December 1, 2000

Nick Antropov's twin: Alexei Mikhnov

Once there was an opinion in one of the Russian sporting editions that without the interference of Toronto's officials in the matters of its best former Soviet top prospects Nickolay Antropov, Dynamo Moscow could have spoiled the player. That time, the native of Kazakhstan was sent by the representatives of the Maple Leafs to Dynamo in hope that he will play with the team and be ready for the NHL level in a year. As it turned out later, the head coach of the team, Zinatula Bilaletdinov, had not much confidence in him and Antropov hardly earned some ice time on the fourth line. Moreover, the head coach demanded of him to play on the wing instead of center. On hearing the facts, Toronto's owners were ready to unleash great scandal. Later, Dynamo officials managed to put a stop to it. This year Dynamo Moscow got Edmonton's Alexei Mikhnov, the League's 17th overall selection. Mikhnov has been compared with current NHLer Nick Antropov.

Alexei is a native of Ukrain but a Russian passport holder. He is big, strong and fast. He has great moves and acceleration. Has nose for goals in-close, switches from offence to defense with ease and he is not afraid of physical play.

Many Russian hockey fans heard lot of things about his great potential and expected to see the player onto the Moscow ice after a year with Lokomotiv Yaroslal but by some unknown reasons he was not dressed for the couple of openers of the season. As it turned out later the officials of Dynamo made a couple of silly mistakes in claiming him for the season and his transfer papers from Yaroslavl turned out to be wrong filled. It was too late to make a new claim. So he was benched the first half of the year. Do you realize what it means for a 18 years of age prospect?

Game experience is a very important thing for a young player. Fortunately enough everything ended up good for Alexei Mikhnov and Dynamo Moscow he plays for the affiliate of the club THC TVER. He hopes to be back soon and prove that he is a player in a million in the world hockey.

On the question why he left Yaroslavl he said, "The main reason was a conflict between me and the head coach Peter Vorobyev. You see I started my career in a well-known former Soviet club Kiev Sokol which is now a Ukrainian club. I was only six years when my mother sent me to play hockey under my first coach Vadim Sibirko. It was he who made of me a real hockey player. Only then, at the age of fourteen, I went to Yaroslavl with some other guys. At first I played with the boys of my age. Later I was sent to play with the second team of Yaroslavl. Then the time came to join the senior team of Yaroslavl and here I couldn't come to an understanding with the head coach."

On the question how long is he going to play with Dynamo Moscow/THC Tver he responded, "I have one year contract with Dynamo. I was not against signing a long-term contract but that's how the things came out. If I be good this season I'll stay in the team with a great pleasure."

Alexei also agreed to comment the events of recent NHL Draft in Calgary, "There was lot of prominent people but felt nothing special about it. What happened with me there was not a great surprise. A had a talk with the representatives of the club before the draft and the hinted on choosing me. Thought everything could turn out to be the other way. When Chicago used their two picks a row, 10th choice Mikhail Yakubov and 11th Pavel Vorobyev, I realized that I would be with Edmonton Oilers."

On the question if it was pleasant for him to become top choice he said, "When everything happened I realized that I achieved something considerable in my hockey life. I remember that there were lots of cases when people were a top choices but couldn't make their way to the NHL. So I think it's a great responsibility to become top choice."

On hearing the question which NHL team he supports Alexei has replied without thinking,  "It's Montreal Canadiens. It has been in 1993 when I watched for the first time the final of Stanley Cup. The game between Montreal and Los Angeles. Though it doesn't mean that I want to play with the Habs rather vice versa."

Commenting his merits and shortcomings as a player he said, "I'm towering player and it causes some problems with good starting speed onto the ice. That's the main thing. I also work at the other aspects of the play. I upgrade my physical play, improve my shot and assisting. I try to develop in everything because I'm only eighteen years of age."

On the question about the time of his departure for the North America he said, "I'm not going to be in a hurry with the things like that. I want to mature and become good player here. Maybe only in two years I will think about it."

There is a terrible feeling that this guy wouldn't be promoted from the affiliate of Dynamo Moscow which unfortunately pretends soon to become itself the part of Higher League (the second Russian league). If the things will develop this way than North American audience can enjoy the play of this talented player sooner than he himself expects. So the words of North American observers and comments of Alexei Mikhnov himself at the recent NHL Draft may become prophetic ones.

Edmonton's Alexei Mikhnov, the League's 17th overall selection, will also have to get used to living and playing away from home.

"The toughest part is adjusting to a different lifestyle because it's a different lifestyle from where I come from. But other than that, if I manage to adjust to that, I think as soon as I take the ice, it will be easy to adjust."