|
Svechnikov excited to don Red Wings jersey |
|
|
|
|
|
You can’t blame Evgeny Svechnikov for being a tad bit excited.
The first pick of the Detroit Red Wings in last week’s NHL entry draft, he’s in Traverse City with the rest of Detroit’s top prospects at the club’s annual development camp and he couldn’t be happier.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Svechnikov said. “That’s my dream coming true. I’m so happy to be with the Detroit Red Wings.
“Now I work for my second dream, playing in the NHL.”
It’s been somewhat of a 180-degree turn for Svechnikov to don red and white, since he didn’t exactly worship at the Detroit altar as a youngster growing up in Russia.
“Not really,” Svechnikov admitted. “I liked Pavel Bure.”
On the other hand, Svechnikov always envisioned taking the path to the NHL and now that the route to get there is going through Detroit, he’s delighted to don the winged wheel.
“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Svechnikov said. “I’m looking forward to being with the team in the NHL.
“It’s a great chance right now and I really appreciate this time.”
In all likelihood, he’ll be spending the 2015-16 back in junior hockey with Cape Breton of the QMJHL, where the 6-1, 199-pound right-winger produced 32-46-78 numbers in 55 games as a rookie last season.
“First of all I want to make my dream of playing in the NHL,” Svechnikov said. “I came here last year and played in Cape Breton one year.
“It was a great decision for me and my family. It was a pretty easy decision. I kind of want to fulfill my dreams.”
The Wings are already envisioning a forward line down the road with 2014 first-round pick Dylan Larkin at center, 2015 top pick Svechnikov on the right side and 2013 second rounder Tyler Bertuzzi on left wing.
“That’s just people saying, but everybody have a chance in their life and I have a chance, a big chance for me,” Svechnikov said. “I want to be there and hope I can soon, but I don’t know what can be tomorrow, so I will just keep going and moving forward myself and we’ll see what I can do.”
Svechnikov, 18, has no problem assessing what he brings to the table.
“I think I’m power forward with the good skills and good hockey sense,” Svechnikov said. “Good shot. I like to play physical game.
“I think yeah, that’s all.”
He’s also not shy about admitting there’s still work to be done before he’s a polished product.
“Just I think my skating has to improve,” Svechnikov said. “Be more balanced, be more stronger on my legs. I think that’s first of all. And obviously, be physical, be stronger as a hockey player.”
Before leaving for Traverse City, Svechnikov and some of the other prospects attended a Detroit Tigers game at Comerica Park. For the young Russian, it was the first time he’d seen a baseball game in person and he was impressed, though he’s still a little behind in terms of grasping diamond terminology.
“Yeah, it was my first time,” Svechnikov said. “It was very cool.
“It’s just awesome how they shoot and intercept.”
Ferraro Signs; Nyquist Files
The Wings got another one of their restricted free agents under contract Sunday when forward Landon Ferraro agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way deal with the team.
Ferraro, who played three regular-season and all seven playoff games with the Wings last season, would earn $600,000 if he plays in the NHL and $175,000 if he played in the minor leagues.
That leaves three players still without contracts – forwards Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Jurco and Teemu Pulkkinen. Detroit right-winger Nyquist was among 23 NHL players who filed for arbitration Sunday. By filing for arbitration, Nyquist is no longer eligible to sign an offer sheet from another NHL team.
Arbitration hearings will be conducted July 20-Aug. 4, but it’s rare that the Wings and their RFA’s end up in a hearing. Both Brendan Smith (2013) and Kyle Quincey (2012) reached agreements with the team prior to their arbitration hearing.
The last time the Wings ended in an arbitration hearing was in 2009 with center Jiri Hudler, but it was a convoluted situation, since Hudler had already signed a contract with Dynamo Moscow of the KHL. Hudler played the 2009-10 season in Russia and then returned to Detroit for the 2010-11 campaign.
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»