Islanders' Kirill Petrov expects to be OK as he transitions to NHL
Islanders 2008 third-round pick Kirill Petrov moves around 2006 third-round pick Robin Figren during the prospect camp at Nassau Coliseum on July 8, 2010. Credit: Getty Images
Kirill Petrov has been working with the Islanders' prospects the past week in an extended training camp of sorts. He's the oldest player among the 20 or so prospects, but even though he's 25 with eight years of pro experience in the KHL, Petrov likely welcomed the structure of an extra week of camp.
"It will be a difficult first couple weeks, different country, different life, but I think I will be OK," Petrov said through a translator.
He's listed at 232 pounds and 6-foot-3. Perhaps the weight is a bit high for someone coming in to a conditioning-laden camp, but he plays big and presumably can skate well enough to keep up on the larger rinks of the KHL.
Petrov, a 2008 third-round pick, said through his translator that he spent the early part of the summer working in his hometown of Kazan, then traveled to Ottawa for three weeks prior to coming down to Long Island for more work and to help get used to the North American-sized rinks.
He didn't know Nikolay Kulemin or Mikhail Grabovski before coming to the Island, but even during the one day Petrov skated with the veterans last week, those two were helping Petrov along.
"He's a pretty good player, likes to battle in the corners, protect the puck," Kulemin said. "He's doing well in the KHL for a few seasons, a lot of experience there, so hopefully he makes a great transition here, smaller rink. Hope it doesn't take him long to adjust to this game."
