Every major championship sees new names appearing in lights – and this year’s Olympic Winter Games is sure to be no exception. In the absence of the NHL, the door is wide open for a host of guys to prove themselves on the international stage. Here’s a quick introduction to a trio of KHL stars worth looking out for in PyeongChang.
Goalie – Magnus Hellberg (Kunlun Red Star, Sweden)
At 26, Hellberg is the oldest of our three picks. But the Swede also has the least international experience of the trio. That’s partly due to spending the past four seasons in North America trying to crack the NHL. That adventure had its ups and downs for the Predators’ draft pick: he managed just four appearances in the big show, and allowed five goals on his debut and six when he returned two years later.
The prospect of life on the bubble encouraged Hellberg to look elsewhere, and he took the bold step of heading to China and joining Mike Keenan at Red Star. Not an easy call, and not an easy season as the Chinese team found life tough in the Eastern Conference. Despite disappointing results, Hellberg was an eye-catching performer: his physical presence (he stands 1.96 and weighs in at 91kg) and smart anticipation helped him to a 92.6% success rate. That earned a call-up for Sweden’s Euro Hockey Tour action, and an impressive shut-out against Canada in the Karjala Cup cemented his claims for an Olympic place.
Hellberg has all the credentials to impress in Korea; his biggest obstacle may be overcoming a strong Swedish goaltending stable that includes former CSKA man Viktor Fasth and Dinamo Minsk’s Jhonas Enroth, the star of Sweden’s 2013 World Championship triumph.
Defense – Artyom Zub (SKA, Olympic Athletes of Russia)
This time last year, Zub had little international experience and had never tasted KHL playoff action. However, his form for Amur Khabarovsk had earned the attention of Oleg Znarok and, after an international call-up for the Euro Tour, the D-man, then 21, got a transfer to SKA. In the space of a few months he had won a Gagarin Cup and a World Championship bronze – a rapid upward jolt in his career. The 22-year-old has continued to make steady progress this term, establishing himself as a reliable part of the second defensive pairing at SKA. He may not be the most stellar or eye-catching contributor – Zub’s offensive production has never been a huge part of his game but he remains a solid obstacle in the path of any forward he faces. Not everyone was thrilled to see Zub’s name in the Olympic roster. A young prospect getting the nod ahead of the likes of Andrei Markov, a distinguished veteran of 16 NHL seasons and several previous Games, raised more than a few eyebrows. For those critical of Znarok’s reliance of players from SKA and CSKA, Zub’s inclusion was further evidence of a head coach reluctant to step outside his club comfort zone. But that misses the point. Throughout Znarok’s coaching career, he has surrounded himself with players chosen not on reputation, but selected to fulfil a specific role that the coach trusts them to carry out. Zub, clearly, is a man who has quickly won the full trust of Znarok … and is poised to repay that faith in PyeongChang this month. 
Forward – Kirill Kaprizov (CSKA, OAR)
When KHL.ru writer Pavel Lysenkov, hit on the headline ‘Kaprizov, who everybody loves’, he wasn’t kidding. This baby-faced assassin of a forward plays with all the infectious enthusiasm of a schoolboy released from the classroom – but his stats prove that he packs a punch. For Salavat Yulaev last season, he posted 42 points in 49 regular season games, and added three more playoff goals. This time, at CSKA, he’s got 40 in 46 at the sharp end of the Tarasov Division winner’s offense. And the winger, comfortable on either flank, is still two months shy of his 21st birthday! A product of the renowned Novokuznetsk school – despite the struggles that led to Metallurg leaving the KHL, the Siberian city has been a reliable supplier of Russian talent down the years – Kaprizov first showed his prowess as a luminous performer in an unsuccessful roster. That earned him World Junior call-ups, and moves to the KHL’s big clubs. Along the way, he was drafted by the Minnesota Wild … but thus far has opted to remain in Russia, honing his skills before looking to crack the NHL. Surprisingly, PyeongChang will be his first major international tournament as an adult. At U20 level, his contribution was strong enough to have head coach Valery Bragin – not a man easily moved to hyperbole – talking up the youngster. “Kaprizov is an even brighter prospect than Vladimir Tarasenko,” Bragin said. “I can see him being second only to Sidney Crosby in the NHL.”
Kaprizov, as captain, proved the most deadly forward of the 2017 Championship, getting 12 (9+3) points in seven games as Russia took bronze. Yet that was not quite enough to earn Kaprizov a chance at last year’s senior World Championship in Cologne; Znarok preferred to keep this weapon under wraps until Korea.
Russia - Team PreviewHow do you follow the fireworks of the Opening Ceremony? For Oleg Znarok’s Russian team, a flurry of goalscoring firepower was the answer.
Admittedly, the team’s 8-1 victory over Korea was not part of the men’s Olympic tournament – that starts on Wednesday when Oleg Znarok’s team faces Slovakia – but it provided a conclusive wrap up for the Red Machine’s Olympic preparations.
Nikita Gusev and Mikhail Grigorenko were the key players: each collected three points as Russia overpowered the host nation on the home ice of one of Korea’s most prominent clubs, Anyang Halla. Gusev opened the scoring in the 16th minute, with Grigorenko adding another 14 seconds later. Korea got one back through Brock Radunske late in the first period, but after that it was all Russia. The middle frame brought two more goals, with Grigorenko assisting on Sergei Andronov’s 3-1 goal before Gusev picked up a helper as Kirill Kaprizov added a fourth on the power play.
The final period saw four unanswered Russian goals – and all four came from SKA players. Sergei Shirokov and Pavel Datsyuk got things moving, then Grigorenko’s second assist of the night saw Yegor Yakovlev make it 7-1. Gusev wrapped up the scoring with his second of the night.
10.02.18. Friendly match. Russia - South Korea. Nikita Gusev.
Writing a new story
The Olympic Athletes from Russia are, of course, not the only KHL representatives in Korea. And, for many of the league’s star imports, these Games are a chance to dream of a new, golden chapter in some varied life stories.
Brian O’Neill, Jokerit’s American forward, is one of those – and he recognizes the same hunger among his team-mates in PyeongChang. “This is a second lease on life for our hockey careers, and I think we're all re-energised by that. Most of us have been in Europe and our careers have been up and down,” he said.
“'We’ve faced some lows and we've faced some highs, but this is definitely the biggest high for a lot of us. I think we're playing loose.
“We were given an opportunity that we never expected, and I think that's an advantage to us because I think it'll take a little bit of pressure off us and we can all enjoy it and relish the opportunity.”
Brian O’Neill
Women ready to go
The first competitive action for Russia’s Olympic hockey players comes on Sunday when the women start their program against Canada. The team is in the mood to build on its breakthrough four years ago in Sochi, when the success of the women’s tournament was instrumental in shifting Russian attitudes towards women’s hockey. Since that time, the KHL has taken over the administration of Russia’s women’s league – which supplies all of head coach Alexei Chistyakov’s roster – and the recent European record-breaking crowds at the World U18 Women’s Championship in Dmitrov highlighted the advances of the women’s game in Russia.
Since Sochi, the increased professionalism in the ‘Zhenskaya Khokkeinaya Liga’ has helped Russia move up the rankings to a point where it can stake a strong claim to being Europe’s strongest nation. And there have even been opportunities for the country’s players in North America: Lyudmila Belyakova, now of Dmitrov-based Tornado, spent a season in the NWHL with the New York Riveters and is set for her Olympic debut this week.
However, there are also absentees – and controversy in some cases. The absence of key players such as Anna Shchukina and Tatyana Burina, who were not given an official invitation by the International Olympic Committee despite a Court of Arbitration for Sport verdict annulling their bans for alleged doping offenses, puts extra pressure on the team. And there was a further blow on Saturday with news that blue liner Anastasia Chistyakova would have to miss the Games after being rushed to hospital with acute appendicitis. Yekaterina Likhacheva takes her place on the roster.
The Best of the Rest
Preview of the teams with a look at the USA, Slovakia, Slovenia and Norway. None of the quartet would regard itself as among the favourites for gold in PyeongChang, but all four boast some highly talented players from the KHL.
United States
Ryan Zapolski (Jokerit); 38 games, 23 wins, 92.2 Sv%, 1.73 GAA, 9 shutouts
Jonathon Blum (HC Sochi); 41 games, 21 (1+20) points, -4
Matt Gilroy (Jokerit); 54 games, 27 (7+20) points, + 17
Brian O'Neill (Jokerit); 42 games, 28 (13+15) points, + 11
Ryan Stoa (Spartak); 51 games, 29 (15+14) points, + 9
The United States cannot, of course, bring its strongest team to the Olympics, which makes the omission of Dan Sexton all the more strange. Sexton is lightning quick, and a leading player at Neftekhimik – one of the leading teams in this year's Championship. One would imagine that his superb stick-handling, as well as his acceleration, would come in very useful at such a tournament. The other high-profile absence is Steve Moses, but this is hardly a surprise after another unfortunate season. If the US does get among the medals, it is likely that Ryan Zapolski will have had a big hand in the success. The goalie has enjoyed a brilliant season in the KHL and is the undisputed number one netminder at the third-placed team in the Western Conference. He is agile, confident (and thereby instills confidence in his team-mates,) consistent and experienced – just what the USA needs at these Games. It will be intriguing to see how they deploy Spartak forward Ryan Stoa. He would be valuable to the Americans in powerplay, but the same could be said of Matt Gilroy and Jonathon Blum. Admittedly, the roles of this trio will differ. The team will rely on their producing their finest form while patrolling the blue line. The other Jokerit man, Brian O'Neill, could well be a formidable leader and the USA's top scorer. We must remember – miracles on ice do happen.
Slovakia Michal Cajkovsky (Avtomobilist); 43 games, 19 (7+12) points, + 9
Patrik Lamper (Slovan); 7 games, 2 (2+0) points, -4
Only two hockey players from the KHL will take part in this Olympics for the Slovaks. Michal Cajkovsky's place was never in doubt. He might not be the best defender at Avtomobilist, but his consistency has earned him a regular place in the team and valuable match practice. Vladimir Krikunov likes to use the D-man in the powerplay unit, and the Slovaks may well do likewise. Patrik Lamper, in contrast, has been waiting in the wings for most of the season, making a mere seven appearances in total. There are many more familiar faces: Marek Daloga, Andrej Kudrna, Ladislav Nagy, Jan Laco, Dominik Granak, Martin Bakos, Ivan Baranka, Tomas Surovy and Juraj Mikus, who all one time or another played in the KHL. The Slovaks have a talented team, but coach Craig Ramsay is facing a mammoth task to get them among the medals.
Ziga Jeglic (Neftekhimik); 41 games 10 (2+8) points, 0 Rok Ticar (Sibir); 36 games, 13 (3+10) points, +2
Robert Sabolic (Torpedo); 50 games, 29 (10+19) points, -8
Slovenia has once again qualified for the Olympics and the biggest names in the roster are from the Kontinental Hockey League. Slovan fans will hope to see Ticar and Jeglic in the same line, as they were when they plied their trade for the Bratislava Boys, while Torpedo fans will hope Sabolic will be rewarded for an impressive season by being the starting center for his country.
Anyone else to follow? Certainly. Former Torpedo, CSKA, Amur and Detroit Red Wings forward Jan Mursak, of course. The 30-year-old winger is now with Frolunda in Sweden, and has had some injury troubles, but seems to have put these behind him.
Ziga Jeglic and Robert Sabolic
Norway
Patrick Thoresen (SKA); 13 games, 11 (4+7) points, + 6
The Norwegians could have gone to South Korea without a single representative of the KHL, but then SKA welcomed back Patrick Thoresen. He has confirmed his status as one of the leading players in Oleg Znarok's team, but he is also recognised as one of the main danger men for his country. This will be the third Olympics for the two-time Gagarin Cup champion, and of course, his country will depend on him a great deal. We should not overlook Jonas Holos, who recently wore the colors of Lokomotiv and is a good offensive defenseman with a useful shot, and forward Mathis Olimb, who was a popular figure in his days at Jokerit.
Patrick Thoresen
Germany, Switzerland and South Korea
The Germans, Swiss and South Koreans head into this tournament with no players from the KHL, although hosts South Korea have goalie Matt Dalton, once of Vityaz and Neftekhimik, and the Swiss team boasts former Anaheim and Calgary goalie Jonas Hiller and veteran forward Andres Ambühl. As for the Germans, their roster includes Felix Schutz, formerly of Admiral, Avangard, Dinamo Riga and Torpedo, The South Koreans are unlikely to make too many waves, but the Germans and Swiss are capable of raising their game and giving a hard time to some of the tournament favorites.
Felix Schutz
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