Kirill Petrov

WJC Update - January 3, 2009

Kirill Petrov (New York Islanders): just like Kugryshev, he isn’t producing. But here we should say that he comes from a heavy injury that left him out of ice for more than two months so he’s playing without game practice. It’s unlikely that he will be a factor in the remainder of the tournament.
islesinfo.com's January 5th update: Petrov received very little ice time throughout the tournament possibly due to his early season injury. He was the only Russian forward not to record a point in the tournament. He did however record an assist in a pre-tournament exhibition game, a 5-1 loss to Team USA. 

WJC Update - December 25, 2008

Kirill Petrov has been named to the Russian U20 National Team for the WJC's in Ottawa.

KHL Update
September 20, 2008

Ak Bars will be without Kirill Petrov (New York Islanders) as the perspective forward is reported out with a two and half – three months injury, could even miss the WJC.

Update - September 1, 2008

U20 Four Nations Tournament -  In the Brno 4 nations tournament, Kirill Petrov (New York Islanders) showcased his skills as his hat-trick helped Russian under 20 team to beat Finland 4-3 after a very tight game. Russian fourth goal was recorded to Pavel Chernov , but coaching staff think that the marker was scored by Aleksei Potapov.

Kirill Petrov (New York Islanders): I will think about NHL in a year
russianprospects.com, August 21, 2008

Ak Bars Kazan and Russian U20 National Team player Kirill Petrov (New York Islanders) discussed his relationship to his Russian club, explained why he did not yet leave for the NHL and also talked about why he got into a fight with the enforcers from HC Vityaz.

Kirill, not long before the U20 national team's training camp in Novogorsk, you played for HC Ak Bars against HC Vityaz and in the first period already got into a fight with Veroux. Some confidence was definitely needed to cross paths with this Canadian.
K. Petrov: To be honest, I did not expect things to turn out this way. The fight happened on the first shift, on the 50th second. I did not start it. We were defending the goalie, and Veroux attacked us. I didn't get a chance to get scared. In any case, there wasn't really a fight. We just shoved each other for a little while. Anyways, you don't usually experience fear in situations like this. Do you remember our fight against HC Traktor?

Of course!
Back then it was us, the young ones, who were the first ones to jump from the bench to join in the fray.

You still have four games to play against HC Vityaz in the regular season. And these are going to be difficult games. Chris Simon alone is worth a lot!
K. Petrov: I read his interview back when he first arrived in Russia. He said that he would not fight, but we will see of course. Anyways, I am not afraid of him.

You are one of the few [Russian – translator] hockey players who were drafted this year, but chose not to head over to North America. Why?
K. Petrov: The thing is that I still have an active contract with HC Ak Bars. I won't hide the fact that I did have an opportunity to leave, but I decided to spend another season at home, play in Russia and be with my relatives and close friends. But next summer I will definitely think about it.

Do you want to play in the NHL?
K. Petrov: Yes, but I do believe that one needs to go there as an established hockey player. I believe another year in Russia will benefit me.

Is it true that your unwillingness to go right away impacted your drafting position, which ended up being very low?
K. Petrov: Probably. But it is not really my business. Let the scouts figure out who to draft under what number. But it was unpleasant that I was selected as far down as 73rd. I was hoping to at least make it into the first 30. But in the big picture none of this is really that important.

The one who is selected 73rd has a smaller chance of making the NHL club than a player selected in the first 20.
K. Petrov: If I go there, I will try my best with all my strength. Even if they offer me a not so great contract, with time I will make it all up. The most important thing is to work hard.

Did you think about leaving Ak Bars?
K. Petrov: No, I enjoy a great working environment with this club. I don't really want to play for any other Super League club except Ak Bars. Of course anything can happen, but if I get the opportunity, I'd remain in Kazan.

Do you ever get the feeling that the Kazan club is not evolving? There is no visible collapse, but there is nothing good to be said about cruising on the same level.
K. Petrov: I don't believe that you are correct. We have a very good team with very professional coaches. We don't stand in one place. Simply sometimes we don't achieve the result we want. Some declines are unavoidable and that is what happened to us last season. But I am very calm prior to the upcoming season. We got some great new guys.

But some good guys also left the club.
K. Petrov: We did experience some significant losses, but our new players are not any worse.

How do you regard everything that is happening around Sergei Zinovjev (Boston Bruins)? Probably it does have some impact on the team?
K. Petrov: Everything that is being said does not really correspond with actuality. Sergei is a very good person and we do not have any conflicts. In any case, I don't remember there being any scandals in front of the entire team. It is possible that there are problems outside the locker room, but they do not translate in any way on the team.

Everyone it seems is talking about their great relationship with Zinovjev, but the conversations regarding the conflict between him and the team continue. It is a bit strange.
K. Petrov: I don't know where these rumors start from. Last year someone wrote that Zinovjev threw something at me. Do you remember?

Yes, it happened at the Magnitogorsk tournament. And he threw, I think, sunflower seed shells.
K. Petrov: Nothing like that ever took place. Sergei himself then went around trying to find out who wrote that. I have a good relationship with Zinovjev. I can ask him something and he supports me.

For a young hockey player it is very useful to play with people like Alexei Morozov (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Danis Zaripov. Do they help you during practices?
K. Petrov: I often confer with Alexei and it is definitely hugely helpful.

In Avangard Jaromir Jagr (New York Rangers) makes Alexei Cherepanov (New York Rangers) practice more. Is it the same situation with you?
K. Petrov: No, we don't have that. But we practice hard without that. We only rest when we sleep. I don't think that young players need words of advice that much. We simply see that Oleg Petrov, who is 38 years old, arrives before everyone else and leaves after everyone else. Now that is an example to follow.

Were you disappointed when you did not make last year's U20 World Championships?
K. Petrov: A little bit. But the coaches were making these decisions and they must have decided that I was not in good shape.

Is your main goal now the World Championships?
K. Petrov: Yes, I want to play in every tournament, but also to play well for Ak Bars. The U20 World Championships are definitely important, since there elite players will participate there.

Why do we keep losing to Canada?
K. Petrov: Why do you think so many 1990 born players left for North America? Here they don't get an opportunity to play and there they get a lot of practice. A talented player will get a chance right away over there.

Would a formation of a junior league in Russia solve some of these problems?
K. Petrov: Of course. I did go through this myself. I was with the main club, but did not play. At the same time I wasn't allowed to leave for the farm club, practicing with the main squad, but not dressing for the games. If there was a junior league, I would have probably been allowed to play there. As a result I lost a season and then had to spend additional time for conditioning to get back into shape.

Interview By Alexei Shevchenko -Sport Today (Translated By Eugene Belashchenko)

 

	Isles Select LW Kirill Petrov 73rd Overall
	June 20, 2008:  LW Kirill Petrov Born: April 3, 1990, Kazan, RUS 2007-08: Kazan (RUS) Shoots: Left CSS:  2nd overall among Euro's

THN: Ranking 100th

Talent Analysis: Kirill Petrov is a talented young prospect who has size, speed and skill. Standing at 6'3" and almost 200 pounds, the young forward is hard to knock off the puck and can deliver an impressive physical presence, if properly motivated. Still, he needs to better utilize his size and play better physically, as he is still not fully aware of his size and the ability that comes with it. In regards to his speed, Petrov is a very strong skater with impressive quickness. He is also a capable puck handler and when combining all three elements of size, speed and skill, Petrov is capable of making the most with very little room. Beyond his soft touch, Petrov also sees the ice well, but does need to further step up his game to make quick and reliable decisions, since at times he tends to make errant passes under pressure. Even his errant passes tend to generate from some good ideas, but they are dangerous for his team and can at times make costly turnovers. Another significant development area for Petrov is his defensive play, as he tends to float and wait for a breakout instead of falling back and using his physicality to help out his teammates. Overall, Petrov is an impressive and tempting package of physical presence, skating ability and soft hands, but who needs to further improve his defensive play and his decision making.

Petrov desires career in NHL 
Mike G. Morreale , NHL.com (June 17, 2008)

If it weren't for his obligations with Kazan in the Russian Super League, Russian forward Kirill Petrov might have challenged fellow countryman Nikita Filatov to be the first European skater off the board when the 2008 NHL Entry Draft is staged June 20-21 in Ottawa.

That is unlikely now, though, since Petrov, a strapping 6-foot-2½, 221-pound power forward rated second among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting, still has three years remaining on his Russian contract.

There's still a chance an NHL team could take an early round flyer on Petrov, like the New York Rangers did last season with Alexei Cherepanov. Cherepanov, considered the best European skater on the board and one of the more talented players available, slipped to No. 17 overall due to his still being under contract with Avangard Omsk of the Russian Super League.

Cherepanov, who had more points than Evgeni Malkin, Alex Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk did in their first seasons in the RSL, has two years remaining on his contract with Omsk, but has notified the club of his desire to play in the NHL.

Petrov had a similar message for NHL teams during his recent trip to Toronto for the Scouting Combine, expressing his desire to play in the NHL sooner rather than later.

"The experience at the Combine made me understand things a lot better," Petrov said through an interpreter. "I really want to play in the NHL and only in the NHL."

Petrov's agent, Alexander Tyjnych of Ottawa, is prepared to do whatever it takes to make his client's wishes come true.

"Some of the young kids don't understand how the draft works and that it's hard to make it to the NHL," Tyjnych told NHL.com. "Basically, NHL teams want these players in North America to keep close watch on their progress. Really, though, if they allowed these kids to play and develop in Russia, as they do with any player in North America, it would probably be more beneficial for both parties."

Tyjnych also feels that there's too much emphasis placed on getting acclimated with North American culture.

"These are all young kids," Tyjnych said. "When you look at it, it's no different in Canada or the United States than it is in Russia. The guys listen to the same music, go out to the movies and like the same foods. The world has become closer and guys travel all over together in the summer. No matter what country you're from, most of the prospects at the draft have seen or heard of each other."

Petrov starred at the 2008 Under-18 World Championships, recording five goals and seven points in six games for Russia and making the tournament All-Star team. He also participated in the 2007 Under-18 World Championships, registering three assists in seven games.

"I was impressed with Kirill's excellent skating and mobility as well as his work ethic playing on Russia's (Under-18) top line," said Goran Stubb, the NHL's Director of European Scouting. "He displays toughness in one-on-one situations and delivers smart passes to create plenty of scoring chances. He's also physically strong and was successful one-on-one along the boards and in the corners."

In 47 games with Kazan this past season, Petrov, who can play either wing, had four goals, six assists and 54 penalty minutes.

"I feel I have an excellent shot and am good one-on-one," Petrov said. "I am comfortable in traffic and my handling of the puck is excellent. I'm good at making the difficult play look easy. I have high expectations to be drafted early and I'll be disappointed if it doesn't work out because I have given everything to this sport and want an opportunity to play with the best players."

Petrov cycles well, is tough to knock off the puck and requires minimal room to maneuver in the offensive zone. One of the few knocks on him is his tendency to skate east-west when he should be headed north-south.

Filatov, Central Scouting's No. 1-rated European skater, is familiar with Petrov and has always enjoyed his company on and off the ice.

"I think he's a good player, very strong and fast," Filatov said. "I was actually on a line with him for a couple of years and we had a lot of fun. Our line was always the top line and I was able to score a lot of goals having him as a linemate."

Stubb noted there is a distinct difference between Petrov's and Filatov's style. 

"Filatov is more of a finesse player with leadership qualities and Petrov is a power forward," Stubb said. "Their styles do differ a lot and, really, it all depends what your team needs are."