Kozlov: "I've Made a Firm Decision. I'm Going to Russia."

by tuvanhillbilly on May 26, 2009 11:18 PM EDT in Translations Comment 23 comments

[For the last day or so a lot of rumors and stories have been floating around concerning potential movement of various players to the KHL. To get the straight scoop on Viktor Kozlov, Alexander Shapiro from Sport Express decided to go straight to the source and phoned up Viktor yesterday.]

SE has already reported that several leading KHL teams are currently interested in the services of Washington forward Viktor Kozlov, who has spent 10 years in the NHL and played more than 900 games, garnering over 500 points. The interested teams include Salavat Yulaev, Dynamo and SKA. Kozlov has yet to make a final decision, but which way is he leaning? Yesterday a correspondent from SE phoned Viktor at his house in Florida.

If it isn't a secret: when will you finally decide on your future team?

"I can't give an answer to that question right now. I can only say that I have made a firm decision to return to Russia. But it's still unclear which team I'll end up with. Negotiating is a difficult process. Discussions are ongoing and I think that I'll make a final decision on a team as soon as possible, and then I'll sign a contract."

In the last few days information has come out in Russia that Salavat Yulaev is expressing the greatest interest in you. Moreover, they claim that you've already reportedly come to an agreement with the Ufa team. However, the Salavat management has refrained from making any comments.

"Again, negotiations are still ongoing. When we finally find a common denominator, then everything will become clear. But right now I still haven't signed any agreement with either the Ufa team or any other Russian team."

Could the fact that you might end up in Ufa be connected in any way with the appearance of Vyacheslav Bykov with Salavat? He's the head coach for the National team... this is, of course, a weighty argument....

"Of course I want to be in view of the training staff for the National team, especially before the Olympics in Vancouver, but nonetheless this is not a sole determining factor. If I can play and make the fans happy with my play, and if I end up in a leading role, then I think I'll receive an invitation to the Russian National team."

Is your possible move to Ufa connected to the fact that this city is not too far from your hometown of Togliatti?

"I'm not going to hide the fact that, yes, this is important to me. I have a lot of family and friends in Togliatti. I happily remember the time I spent with Lada during the lockout year. But on the other hand, in addition to Lada I played for Dynamo before heading back across the ocean. So there are a lot of things connecting me to this team."

Why did you suddenly decide to depart for the KHL?

"The main reason might be because the level of hockey in Russia has noticeably increased in the past several years. Unfortunately, being overseas, I was rarely able to watch any KHL regular season games, but you better believe I always kept up with what was going on. The Continental league which was formed a year ago has done a lot, the game conditions in Russia are good, and it's no coincidence that a lot of well-known players have come from overseas, several of which had leading roles in the NHL. This motivated me to return to Russia."

So have you turned the page on the NHL?

"It's difficult to say, so why make any predictions for the future right now? Right now I'm interested in hockey in Russia. I've talked with a lot of guys, and they gave me a quick rundown on how interesting and exciting the KHL play-offs were. Now I hope I can see for myself about that. But of course a lot will depend on the terms that the Russian teams propose to me."

What are they saying about the Continental League in North America?

"They are talking about it quite a bit now overseas. More than anything they talk about its high level."

Are you keeping up with the goings on with your old Lada team?

"Of course. I know that right now the club is having some serious financial problems. But I want to believe that hockey in the city will not die, but on the contrary will soon return to its former level. Togliatti has always survived and I am sure that hockey will also live on. Besides, it's too difficult to imagine the city without Lada."

Right now Petr Vorobiev, who you worked under when you were at Dynamo and Lada, is visiting in America. Have you had a chance to talk with him?

"What do you think? I've seen Petr Ilyich several times, both in Washington and in Florida. It's extraordinarily interesting to talk with him. He always offers suggestions and assistance, and gives the right advice."

Where does Vorobiev advise you to go-Salavat, Dynamo, SKA or some other team?

"Believe it or not, we didn't even touch on the topic of a new team. I didn't ask him about it, and he apparently considered it awkward to talk about. In this regard, Vorobiev is a remarkably scrupulous man."

1 recs | Comment 23 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Bye, Kozzy. We didn’t get much from you but not a lot was really expected. No regrets, no complaints. Have a good few years in KHL and next time stop to say hello to your buddies in DC.

by fnralch on May 27, 2009 12:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Do svidania, Viktor. Or, in Cyrillic,

До свидания!

by CapsFan75 on May 27, 2009 6:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Okay. I wish him well and thank him for his time in a Caps sweater. Take it easy, man.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on May 27, 2009 7:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Excellent work on the night shift tuvan.

by Bald Pollack on May 27, 2009 8:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Big Vik! Noooooooo!

by Love and Osechkin on May 27, 2009 8:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kozlov scored his playoff goal – he has nothing left to prove on this side of the pond. :)

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on May 27, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Did he win a cup with NJ?

by DrinkingPartner on May 27, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Never won a Cup – won one playoff series (first round this year) in a 14-year NHL career.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on May 27, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Should have stayed here one more season to change that too… :)

by stricevics on May 27, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nah. I like Kozlov, don’t get me wrong, but I think he can be replaced out of our system. How they choose to do that is for better heads than mine to figure out, but I suspect it can be done, for cheaper than we’re getting Kozlov. (Who replaces him is a discussion for another post.)

Remember that Pothier’s cap hit pretty much replaces Kozlov’s, give or take a few hundred K.

Don’t have anything against the guy, but so long and thanks for all the fish, Kozzie.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on May 27, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its a bit surprising to me to hear his reasoning as he’s spent so long in the NHL and now has legit chance to finally win the Cup if he stayed in DC one/two more years.
But iI guess if that isn’t what motivates him first and foremost, its probably best not to have him on a driven cup contenting team.

by Stormblue on May 27, 2009 9:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe he knew...

His chances to resign here in DC weren’t that good…might as well go somewhere he is wanted/needed. Liked the guy, and when he was on his game, he was real good!

by radhghlndr on May 27, 2009 10:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And perhaps he was told.

by Love and Osechkin on May 27, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We just got worse in the shootout.

by Scott in Shaw on May 27, 2009 10:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Haha, OH NOES.

We have plenty of younger guys coming up. They will be good in the shoot out.

by zephyr on May 27, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think the NHL intended the superstar players to suck for the most part in the shootout and the grinders to be “shootout specialists.” Add in the steroid comments, and we have another baseball team.

by red army line on May 27, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s just what I was thinking.

http://dclandingstrip.blogspot.com/

by ninefttall on May 27, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m wondering what GMGM thinks about all this. I remember last year he did a lot of waiting to see how things panned out. He got what he wanted (except for Nyls of course). What’s he thinking now? Is he happy becuz now he has all that extra cash for a good player out there?

by RedskinFan4Life on May 27, 2009 5:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I actually think the absence of Kozlov’s cap hit will go towards filling in for the reduced salary cap. The one person said it could drop about 2.5 million.

by red army line on May 27, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um, remember also that Pothier’s going to be a full-year hit on the cap this year,and his hit is comparable to Kozlov’s at 2.5 million. I’m guessing McPhee is waiting to see what the salary cap is going to be before signing anyone at all.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on May 28, 2009 8:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

signing anyone SIGNIFICANT at all, I assume you mean since he did sign Hauswirth a couple days ago…..

by RedskinFan4Life on May 28, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, that :) Thank you.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on May 28, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Any way you look at it, we lose access to that money.

by red army line on May 28, 2009 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Search

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recent FanShots

Awesome Bald Eagle photo collection. Here we come playoffs!

by zephyr about 3 hours ago 3 comments | 2 recs

Southeast Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Washington Japers' Rink	70	47	14	9	103
Atlanta Bird Watchers Anonymous	69	29	29	11	69
Tampa Bay Raw Charge	69	28	29	12	68
Florida Litter Box Cats	68	28	30	10	66
Carolina Canes Country	69	28	33	8	64