this is the dream of any hockey player.

19-year-old Roman Graborenko was one of the best defenders in the Belarusian national team at the recent World Ice Hockey Championship. The debutant himself does not consider his game "supernatural" and talks about how he left Mogilev for America, what prevents him from drafting in the NHL and what advice Mikhail Grabovsky gave him.

"Young hockey player trust and playtime are important "

I do not know why in recent times so much attention is paid to me, - Roma is shy. - After all, I did not show anything supernatural at the World Championships. I played the best I can. As much as I can.

- And it looked like an adult, although you are 19. He tucked old men into the belt and did not raise an eyebrow ... And where did you come from so gifted?

Was born in Mogilev. Father took him to hockey as soon as the city was built Ice Palace... I was six then. After a year, I began to train with guys two years older than me. And at eleven he left for Moscow. And, you know, it was only there that I realized that hockey is what I want to do in my life.

He left for Moscow because his father got a job there. But I didn't want to hang my skates on a nail. Once I went to CSKA training. I saw how the guys were working there and asked them to see me. I got this opportunity. And the very next year he was admitted to school. Two years later he went to Spartak, then to Polar Bears.

- Why did you run from one school to another?

It's about development. To progress, you need to play. Trust and playing time are important to a young hockey player. Lack of trust is often the reason for the change of team.

I am grateful to my parents who believed in me. We've lived in Moscow for five years. Mom was with me almost all the time. And my father continued to do business, so he was torn between Mogilev and Moscow.

- You are the only child in the family. How did your parents let you go to America?

- Collected things and sent! Technically, there is nothing difficult about this. But the separation was hard. And they and I. But we understood that all this was being done for the good - for the sake of the hockey future. Besides, I didn’t go anywhere. I went to my family.

At this point in America, I had three families. They treated me like their child. At the meeting, they said, they say, Roma, feel at home. The first year he lived in Philadelphia. It was difficult, because I didn't know the language. Three months later I adapted. By the way, my "American parents" congratulated me on Facebook on a good game right after the match with the United States at the World Cup. Nice ... Later I moved to Canada. Played one full season at Cape Breton. This season also started with this team. Later he moved to Drummondville.

- How long did it take you to pronounce the name of your new team without mistakes?

For a week I got used to a new place. The main thing is to figure out which letter follows the previous one!

- And why did you need another transition at all? Is it about trust and the player of the time again?

Yes. At some point, both of that and the other in "Cape Breton" was gone. Therefore, I asked for the management of the exchange. In "Drummondville" I found myself and began to show results. This means that my transition is the right decision.

- Why did you decide to stay in the team for another year? After all, you have already outgrown QMJHL. Teams of this league can be played by three people per club, over 20 years old.

I signed with Drummondville with the confidence that I will play and continue to develop. I will be assisted by coaches who, as players, played in the NHL. These people have a lot to learn.

In terms of the competitive environment, in QMJHL I will be the "old man". But it may also happen that during the season I will sign a contract with an NHL club. If I get an offer, Drummondville will not be obstructed by league rules.

"I like the way Pronger and Hara play"

- Does it upset you that you're not drafted in the NHL? I know some guys don't want to be drafted so that they can sign a contract with the club that really needs them as a free agent.

I really want to draft. Previously, this was hampered by injuries. This year I still have a chance. Let's see if the NHL scouts paid attention to me ... If not, then I'll choose my own club.

- Is the Minsk Dynamo's interest in you flattering?

Frankly, the fact that I got into the KHL junior draft surprised me. I was already on KHL Draft three years ago. At the same time, Dynamo Minsk defended the rights to me. How he appeared in the draft now, no idea! Anyway, now my goal is the NHL.

Before the draft, hockey players usually fill out a questionnaire. In which there is a question about who would you compare yourself to. Well?

Oh, I don’t remember! But I love the way Chris Pronger and Zdeno Hara play. These guys are simple but reliable. They make big money and are considered good hockey players... Although, to be honest, I don't know who I look like. It seems to me that I have my own, unique style. In any case, I am far from Pronger.

- What else is worth working on?

I think physics and technology will come with time. You need to gain more experience.

- When you were in the national team, did you ask our NHLers for advice?

- The Kostitsyn brothers joined the team during the World Cup. Therefore, there was no time to talk with them. But Misha Grabowski asked: "How to get into the NHL?" Grabowski did not say anything new: "Work! That's all." Getting into the NHL isn't easy. Competition is very high. But I hope that in a year or two I will have such an opportunity.

- Introduce myself, and then what?

Then you need to prove every day the right to play at this level. I don’t think about the Stanley Cup. Only a few win it. I just want to play in the NHL.

- What clubs do you like?

I like Pittsburgh and Detroit. IN this season I was pleasantly surprised by Phoenix. But I can't say that I consider myself a fan of one of the teams in the league.

"In" Polar Bears "the coach told me what is now being repeated everywhere"

- By the way, how are the guys with whom you started in Mogilev?

Someone now plays in the farm of “Mogilev”, someone in the first team. I know that Sergei Korolik is now in Yunost. I never heard anything else about the guys making their way somewhere.

- What do you think about why it is incredibly difficult for Belarusian hockey players in Belarus to enter international level?

It's simple. There are not enough qualified trainers in the country. Such that they strive to learn. Such that they regularly organize and take part in training camps. But what is it about when the coach's salary is cheap? And this is not news. You need to work a lot with children. It is important to correctly bring young people to adult hockey ... Although it is difficult for me to judge the situation in hockey. I don’t feel it because I don’t live in Belarus.

- Can you remember the valuable advice of your coaches?

Sure. Recently I often remember what Gennady Gennadyevich Kurdin told me about in "Polar Bears". Why? He talked a lot about the technical side of hockey, taught him to make the right decision on the court from the point of view of a defender. In general, he spoke about what is now being repeated everywhere: the importance of the first pass, moving forward during a power hold, and much more.

Indicates a pocket. - Approx. ed.)!