49 people dream of conquering America. All Russians at the start of the NHL season
Sergey Emelyanov October 3, 2024, 15:30 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
A complete list of our players who will start the regular season in their clubs’ main squads.
Tomorrow, October 4, the new season of the National Hockey League begins with a game in Prague. The New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabers will play in the opening game of the 2024/2025 NHL regular season. A day later, the two American teams will play another game for Czech fans and next week the regular season will begin for all other NHL clubs. Before the start of the new season, in the form of a table by division, we present a list of Russians who should start the championship in the main squads of their teams.
Eastern Conference. Atlantic Division
The ranks of Russian representatives in the Atlantic Division were somewhat thinned last offseason. Goalkeeper Ilya Samsonov moved from Toronto to Las Vegas, and his former teammate, defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, will play for Dallas in the new NHL season.
During the regular season, young forward Nikita Grebenkin, who won the Gagarin Cup with Metallurg last season, will likely have a chance to debut with the Maple Leafs, but the Russian forward will most likely start the season in the AHL.
Mikhail Sergachev, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with Tampa, was traded to Utah, so Russian representation directly on the Lightning was reduced to two people. At the same time, Vladimir Tarasenko also changed his club affiliation in the summer, but, unlike Samsonov, Lyubushkin and Sergachev, he remained in the same division, replacing Florida with Detroit.
Related materials
The Russian NHL champion moved to the legendary club. What to expect from the union of Tarasenko and Detroit?
The Russian newcomer to the division was defenseman Nikita Zadorov, who returned to the Atlantic after nine years. In 2013, he began his NHL career in a Buffalo uniform. In 2015, Zadorov left for Colorado, after which he played in the North American League with Chicago, Calgary and Vancouver. Now Nikita will try on the Boston sweater.
Eastern Conference. Capital Division
The capital division is traditionally the most Russian in the NHL. He remained so even after Evgeny Kuznetsov left Carolina and returned to Russia, where he became a SKA player. This year, the league’s debutants are Islanders newcomer Maxim Tsyplakov and Philadelphia forward Matvey Michkov. For the rest, all the Russians remained in their places.
Matvey Michkov
Photo: Matt Slocum/AP Photo/TASS
The only thing to keep in mind is that Rangers top star Artemi Panarin could miss the start of the season. The 32-year-old striker has not been able to complete two pre-season games due to an injury, which has generated great concern among the numerous Blav fans on both sides of the pond.
Related materials
“Concern for the Rangers superstar is growing. In America they wonder what Panarin’s injuries mean
Western Conference. Pacific Division
ClubGoalkeepersDefendersForwards“Anaheim” Pavel Mintyukov “Vancouver” “Vegas” Ilya Samsonov Ivan Barbashev, Pavel Dorofeev “Calgary” Daniil Miromanov Andrey Kuzmenko “Los Angeles” Vladislav Gavrikov “San Jose” Klim Kostin “Seattle” “Edmonton” Vasily Podkolzin
At the same time, in the Pacific Division there are many fewer of our compatriots. The most pro-Russian club here was Vegas, whose team goalkeeper Samsonov joined in the summer. Forwards Ivan Barbashev and Pavel Dorofeev, entrenched at the base, have not disappeared anywhere.
Yaroslav Askarov moved to San Jose, but the Sharks’ goaltending duo currently consists of two former Devils: Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek. Yaroslav himself, along with Shakir Mukhamadullin, missed the start of the Sharks’ training camp due to injury.
Related materials
Russian talent was traded to the worst NHL club of the 21st century! But it’s a lot
Forward Vasily Podkolzin traded Vancouver for Edmonton and is now available to the Oilers. He’s not guaranteed a spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup finalist’s starting lineup, but Vasily is expected to start the season on the Oilers’ fourth line, which is why we’re including him in the table.
Western Conference. Central Division
ClubGoalkeepersDefendersForwards“Winnipeg” Vladislav Namestnikov “Dallas” Ilya Lyubushkin Evgeny Dadonov “Colorado” Alexander Georgiev Valery Nichushkin*, Nikolay Kovalenko “Minnesota” Kirill Kaprizov, Yakov Trenin, Marat Khusnutdinov “Nashville” “St Louis” Pavel Buchnevich, Alexey Toropchenko “Chicago” Ilya Mikheev “Utah” Mikhail Sergachev
Valery Nichushkin will miss at least the first month of the championship due to the six-month suspension imposed by the NHL. The Russian striker’s suspension will expire on November 14, after which Colorado will think about what to do with Valery.
Related materials
“Val has let us down in recent years.” Will Colorado not forgive Nichushkin after his ban?
If we talk about the newcomers to the Central Division, Ilya Mikheev became a teammate of Connor Bedard in Chicago, Mikhail Sergachev will represent Russia in Utah, and Ilya Lyubushkin in Dallas. Nikolai Kovalenko will begin his first full season in Colorado, while the other Russians are doing well.
