Russian Machine Never Breaks

Former Capital Sergei Fedorov Praises Evgeny Kuznetsov, Participates in Ridiculous Photoshoot for KHL All-Star Game

On January 20, 2012, In Caps Prospect, Photos, Translations, By Igor Kleyner

All photos via the KHL’s Facebook Fan Page.

On Saturday, the KHL will host their 3rd annual All-Star Game in Riga, Latvia. Former Washington Capital Sergei Fedorov will be captaining one team at the game — a team that includes Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov, who has 16G and 15A as of the All-Star break, leading Traktor Chelyabinsk in scoring. Kuznetsov was nominated as a starter for the game by a landslide fan vote, finishing second overall in all voting.

Ahead of the KHL’s All-Star Game, Fedorov spoke to Sport Express’ Dmitry Kuznetsov about Kuznetsov. Below the jump, Igor Kleyner offers a translation of the interview, where former Cap Fedorov talks Kuznetsov’s scoring, overwhelming fan popularity, and offers some perspective on the choice that’s coming up for Kuznetsov — whether to continue to play in the KHL, or make the jump to the NHL.

The 42-year-old future Hall of Famer also participated in a highly silly photoshoot to promote the All-Star Game, along with the other team captain and former NHLer Sandis Ozolins, which we’ve preserved here in a post for historical purposes. Please enjoy.

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Video: Alex Ovechkin Raps in Sasha Belyi’s “Champion”

On January 15, 2012, In Translations, Video, By Ian Oland

In September, you might might recall that in our post recapping Alex Ovechkin’s summer in Russia, we dropped the bombshell that Ovi rapped a verse in Sasha Belyi’s rap “Champion.” The filming of the video got a ton of attention in his motherland as MTV Russia even did a feature on it. Well, lo and behold, the music video was finally released to the masses on YouTube this weekend and below the jump you can check it out. Ovi’s rap starts at 2:55.

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Evgeny Kuznetsov: “The Swedes Weren’t Even Drunk”

On January 8, 2012, In Caps Prospect, Translations, By Fedor Fedin

Photo credit: Richard Wolowicz

On Sunday Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov returned home after Russia lost to Sweden in the 2012 Word Junior Championship gold medal game. Kuznetsov, who was named the MVP of the tournament and to the WJC All-Star team for the second year in a row, did not smile for photos or wear his silver medal after the game.

When he arrived at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, Kuznetsov was greeted by SovSport correspondents and asked his thoughts about winning silver, beating Canada, and his plans for next year. Below the jump, I offer a translation.

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Evgeny Kuznetsov Talks About His Hat Trick Against Canada

On January 4, 2012, In Caps Prospect, Translations, World Junior Championship, By Fedor Fedin

“Canada, I can’t hear you.” (Photo credit: Elena Rusko)

One year ago in the WJC gold medal game, Canada held what seemed to be an insurmountable 3-0 lead over Team Russia heading into the third period. During the second intermission, Head Coach Valery Bragin pleaded with his team to respond, and respond they did. Russia stormed back– riding three assists by Evgeny Kuznetsov to win the gold medal game 5-3 and shock the hockey world.

But antipathy between the Russian team and North American fans and media was high, and the situation degraded even further after the Russians were kicked off their flight home for being rowdy.  Kuznetsov says the incident was “absolute nonsense,” but the tension has only gotten worse since.

Entering the 2012 WJC, Russia intended to prove that last year’s win over Canada was no fluke. Despite being the defending champions, the team still held underdog status. Kuznetsov, Russia’s captain and the only returning player from 2011, netted his second WJC hat trick in three games, pushing Russia to a 6-5 win.

After the game, Allhockey.ru’s Andrey Osadchenko spoke to Kuznetsov and filmed his entire Q/A with reporters. Below the jump, I offer a translation.

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Caps Prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov Talks About His Nine-Point Night

On December 30, 2011, In Caps Prospect, Translations, World Junior Championship, By Fedor Fedin

Photo credit: Francois Laplante

Evgeny Kuznetsov has done a lot of spectacular things in his young career: he was the youngest player ever to be named to a KHL all-star game; he’s starred in a movie; he scored the game-winning goal to win Russian the Karjala Cup; and he got married at 19. Late Thursday night in Calgary, Kuzya had the game of his life notching an incredible three goals, six assists, and nine points in a 14-0 thrashing of Latvia. It was the second most points ever scored in a World Junior Championship game.

After the game, Allhockey.ru’s Andrey Osadchenko spoke to Kuznetsov and filmed his entire Q/A with reporters. Below the jump, I offer a translation.

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Evgeny Kuznetsov: “I am not Maradona; I am Kuznetsov”

On December 9, 2011, In Caps Prospect, Translations, By Igor Kleyner

Kuznetsov smiles during the weekend of his wedding. (Photo credit: Chelyabinsk.ru)

If you’re a loyal reader of RMNB, you know a lot about Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov. You know he’s won a gold medal at last year’s WJC, he currently leads the KHL in game-winning goals, and he had one of the best years ever recorded last season as an 18-year-old in Russia. You’ve seen the movie he starred in when he was 12, Hockey Nomad Goes To Russia, and you giggled when you saw pictures from his wedding this past summer at Traktor Arena.

In part two of our monster translation of Soviet Sport’s feature story on Kuzya, Pavel Lysenkov asks some more personal questions. [Read part one of the interview.] We find out why Kuznetsov picked number 92, what Alex Ovechkin gave him as a wedding present, and what he was like as a child in school. Evgeny also makes many more references to Washington and how he’s preparing to uproot his life at some point and come to North America.

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Evgeny Kuznetsov Voted in as Starter for KHL All-Star Game

On December 7, 2011, In Caps Prospect, Translations, By Fedor Fedin

Evgeny Kuznetsov speeds down the middle during Traktor’s game against Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk (Photo credit: Vitaly Gubin, Traktor PR Service)

Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov, currently sitting in the top 15 in both goals and points (12g, 12a), was named a KHL All-Star for the second time on Monday. Unlike last season, Kuznetsov was overwhelmingly voted in as a starter this year by fans and will represent “Team Fedorov” of the Eastern conference. The 19-year-old Traktor Chelyabinsk forward finished second overall in total votes (33,800), trailing only Mikelis Redlihs of the Western Conference’s “Team Ozolins.”

To put Kuznetsov’s immense popularity in perspective, consider that he garnered more votes than reigning MVP Alexander Radulov, Roman Cervenka (the KHL’s leading scorer), Vladimir Tarasenko, and Russian National Team Captain Alexei Morozov.

Recently, Sovetsky Sport’s Pavel Lysenkov did a lengthy feature story on Kuznetsov, who some have called the new face of the KHL. Like most interviews with Russian players, the story starts off with questions about Vityaz Chekhov, who was recently beaten by Traktor on the scoreboard and tried to beat them back with their fists.

Most importantly to Caps fans, Kuznetsov discussed his possible NHL future, his contract situation, and who he idolized as a kid. Below the jump, I have the translation.

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Video: Alex Semin Wants a Wax Figure Too!

On November 10, 2011, In Interview, Translations, By Ian Oland

Alex Semin

Ninteenth century author Charles Caleb Colton once wrote that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Before writing that, the guy must have hopped in his red-painted time machine and traveled to DC to watch Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin hang out together. Why? Because the Sashas — a sterling example of “brothers from another mother” — have so much in common. Same nationality, same first name, same DVD box set of Gilmore Girls in their living rooms. Same hats, same holey jeans, matching friendship bracelets (one suspects).

So when Ovi recently was presented with his own wax figure at Madame Taussaud’s, Sasha Minor was understandably a little bit jealous. Let’s go to the videotape!

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Teemu Selanne on Alex Ovechkin: “He Needs to Change Something in His Game”

On November 9, 2011, In News, Translations, By Fedor Fedin

Teemu Selanne

Photo credit: Orange County Register

Teemu Selanne is one of the greatest hockey players ever to lace up skates. His 642 career goals rank him in 12th place of all time. He’s led the league in goal-scoring three times during his career, and he won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.

Put simply, the man knows how to score goals and win games. So when Teemu started talking about Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin with Alisa Volbidaht of Sovetsky Sport, we paid attention.

During the long Q/A, the Finnish Flash gives his opinion on Ovi’s recent “benching,” what the Great Eight needs to do to regain his scoring touch of years’ past, and who he thinks will win the Rocket Richard trophy.

The interview, published in Wednesday’s issue of the Sovetsky Sport newspaper, is translated below by RMNB’s Fedor Fedin.

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Evgeny Kuznetsov on NHL Plans: “I’ve Made a Decision”

On November 9, 2011, In Caps Prospect, Translations, By Fedor Fedin

Kuzya multi-tasks while talking to the media Tuesday.

The KHL is currently taking the week off so that the Russian National Team can participate in the upcoming Karjala Cup, an annual tournament held in Finland where the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, and Russia all face off against one another. 19-year-old Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov was invited to play on the National Team and joined his teammates in Novogorsk, Moscow Region to prepare for their first game Thursday.

Despite the fact that the team is filled with stars such as Alexander Radulov and Vladmir Tarasenko, Kuznetsov — who was working out at the time — was mobbed by journalists during his media availability. In interviews to both Sovetsky Sport and Sport-Express, the gifted and versatile forward discussed his NHL plans, gossiped about the latest KHL news, and mused on what it will be like to play center again during the four day tourney.

Below the jump, check out my translation of the interview.

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