UKRAINIAN PRO HOCKEY UPDATE
by Ihor Stelmach
Daneyko goes out a champion
His teammates always assumed they would have to drag Kenny Daneyko away from the game of hockey kicking and screaming, but it turned out the veteran defenseman recognized it was time to call it quits. After 1,283 regular season games and another 175 in the playoffs - both New Jersey Devils franchise records - Daneyko announced his retiremen on July 11.
While General Manager Lou Lamoriello pondered the possibility of retiring the uniform of No. 3, Daneyko accepted a position with the team in community relations. The primary focus of his new position will be to campaign for a new arena to be built in Newark.
"When we got into the Stanley Cup final, something clicked in my head," Daneyko said. "My wife [JonnaLyn] and I had talked about retirement and she said, 'This is going to be it for you.' And I said, 'You're right.' I knew it inside."
"Physically, I feel as healthy as a horse. But I was one of those guys who I knew had to put my heart and soul into it. I knew to go through another year would be tough. To go out on top means the world to me."
Blue Jackets get Nikolai Zherdey Fourth
The Columbus Blue Jackets claim Ukrainian right winger Nikolai Zherdev - whom they picked fourth overall - was actually No. 1 on their list before the entry draft started. Big deal, right? Doesn't every team tell little white lies about its No. 1 draft pick?
To back it up, coach-GM Doug MacLean and amateur scouting director Don Boyd grabbed their master list and opened it for the media. Sure enough, there was Zherdev, above Eric Staal, Nathan Horton, Marc-Andre Fleury and all the rest.
"This is the guy we wanted," MacLean said. "Zherdev has a dynamic upside and when I think about putting he and [last year's No. 1 draft pick] Rick Nash together, it's exciting."
The question is whether young Zherdev can play in Columbus, or if he needs additional seasoning with the Central Army team in the Russian pro league.
Scouting report on Nikolai Zherdev:
Often called the most explosive player in last year's (2003) draft. Has loads of offensive weapons and, when he is on his game, watch out. Reminds many scouts of Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk. He's the type of player people will come out to watch and is a potential game-breaker.
Zherdev turned heads several times at the under-18 championship in Russia with his unbelievable skills.
"He scored a highlight goal. He went end to end against the Finns and just drilled a shot for a goal, after beating four guys," recalled one scout. "He has great speed, lateral moves and hands. He has a really good shot."
Like most offensive phenoms, Zherdev has somewhat of a downside. He tends to hold on to the puck too long and struggles to utilize his linemates.
"He can be childish. He gets mad when he's hit and that worried guys," said another scout.
He was a non-factor at the World Junior Championship in Halifax and scouts found that worrisome as well - worries that certainly did not dissuade the Columbus Blue Jacket organization from investing quite heavily in their first round selectlon.
Shvidki quickly demoted to San Antonio
Denis Shvidki declared he was through with the minor leagues when the Florida Panthers called him up last March. Certainly, the 12th overall selection in the 1999 amateur draft looked as if he was in the NHL to stay with his play the rest of the season.
But once the Panthers moved training camp this fall to San Antonio, home of Florida's American Hockey League affiliate, it was: welcome back, Denis. Your dreams might have been your ticket out, but your lack of competitiveness in training camp was your ticket back.
The right winger, who was benched in his lone pre-season game, was the biggest name in the second round of cuts. He actually had to clear waivers to begin this season in the AHL. The Panthers could have lost him for nothing if a team wanted to take a risk on a $1,127,500 young underachiever.
Ukrainian transactions (June-October):
Boston - Robert Liscak, C, assigned to Providence (AHL).
Buffalo - Rick Mrozik, D, assigned to Rochester (AHL).
Calgary - Jeff Ewasko, RW, released.
Carolina - Joey Tetarenko, RW, signed one-year contract; Damian Surma, LW, assigned to Lowell (AHL); Randy Petruk, GT, assigned to Cincinnati (ECHL); Ryan Bayda, LW, assigned to Lowell and later recalled; Tetarenko assigned to Lowell.
Chicago - Andrei Nikolishin, C, traded to Colorado for a fourth-round draft pick in 2004; Scott Balan, D, assigned to Norfolk (AHL); Anton Babchuk, D, assigned to Norfolk.
Colorado - Jordan Krestanovich, LW, assigned to Hershey (AHL); Johnny Boychuk, D, returned to Moose Jaw (WHL); Steve Konowalchuk, LW, acquired from Washington with a third-round draft choice in 2004 for two players.
Columbus - Nikolai Zherdev, LW, signed three-year contract; Shane Bendera, GT, assigned to Syracuse (AHL); Joe Motzko, LW, assigned to Syracuse; Darryl Sydor, D, acquired in three-way trade with Dallas and Phoenix.
Dallas - David Bararuk, LW, signed three-year contract; Richard Matvichuk, D, signed contract; Bararuk assigned to Utah (AHL).
Detroit - Scott Horvath, RW, and Kevin Spiewak, F, released.
Edmonton - Kyle Brodziak, F, returned to his junior league team; Curtis Sheptak, D, assigned to Toronto (AHL).
Florida - Steve Ludzik, named coach at San Antonio (AHL); Darcy Hordichuk, LW, Denis Shvidki, RW, Ivan Novoseltsev, RW, all signed contracts; Shvidki assigned to San Antonio.
Minnesota - Chris Bala, F, assigned to Houston (AHL).
New Jersey - Ken Daneyko, D, retired; Rob Skrlac, RW, assigned to Albany (AHL).
Ottawa - Glen Metropolit, C, claimed from Washington in waiver draft.
Philadelphia - Rick Kozak, RW, returned to his junior league team; Jeff Woywitka, D, assigned to Philadelphia (AHL).
Phoenix - Gary Shuchuk signed contract as player/assistant coach with Springfield (AHL); Lance Monych, RW, returned to his junior league team.
Pittsburgh - Ed Olczyk named head coach; Drake Berehowsky, D, signed one-year contract; Jonathan Filewich, RW, returned to his junior league team; Ross Lupaschuk, D, assigned to Wilkes-Barre (AHL).
St. Louis - Sergei Varlamov, LW, signed contract; Igor Valeev, RW, signed contract; Cody Rudkowsky, GT, signed contract; Rudkowsky, Valeev and Varlamov all assigned to Worcester (AHL); Daniel Tkaczuk, C, released; Rudkowsky reassigned to Reading (ECHL).
San Jose - Tyler Hanchuk, D, released; Seamus Kotyk, GT, assigned to Cleveland (AHL).
Tampa Bay - Dave Andreychuk, LW, signed one-year contract; Nikita Alexeev, RW, assigned to Hershey (AHL).
Toronto - Rob Palahniuk, LW, signed contract; Wade Belak, D, signed multi-year contract; Alexei Ponikarovsky, RW, signed contract; Palahniuk assigned to St. John's (AHL).
Vancouver - Rene Vydarery, D, and Zenith Komarniski, LW, assigned to Manitoba (AHL).
Washington - Exercised contract option on Peter Bondra, LW; Derek Krestanovich, LW, returned to his junior league team.
(All quotes cited above courtesy of The Hockey News.)
| Team | Player | Position | Birthday | Birthplace | Ht. | Wt. |
| Anaheim | Vitaly Vishnevski | D | 3/18/1980 | Kharkiv, Ukraine | 6-2 | 203 |
| Atlanta | David Kaczowka | LW | 7/5/1981 | Regina, Sask. | 6-3 | 220 |
| Buffalo | Alexei Zhitnik | D | 10/10/1972 | Kyiv, Ukraine | 5-11 | 215 |
| Carolina | Ryan Bayda | LW | 12/9/1980 | Saskatoon, Sask. | 5-11 | 185 |
| Damian Surma | LW | 1/22/1981 | Lincoln Park, Mich. | 5-10 | 200 | |
| Joey Tetarenko | RW | 3/3/1978 | Prince Albert, Sask. | 6-2 | 210 | |
| Chicago | Anton Babchuk | D | 5/6/1984 | Kyiv, Ukraine | 6-4 | 194 |
| Colorado | Johnny Boychuk | D | 1/19/1984 | Edmonton, Alberta | 6-2 | 210 |
| Andrei Nikolishin | C | 3/25/1973 | Russia | 6-0 | 213 | |
| Jordan Krestanovich | LW | 6/14/1981 | Langley, British Columbia | 6-0 | 170 | |
| Columbus | Shane Bendera | GT | 7/13/1982 | St. Albert, Alberta | 5-10 | 170 |
| Darryl Sydor | D | 5/13/1972 | Edmonton, Alberta | 6-1 | 205 | |
| Joe Motzko | LW | 3/14/1980 | Bemidji, Minn. | 6-0 | 190 | |
| Nikolai Zherdev | RW | 11/5/1984 | Kyiv, Ukraine | 6-0 | 176 | |
| Dallas | Richard Matvichuk | D | 2/5/1973 | Edmonton, Alberta | 6-2 | 215 |
| David Bararuk | C | 5/26/1983 | Moose Jaw, Sask. | 6-0 | 175 | |
| Florida | Darcy Hordichuk | LW | 8/10/1980 | Kamsack, Sask. | 6-1 | 215 |
| Ivan Novoseltsev | RW | 1/23/1979 | Russia | 6-1 | 210 | |
| Denis Shvidki | RW | 11/21/1980 | Kharkiv, Ukraine | 6-2 | 215 | |
| Minnesota | Chris Bala | LW | 9/24/1978 | Alexandria,Va. | 6-1 | 180 |
| Nashville | Darren Haydar | RW | 10/22/1979 | Toronto, Ontario | 5-9 | 170 |
| N.Y. Isles | Wade Dubielewicz | GT | 1/30/1979 | Invermere, British Columbia | 5-10 | 185 |
| Ottawa | Curtis Leschyshyn | D | 9/21/1969 | Thompson, Manibota | 6-1 | 210 |
| Philly | Jeff Woywitka | D | 9/1/1983 | Vermillion, Alberta | 6-2 | 200 |
| Todd Fedoruk | LW | 2/13/1979 | Redwater, Alberta | 6-2 | 235 | |
| Pittsburgh | Drake Berehowsky | D | 1/3/1972 | Toronto, Ontario | 6-2 | 220 |
| Ross Lupaschuk | D | 1/19/1981 | Edmonton, Alberta | 6-1 | 210 | |
| St . Louis | Cody Rudkowsky | GT | 7/21/1978 | Willingdon, Alberta | 6-1 | 215 |
| Daniel Tkaczuk | C | 6/10/1979 | Toronto, Ontario | 6-1 | 200 | |
| Keith Tkachuk | LW | 3/28/1972 | Melrose, Mass. | 6-2 | 230 | |
| Sergei Varlamov | LW | 7/21/1978 | Kyiv, Ukraine | 5-11 | 203 | |
| Tampa Bay | Brad Lukowich | D | 8/12/1976 | Cranbrook, British Columbia | 6-1 | 205 |
| Dave Andreychuk | LW | 9/29/1963 | Hamilton, Ontario | 6-4 | 220 | |
| Nikita Alexeev | RW | 12/27/1981 | Murmansk, Russia | 6-5 | 225 | |
| Ruslan Fedotenko | RW | 1/18/1979 | Kyiv, Ukraine | 6-2 | 195 | |
| Toronto | Wade Belak | D | 7/3/1976 | Saskatoon, Sask. | 6-5 | 225 |
| Matt Stajan | C | 12/19/1983 | Mississauga, Ontario | 6-1 | 178 | |
| Alexei Ponikarovsky | LW | 4/9/1980 | Kyiv, Ukraine | 6-4 | 220 | |
| Vancouver | Zenith Komarniski | LW | 8/13/1978 | Vegreville, Alberta | 6-0 | 200 |
| Rene Vydareny | D | 5/6/1981 | Bratislava, Czech Republic | 6-1 | 198 | |
| Washington | Steve Konowalchuk | LW | 11/11/1972 | Salt Lake, Utah | 6-2 | 205 |
| Peter Bondra | RW | 12/7/1968 | Lutsk, Ukraine | 6-1 | 202 | |
| Anton But | LW | 7/3/1980 | Kharkiv, Ukraine | 6-1 | 190 | |
| Steve Halko | D | 3/8/1974 | Etobicoke, Ontario | 6-1 | 200 | |
| Tony Hrkac | C | 7/7/1966 | Thunder Bay, Ontario | 5-11 | 190 | |
| Konstantin Kalmikov | LW | 6/14/1978 | Kharkiv, Ukraine | 6-4 | 215 | |
| Dieter Kochan | GT | 11/5/1974 | Saskatoon, Sask. | 6-1 | 180 | |
| Greg Kuznik | D | 6/12/1978 | Prince George, British Columbia | 6-0 | 185 | |
| Brett Lysak | C | 12/30/1980 | Edmonton, Alberta | 6-0 | 190 | |
| Glen Metropolit | C | 6/25/1974 | Toronto, Ontario | 5-10 | 195 | |
| Rick Mrozik | D | 1/2/1975 | Duluth, Minn. | 6-2 | 185 | |
| Gregg Naumenko | GT | 3/30/1977 | Chicago, Ill. | 6-1 | 200 | |
| Randy Petruk | GT | 4/23/1978 | Cranbrook, British Columbia | 5-9 | 175 | |
| Peter Ratchuk | D | 9/10/1977 | Buffalo, N.Y. | 6-1 | 185 | |
| Dmitri Tolkunov | D | 5/5/1979 | Kyiv, Ukraine | 6-2 | 200 | |
| Oleg Tverdovsky | D | 5/18/1976 | Donetsk, Ukraine | 6-1 | 205 |
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 4, 2004, No. 1, Vol. LXXII
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