Photo: AP

The New York Rangers have traded 2003 first round pick Hugh Jessiman to the Nashville Predators for future considerations.

Rumors of his imminent departure started making the rounds in Hartford on Saturday, with his agent in attendance as he spent his second consecutive game in the press box as a healthy scratch. Last night he returned to the Wolf Pack line up, seemingly putting those rumors to rest. But with Glen Sather and a host of scouts in the house last night it would seem that it was perhaps his opportunity to try to make an impression on potential suitors. It wasn’t a particularly strong game for Hugh — or anyone else not named Miika Wiikman for that matter — but apparently he made enough of an impression to convince Nashville to wager “future considerations” for his services.

The lone 2003 first-rounder to have never played a game in the NHL, Jessiman suffered for the New York Rangers’ mistake of drafting him where they did (12th over all) throughout his time with the organization. A serious ankle injury, which caused him to miss most of his junior season at Dartmouth, and an unwise decision to leave college prematurely further stunted his development as a player. But the bottom line is, he never should have been drafted where he was to begin with, and that stigma wasn’t going to go away while he was part of the Rangers organization.

In truth, Jessiman is coming off his best professional season to date, in which he made the most progress of any of his previous years as a pro. If he continues to progress at the same pace this year, it’s not entirely unfeasible that he could end up as a role player in the NHL one day. It seems unlikely, but plenty of Hartford alumni (most recently, Dwight Helminen) have found homes in other organizations and eventually gotten a shot in the NHL. Regardless, seeing a first round pick on the fourth line was never going to be good enough for the demanding Ranger Faithful, and when you look at the Hartford roster, it becomes clear that there are numerous similar or better options for that role that won’t be forced to carry the same baggage.

By all accounts Jessiman was a good guy and a good teammate, and I wish him the best of luck in Milwaukee (or maybe — just maybe — in Nashville one day). For Jessiman’s comments on the trade, and his time in the Rangers organization, see Howlings.

A depleted Avangard Omsk line up was shut out by Darius Kasparitis and SKA St. Petersburg in Russia’s second city yesterday. The final score was 5-0, with former Philadelphia Flyer Robert Esche earning the first shutout the Hawks have suffered so far this season.

Omsk entered the game without three of their top six scorers, captain Alexander Svitov, assistant Anton Kuryanov, and, of course, Alexei Cherepanov, their top defenseman, Dmitri Ryabikin, back-up goaltender Alexander Fomichev and forward Igor Volkov. They suffered yet another blow when Jaromir Jagr was unable to return after the first period with what was termed “a minor muscle pull”. He played only 6:12 in 7 shifts. The team was already down by two goals when he left the game.

The club announced today that Svitov will require surgery to repair an injury to his shoulder. Kuryanov is recovering from a badly sprained knee, while Volkov is currently hospitalized and being treated for pneumonia. There is currently no timetable available for their returns. Fomichev and Ryabikin, who is recovering from a groin pull, are both expected back on November 11th, when KHL teams return to the ice after a break for international play.

In a game they had no business winning, the Hartford Wolf Pack defeated the Portland Pirates 3-2 in overtime in Hartford on Wednesday night.  Miika Wiikman, with 30 saves, earned his third consecutive first star designation and was the primary reason the Pack were able to post their third win in as many games.

The Wolf Pack got off to a good enough start, earning the first two power play opportunities of the game, including 47 seconds of 5-on-3 time, during which Portland goaltender Adam Dennis was forced to stop a breakaway on Hartford winger Dane Byers.  But, as they have so often in this young season, the Pack failed to convert on the man advantage, and then were whistled for the next three penalties.  Portland took advantage of the first, when Colin Murphy was able to put a shallow rebound off Chris Butler’s point shot between Wiikman’s legs to give the visitors the 1-0 lead.

The Pack killed the second two of the three penalties off, and at 14:52 of the first rookie Dale Weise got a stick on Vladimir Denisov’s point shot, slowing it to a crawl and handcuffing Dennis, who could only watch as it trickled past him into the net, knotting the score at one.  Greg Moore was credited with the secondary assist, one of two helpers he earned in the game.

Just over three minutes later rookie Justin Soryal gave the Pack the lead after Artem Anisimov spotted him coming off the bench on a line change.  Anisimov, deep in the right corner, fed Soryal as he crossed the blue line undetected.  Soryal was able to skate in to the top of the face off circle, were he whistled a snap shot over Dennis’ shoulder for his first professional goal.

That, basically, was the last positive thing the Pack did for the next 45 minutes of playing time.

In the second period, the Pack were soundly out-played by the Pirates, getting trapped in the defensive zone for long stretches of time, routinely losing races for the puck, taking too many penalties and spotting the Pirates an 11-3 advantage in shots, forcing Wiikman to make a number of quality saves.

The third period didn’t start much better, and, in fact, the Wolf Pack didn’t register a shot until after the 11 minute mark of the period, when they were awarded 1:24 of 5-on-3 power play time.  By that time they’d already surrendered their second power play goal of the game, after Bobby Sanguinetti took his second minor penalty of the game and 5 foot 6 inch Pirate rookie Nathan Gerbe was able to walk around Potter and in on Wiikman, tying the score on the man advantage.

Sanguinetti almost redeemed himself by drawing the next penalty, which turned into the two-man advantage 36 seconds later, but once again the Pack were unable to cash in, and the teams were headed to overtime.

Hartford finished the game 0 for 6 on the power play, giving them a season mark of 5 for 45 with the man advantage, or 11%.  The shot advantage in the third once again went to Portland, though by a somewhat more respectable 9-6 margin.

In the extra frame, following some sloppy, frustrating play on their own side of center ice, the Wolf Pack managed to set up in the Portland zone, and after a nice keep-in by Brian Fahey, Moore fed Byers in the left face off circle.  With plenty of time, Byers was able to wind up and fire a blistering slap shot past Dennis before the Portland goalie could even flinch, giving the Pack their improbable win.

For Fahey it was his first point as a member of the Wolf Pack.  Byers’ goal was his fourth in 8 games, giving him the team lead in goals.  Anisimov’s first period assist gave him 6 points in 8 games, tops on the team.

Video highlights are available from AHL Live.

Notes:

• Brandon Sugden missed the game after injuring his thumb in a fight with Kevin Westgarth on Saturday.
• Sugden’s absence allowed Hugh Jessiman to return to the line up after missing two games as a healthy scratch.
• Lauri Korpikoski, re-assigned to Hartford by the Rangers on Wednesday afternoon, did not dress.
• Rangers general manager Glen Sather attended the game.

Pack Scoring:
1. Weise (2) (Denisov, Moore) 14:52
1. Soryal (1) (Anisimov, Murray) 18:00
OT. Byers (4) (Moore, Fahey) 3:16

Lines:
Byers - Pyatt - Parenteau
Dupont - Anisimov -  Weise
Owens - Moore - Soryal
DiDiomete - Ouellette - Jessiman

Potter - Sanguinetti
Fahey - Denisov
Graham - Murray

Wiikman / Zaba

Three Stars:
1. Miika Wiikman
2. Dane Byers
3. Nathan Gerbe

Photo: Championat.ru

Russian sports information agency All Sports, citing information provided by the Moscow Area Ministry of Public Health, is reporting that an analysis of urine taken from Alexei Cherepanov has come back negative for any traces of performance enhancing drugs or metabolites. Testing was performed by the Russian anti-doping laboratory, which holds “the highest category of accreditation by the World Anti-Doping Agency and International Olympic Committee.” Their comprehensive analysis revealed the presence of only an over-the-counter drug called Amexin (internationally known as Tilorone), an immune-enhancing, anti-viral medication used “for preventive maintenance or elimination of inflammation of the mucous membrane.”

Avangard Omsk general manager Anatoli Bardin was not surprised by the news, telling All Sports “I was simply confident that Lesha could not have taken any prohibited drugs. He was a good, honest guy — I had no doubts that he was clean. Thank God that it has now been confirmed by scientific methods. Thanks to everyone who did [the testing] — they’ve dispelled all doubts and put an end to all behind-the-scenes conversations.”

(With thanks to Vlad for his help.)

Photo: Championat.ru

Despite the best efforts of Jaromir Jagr, who scored the Hawks’ first goal and set up their second, Avangard Omsk fell in overtime to division rival Lokomotiv Yaroslavl by a final score of 3-2. The win gave Lokomotiv a one-point lead over Avangard in the Kharlamov Division, with two games in hand.

Goaltender John Grahame spotted the home team as soft a goal as you’ll see when he let a bouncing shot from the center ice red line get past him at 11:00 of the first period. That score stood until the five minute mark of the third period, when Jagr got a stick on a redirected centering pass at the hash marks and beat Lokomotiv goaltender Georgiy Gelashvili high on the stick side.

Omsk where whistled for only two penalties all game, but they paid for both of them. The first came three minutes after they knotted the score at one, and resulted in a 2-1 Loko lead. The Hawks capitalized on their own power play opportunity in the final minutes of the regulation, after Jagr lead a rush into the Yaroslavl zone and dished the puck to Dmitri Pestunov on the left wing, who fed it back to Pavel Rosa on right wing for the tying goal with only 1:13 left to play in regulation.

But Avangard’s second penalty of the game came at 19:37 of the third and carried over into overtime, where the 4-on-3 advantage afforded former Islander Alexei Yashin all the room in the world to walk in to the right face off circle and power a slap shot through Grahame for the game-winner.

The game is available on-demand at Sportbox, or you can get the highlights from the KHL web site. For photos only, see Championat.ru or the KHL.

Prior to the game Avangard winger Alexander Popov was named forward of the week by the KHL for his 4 goal, 2 assist performance in 4 games last week.

Scoring:
11:00 Dimitri Semin (Vasilyev)
45:06 Jaromir Jagr (Pestunov)
49:20 Alexander Guskov (Vasilyev)
58:47 Pavel Rosa (Pestunov, Jagr)
61:39 Alexei Yashin (Guskov)

Avangard Omsk followed up their first match without Alexei Cherepanov with a string of three hard-fought home games last week, taking 5 of a possible 9 standings points.

Dynamo Riga 3 @ Avangard Omsk 2

Avangard fell 2-3 in the first of back-to-back games against Dynamo Riga, as goaltender John Grahame continued to struggle to regain his form after suffering an elbow injury prior to Cherepanov’s death and losing almost a week of practice time in the wake of the tragedy. On the visitors side, former Ranger Marcel Hossa, who leads his team in scoring and is currently tied for 7th in KHL with 13 goals and 7 assists for 20 points, was held scoreless and a was minus-1 while taking 6 minutes in penalties. His former Ranger linemate Jaromir Jagr took a tripping penalty, but also had an assist in a team-leading 22:41 minutes of ice time.

Scoring:
12:16 Mikheilis Redlikhs (Tribuntsov) (watch)
19:59 Alexander Popov (Jagr, Svitov) (watch)
38:26 Phillip Novak (Hartigan) (PP) (watch)
44:30 Alexander Svitov (Klepish, Popov) (watch)
49:13 Alexei Shirokov (Lavinsh) (watch)

Dynamo Riga 0 @ Avangard Omsk 3

Grahame bounced back in a big way, stopping 34 Dynamo shots, and Anton Kuryanov had a hand in all three Omsk goals as the Hawks shut out Dynamo Riga 3-0 in the second of back-to-back games. Jagr had a goal and an assist to extend his point-scoring streak to 8 games as Hossa was once again held off the scoreboard.

Scoring:
05:32 Jaromir Jagr (Ryabikin, Kuryanov) (PP) (watch)
20:36 Anton Kuryanov (Ryazantsev, Rosa) (watch)
53:42 Alexei Bondarev (Kuryanov, Jagr) (watch)

Dynamo Moscow 2 @ Avangard Omsk 3 (SO)

Alexander Popov scored both regulation goals for Avangard, and Pavel Rosa put home the shootout winner as the Hawks defeated Dynamo Moscow the game that was originally scheduled for October 17th, but postponed following Cherpanov’s death. Grahame stopped 38 of 40 shots through regulation and overtime, then — with a little help from his posts — stoned four Dynamo shooters in the shootout. Former Ranger Karel Rachunek had an assist on Dynamo’s first goal.

Scoring:
41:08 Alexander Popov (SH) (watch)
45:28 Denis Denisov (Landry, Rachunek) (watch)
52:04 Igor Emeleev (Kasyanchuk) (watch)
52:35 Alexander Popov (Gladskikh) (watch)

Shootout:
Landry - post (watch)
Alexandrov - save (watch)
Badyukov - save (watch)
Kuryanov - save (watch)
Emeleev - post (watch)
Klepish - save (watch)
Rosa - goal (watch)
Weinhandle - save (watch)

Off the Ice

Off the ice it was announced that Omsk General Manger Anatoli Bardin — who had been given the nod to head the Russian national team at the end of last month — would not be confirmed as the team’s general manager, allowing him to focus instead on his own club in the wake of the Cherepanov tragedy. Meanwhile Cherepanov’s U.S. agent Jay Grossman was in Omsk this week to offer his condolences to the Cherepanov family, according to Soviet Sport, which also noted that Cherepanov’s father Andrei has been given a job within the Avangard organization and that he and his wife will move to Omsk.

As the investigation into the cause of Cherepanov’s death continues, Juri Afonkin, the director of the arena in Chekhov where Cherepanov collapsed, has officially resigned after being disqualified from working within the KHL earlier this week. Director of the Vityaz hockey club, Mikhail Denisov, also banned by the KHL, has also submitted his letter of resignation, though he intends to take the KHL to court over his disqualification, on the premise that he is “not guilty that the ambulance left on a call to rescue a patient three minutes prior to th end of the game.” He claims that any monetary damages he might receive in court will be given to Cherepanov’s family.

The Hawks start a three-game road trip on Monday in Yaroslavl against Kharlamov division rival Lokomotiv, with whom they’re currently battling for first place in the division and a guaranteed playoff berth. The teams are currently tied with 38 points, with Lokomotiv holding 3 games in hand. A dirty little secret — despite the volumes of posts I’ve written about Avangard, they’re not my favorite Russian team. Loko is, due in part to the aforementioned Karel Rachunek, who was the reason I started watching them during the NHL lockout, and kept watching them afterwards, when the rest of the NHLers returned to North America. That said, it’ll be hard not to root for Avangard this season. No matter who wins, tomorrow’s game should be a good one. Lokomotiv will be playing their second game in as many days, but are coming off a 7-1 thrashing of Amur Khabarovsk on Sunday. The best part? The game’s available online starting at 11am 12 noon EDT (damned time change!).

On Friday Soviet Sport published an in-depth interview with former Ranger and current Avangard Omsk forward Jaromir Jagr, in which he candidly discusses the death of his teammate and friend, Alexei Cherepanov.

Jaromir Jagr: I Desperately Prayed that Lyosha’s Heart Would Start Working… A Candid Conversation About Life and Death with the Famous Avangard Forward
October 24, 2007 №158 (17655)
P. Lycenkov

Photo: Soviet Sport

The great Czech hockey player has given an interview to a Soviet Sport correspondent in which he thoroughly discussed the details of the loss of his young friend Alexei Cherepanov.

“IF I WAS THE HEAD GUY IN THE KHL…”

Jagr meets me after the game in the Avangard restaurant. He just played against Dynamo Riga and his Hawks have lost (2:3). Everyone’s mood in such a situation should be worse than ever. Especially since any conversation with reporters now boils down to the one sad topic of Alexei Cherpanov. But Jagr is an incredibly positive person. And very professional. Right, then we’ll have a talk. No problem.

We didn’t have time to start the interview, as towards our little table came Bob Goodenow. Previously — president of the NHL players union of which Jagr was a member. Now — advisor to the KHL who has specially flown into Omsk in connection with the Cherepanov tragedy.

- I see that I distract you. Excuse me. I’ll only be a minute, - Goodnoew is delicate. He greets Jagr, squeezes his hand.

- Do you know, Bob, if next year the in the KHL there will be any changes in the regulations? - Jagr asks of his old acquaintance.

- For now we’re in the discussion process. But what interests you?

- The limit on foreigners [KHL teams are currently limited to 5 foreign players, 4 if one of them is a goaltender]. I think, that if it were to be increased, many strong hockey players would arrive in Russia from overseas. There’s almost no doubt that after this season the salary cap in the NHL will be lowered greatly. For that matter, if earlier the fees of players passed 56% of league revenue, then in a year the level will be lowered to 50%. Many teams have already signed long-term contracts with 5-6 leading players…

- We known, Jaromir, about those contracts. Gomez, $10 million for a season, Drury, $10 million… - Goodenow lists the Rangers forwards with which Jagr played last season.

- Exactly. And so it will be very difficult for these teams to sign new agreements with their remaining 15 players. There can’t be enough money. And here the KHL’s initiative should be to grab them. For an average NHL player there simply won’t be another choice. They’ll come to Russia, and they’ll sign for realistically reasonable money.

- Interesting conversation, Jaromir” - I say when Goodenow leaves. - You’d make a good president of the players union. So do you think, that the in the KHL in general, its necessary to abolish the limit on foreigners?

- I didn’t say that. But if I were the head of the Russian league, I would do everything possible for its prosperity. So? This is only one such opportunity to do so. I’m simply sharing my ideas. But I don’t make the decisions.

“THERE WAS HOPE FOR RESCUE”

- I understand, Jaromir, that this topic is painful. But I can’t not ask about Cherepanov. Especially since you still haven’t spoken about it in detail. In the media they wrote that in the last minutes of his life Lesha sat near you on the bench, and you talked over how you’d barely failed to take advantage of a 2-on-1…

- I’m already worn out explaining that I could not have been on the ice with Cherepanov. Because both of us are right wings. Will you now ask also, whether it’s true that I accidentally struck him in the chest with my elbow and because of it Alexei’s heart stopped? - Jagr wearily inquires.

- Just talk about how the tragedy happened.

- Everyone says that Cherepanov came off the ice, sat down on the bench, and immediately became ill. But in fact, after his line change a half minute passed. And only then Alexei fell onto the team doctor who stood behind him. Nobody understood what had happened. I though he simply lost consciousness.

- And then the chaos began…

- It’s a natural reaction to such a situation. And I myself don’t remember clearly what I did in those minutes, who I called. Everyone tried to wake Cherepanov, but were in no way successful.

- Were you shocked that no ambulance was found at the arena in Chekhov?

- At the time my thoughts were not occupied by that at all. I desperately prayed that Lesha’s heart would start working again. When they took him away to the hospital, we went to a church. They told us that he was still alive. There was hope that he’d be saved. We said a prayer. But then we found out that Lesha was no longer with us…

- Many now say: “If such a thing happened in the NHL, Cherapanov would be saved for sure”.

- I can’t say that. Because I’m not a doctor. Yes, I know that Wings defenseman Jiri Fischer survived the same situation in Detroit. But he was very lucky. Everything was done perfectly. Doctors were on site, there was a charged defibrillator available to them, they instantly started to render aid to the victim. And everyone understood what he had to do.

But nobody knows if Alexei would have survived if such timely aide was provided to him. It is only known to god…

“WHO WOULD IT HELP?”

- Getting back to the ridiculous rumor… This is the most monstrous thing that’s been written about me - said Jagr. I can put up with any gossip. But when it has to do with the death of another person… Guys, this just isn’t funny.

- What would you do with the journalist who started this false report, that Cherepanov was lost because of a collision with you?

- I understand why reporters of the yellow press do this dirty work. I know, that in the Czech Republic there is tabloid press. They invent such nonsense that god forbid if it was even five percent truth. I know how this gossip factory works.

But I never respected such journalists. When you write something, it’s always necessary to think about the consequences. How it can hurt other people. However these reporters think only of themselves.

- When you learned about this rumor, did the desire not arise in you to collect your things and leave Russia?

- Who would that help?

- You.

- Not true. It wouldn’t become easier for me… I’m not going to pack up my things, abandon this league, our Avangard, just because some idiots have written incredible, loathsome things about me.

“AS IF I HAVE LOST A CLOSE RELATIVE”

- What exactly do you recollect about Cherepanov now?

- 98 percent, heartwarming memories about him. Different events, how we communicated, how we joked… And two percent, that black Monday. When before my eyes rises the picture of how Alexei died in Chekhov. But as more time passes, the less you think about the tragedy. In your memories remain only the good.

It’s difficult to put into words, but hockey is a different sport. On each team there are 20-30 people and we’re all like one family. We work together, we live together on the road.

- If Avangard is your family, then Cherpanov was the younger brother?

- Many people in the world have lost someone from their family. Lesha’s death is about the same as the loss of one’s parents, wives or a child. That kind of powerful blow.

- Now the players union of the KHL is thinking about bringing in restrictions for hockey players who are 21-years old or younger. To have them play fewer games in a season, to avoid overwork.

- I know that Bob Goodenow has called this idea nonesense. And I agree with him. It’s not like we play a lot of games in Russia. The KHL schedule doesn’t bear any comparison to the NHL. Here there are 56 games in the regular season, there, 82. Moreover, overseas there are often back-to-back games. Four games a week is common. And its OK, all the young survive. Think about Ovechkin, Malkin, Kovalchuk. At the same 19 years of age Crosby spent a half an hour on the ice during games.

It’s not right to tie the cause of Cherepanov’s death with the schedule. There’s nothing to it.

- And how do hockey players pass the medical board in the NHL?

- They did tests on us once each year at the beginning of the season, in training camp. In the KHL — at least in Avangard — they were better with it. Here before the season they did two tests on us at once: not only the electrocardiogram, but also an ultrasound — that wasn’t done in the NHL.

- Did Cherepanov have problems with his heart?

- I don’t know. In general nobody understands what he died of. And so suddenly! The 19-year old boy had only just flown down the ice, scored a goal. And suddenly he’s no longer here. Such a thing, you’ll agree, happens very rarely.

It’s possible that Alexei had some problem with his heart which is difficult to detect at the time of examination. If I were a doctor, I could give you a concrete answer. But not everyone in this world is a doctor. On the other hand, everyone has their opinion on matters of their work.

It could also be that a guy’s heart reacts differently to different loads. If he spent a minute on the ice, everything is fine. If three minutes, he’s unwell. But again, these are my guesses. I wait with impatience for the middle of November when they will announce the results of the work of the commission. I want to know why Cherepanov died.

“THIS BEARD BRINGS ME GOOD LUCK”

- Let’s change the subject. Soon in America the presidential elections will take place. For whom will you vote — for Obama or McCain?

- Wait a minute, I’m Czech.

- But do you really not have an American passport?

- Why would I have one?

- It’s convenient to travel around the world without visas. When our NHLers play overseas for more than five years, they almost always get themselves the second citizenship. And you’ve played in the NHL since 1990.

- Yes, I don’t need a US passport. Besides, under our laws if I receive another’s citizenship, I lose Czech citizenship. And even in a terrible dream I can’t conceive of such a thing. I’m Czech - forever!

- Patriotism for you — a common word, or is it something more?

- If anyone in the world is asked what they think of their homeland, they will answer: I love it very much. Jaromir Jagr is no exception. I love the Czech Republic, I like living in Europe.

But love of country is tested in difficult situations. If someone shouts from every corner about patriotism, but doesn’t help his homeland when she is in trouble, what kind of patriot is he?

In Russians this sense is strongly developed. They have won the second World War. They showed character. And didn’t lift their mitts upwards, like some other countries which surrendered even before the fight…

- It’s interesting that now the best scorers in the NHL are Russian: Ovechkin, Malkin, Datsyuk. And in the KHL, Czechs have the most points: Marek and Jagr.

- So what of it? - slyly speaks Jaromir.

- In fact… have you ever played on the same team as Marek?

- I haven’t had the occasion to.

- But have you heard his comment from a recent interview? “Let Jagr be photographed for advertising, I’ll score goals.”

- Wow, he said that? Don’t take that guy seriously. Czechs in general have a very good sense of humor. But if Marek wasn’t joking, he’ll regret it even more. Those who attack me will without fail be made a fool of, - loudly laughs Jagr.

- Magnitogorsk already has already been tested once when in 2005 they lost the quarterfinal to Avangard, and you scored the winning goal in overtime.

- I’ll remind you, that we went down 0-2 in that series. I will always remember that fifth game. All the more so because a number of class players played in it. For example, I scored the goal on Evgeni Nabokov, one of the best goaltenders in the world.

- And finally, a totally frivolous question… in general, why do you have that little beard? No one in Russia wears such a thing.

- Everyone has their talismans. And so my beard is for good luck, - Jaromir raises his eyebrows.

- Did your girlfriend Inna suggest such an idea?

- Are you joking? She hates this little beard. Says to me various bad words…

- Like what?

- That with it I look like a goat, - Jagr is flooded with laughter. - But she should understand the most important thing. I have this beard, and with it I’m as frightening as the devil. So it’s all good. She can’t possibly be jealous. What girl will pay attention to me now?

…When the interview ended, Jaromir went to the door and met his girlfriend Inna Puhajkova. Holding his stomach, Jagr told her that we had just discussed the most pressing topic in their family. And that now all of Russia will talk about the beard of the Avangard forward.

- If you remember, Jaromir grew it already last season, - Inna informs with a smile when Jagr leaves for the cloakroom. - At the time he told me: “The Rangers will play in the play-offs, therefore I must grow something like this.” When I saw this little beard I said “Oh my god!’” And gave him the condition: if it serves you well and you score goals, I’ll let it be. But if you don’t play well, you have to think up something else.

Now, when I arrived in Omsk and again see this creature, I exclaimed: “Jaromir, what is this? The playoffs have not yet begun!”

“But I like it!” he answered. He says it brings good luck. And how can you argue with these men? It’s pointless!

Last week, with the Rangers still riding a season-opening five-game winning streak, Sport Express caught up with Ranger winger Nikolai Zherdev — who’ll face his former teammates for the first time in Columbus tonight — to get his impressions on the start of the season, his new team, and life in New York.

Zherdev: On the Streets of New York, Nobody Recognizes Me
10/17/2008 01:22

The Rangers Russian forward Nikolai Zherdev, acquired in the off-season from Columbus in exchange for Fedor Tyutin, has surprised experts at the start [of the season] no less than the rest of the team. Collecting five points in the first five games and having the best plus-minus rating (+3), Nikolai has silenced numerous critics. The young Russian has shared his impressions on the beginning of the season in an interview with Sport Express.

- Such a fast start after an unconvincing pre-season became a shock for the press, including a number of your own in New York. Was it for you?

- No, why? We have a good team, and I don’t know why the press whipped up the hypothosis that we were not ready. They said the pre-season was bad. But in fact the primary roster never played. The whole time it was two lines of the core and two of spares. Half-teams played! But when the whole team began playing together (since the Victoria Cup Tournament), we’ve won everything.

- The Victoria Cup, similarly, also became a turning point — the third period, to be precise. Did you say something to one another during the second intermission?

- Yes, nothing critical. The whole team just played. The main roster got together and the goal for the game was defined — to give a good start to the season. And, off we went!

- But in the first two periods you played as if it was an ordinary pre-season game.

- No, it was simply hard to play with Magnitogorsk on such a large ice surface. Hockey is different for us here. The Magnitigorsk players had more time to pass, to play in their system, and we had to chase them. Had we played on a small rink, the score would have been different.

- You didn’t play on the old Rangers, but there is an opinion that the new, current team is set apart by the fact that there are no superstars on the team.

- Yes, it’s a harmonious team. I like it here very much. There really are no stars, everyone’s new, the players are young, the team hard-working, close. That, probably, is also the reason for success.

- But it’s not difficult? You, the quiet Russian guy, comes to a city where each player is customarily analyzed and investigated under a microscope.

- I don’t read the newspapers at all. I heard that the press here is very tough. And the fans too, but I for the time being don’t feel that. And in the streets of the city nobody recognizes me. I’m undercover (laughs).

- New York doesn’t affect you in any way?

- It’s fine in New York. Columbus, certainly, was a small city — a little bit boring. But here… I don’t know… There are places to go out and eat. But in general I have already lived in such a city — when I played for CSKA. The traffic is the same at any rate (laughs).

Slava Malamud
Washington

After receiving an update on the status of the investigation into Alexei Cherepanov’s death — the final findings aren’t expected for another two weeks — the KHL Board of Directors announced yesterday that it will move ahead with the following changes and recommendations with the goal of preventing a repeat of the tragedy in the future.

• The Board of Directors authorized the KHL Medical Center to institute a “common electronic medical passport for athletes” which will contain key information on a wide variety of medical issues for each player in the league.





• In November and December of this year the KHL’s Medical Center will perform comprehensive medical examinations on 67 young hockey players currently playing in the league. Teams will have until March 30, 2009 to have the remainder of their players examined at approved medical facilities.





• Effective immediately, two ambulances “equipped according to the established specifications” will be required at every game. Acknowledging that fixing the problems in the on-site and in-ambulance care Cherepanov received requires measures beyond the jurisdiction of the league itself, KHL President Alexander Medvedev has also sent a letter to the Russian Minister of Health and Social Development, demanding he take action to ensure that all ambulances are properly equipped at all times.





• The KHL will formally recommend that all teams have specialists in cardiology, opthalmology and surgery on-site at all games to provide medical assistance to players and spectators in the event of an emergency. Additionally, the league will hold a special training seminar for all team doctors in the near future.





• Through December 30th a special commission of the KHL will perform a complete examination of the infrastructure of all junior teams and schools, including their training facilities, medical treatment and safety procedures. All players eligible for the draft the KHL will institute beginning next year will be required to pass a thorough medical examination.





• In the near future a contract with the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RusADA), which is part of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), will be signed. All KHL players will be thoroughly tested on February 1, 2009.





• The league will expand its practice of having league commissioners perform inspections at games, and give them increased powers, including the ability to cancel games on the spot.

Finally, the KHL has announced that the Director of the Vityaz hockey club and the Director of the arena in Chekhov where Cherepanov collapsed have been disqualified from working within the league in any capacity in the future.

In June of 2006 two 18-year old natives of Yaroslavl, Russia were drafted in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft, just four picks apart. The first, Artem Anisimov, was chosen 54th overall by the New York Rangers. The second, Alexander Vasyunov was taken 58th by their arch rivals, the New Jersey Devils. The pair had come up through the Yaroslavl hockey school and played for the Russian junior team together, often playing on the same line. But while Anisimov decided to start his North American career in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack at the start of the 2007-2008 season, Vasyunov opted to continue his development in his hometown of Yaroslavl.

Now it seems he’s changed his mind.

Disappointed by his lack of playing time — just two games so far this season under Finnish head coach Kari Heikkilä, a coach renowned for favoring veteran players — Vasyunov announced his intentions to leave for North America in an interview with Russian web site Sports Planet on Monday. “I have decided that I need to grow and improve my skills, instead of standing in place,” Vasyunov explained. “In Russia I had little playing time and so I have made the decision to leave for overseas.”

Why does this matter to Rangers fans? Well, it doesn’t really, unless his team, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, refuses to allow him leave and the Devils sign him anyway, further chilling relations between the NHL and KHL. If that happens, the KHL will add him to the list of four disputed players who have signed NHL contracts since the NHL and KHL agreed to stop signing each others players in July. That list already includes the Rangers’ Evgeni Grachev, who was also trained in Yaroslavl.

Of more interest to Ranger fans may be this response by Vasyunov when he was asked if he knew anything about the AHL, where he is likely to begin his North American career with the Lowell Devils. “My friends and acquaintances already play in the AHL,” Vasyunov replied. “For instance, I’m frequently in touch by phone and correspond with Artem Anisimov. He likes the conditions in which he plays and lives; he’s already been waiting for me there for a long time (laughs). Incidentally, we’ll play in the same division and live quite near one another.”

I wonder if Lou will send the Rangers a referral fee for Anisimov’s recommendation?

Vasyunov, like Anisimov, played with Alexei Cherepanov on the Russian junior team. And as it was for most Russian players, Cherepanov’s death was difficult for him. “I still don’t believe that Lesha is no longer here,” Vasyunov shared. “I have taken this tragedy very much to heart. As you know, he was a healthy, strong guy. We played togther a lot on the national team, and in the [Canada-Russia] Super Series, and in fact nothing foretold this misfortune, he never complained about his health, he was always so cheerful and full of life. His death is a huge loss for all of us. I wish very much to express my condolences to Alexei’s family and everyone who knew him. He will forever remain in our hearts.”