Interview with Head Coach of Team Russia

Scotty Bowman "Искусство руководить командой во время матча"

Here's an interesting photo by SovSport of team Russia's coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov reading the book in Russian by Scotty Bowman called "The Art of Coaching the Team During the Game". Has anybody ever heard about this book? I've searched Amazon.com and nothing even came up close.

Zinetula Bilyaletdinov spent the first half of January in North America. The head coach of team Russia was in Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa. He crossed the Canadian border and went to Detroit, New York, Chicago... It is easier to say where he hasn't been, writes Sovietsky Sport journalist Pavel Lysenkov. The route to which Bilayletdinov followed was devised by @KravchukIgor, chief Russian scout in Noth America.

The interview is very long and they discuss virtually every Russian NHLer. It was interesting to read about Flyers' Bryzgalov and Bobrovsky and why Bryz still can't play to his potential. Bilyaletdinov notes that he would change some things in Flyers defensive system, but it's not up to him. Anyhow here are some excerpts related to Washington Capitals Russians. Enjoy.

The head coach of Russian junior team Valery Bragin said to Sovietsku Sport that from his current team only Evgeny Kuznetsov has chances to get to the Olympics in Sochi. Do you agree?
By and large Bragin is right. Yes, Kuznetsov is a pronounced leader. Nail Yakupov? He had moments when he was playing great, especially in the semi-finals against Canadians. His passes are crisp and he is fast. Both goalkeepers, Wasilewski and Makarov, made me happy. They had for 50 shots on goal in the game! it's largely because of to them Russia took the silver. But they're young... I just talked to Bragin, asked about them and he said that it is early. Let's see who will leave overseas next season. We will involve those who will remain with a second national team. This will be good for them. If they show themselves, we can call them to the first national team on Euro Tour. The next stage will be the World Cup. And only then the Olympics. You can't expect everything immediately.

You have seen the Washington Capitals with your own eyes. Does it make sense for Kuznetsov to go there this fall? Or is it better for him to stay in the KHL till the Olympics?
If you want go to the NHL, you need to be ready for it as a player.

Is Kuznetsov ready?
It's hard to say if he is ready 100 per cent. He is a capable forward who is still gaining experience. But if they put Kuznetsov in the Washington's lineup, I think he will be able to cope with it. I'm not sure that Kuznetsov or Vladimir Tarasenko can debut in the NHL like Ovechkin did. Ovechkin got more than 100 points in the first season. Although it's better to avoid such comparisons. Taras, Kuzya and Ovechkin are completely different players.



Alexander Ovechkin in an interview to Sovietsky Sport said, "Bilyaletdinov made the most coaching impact on me. When he came to Dynamo I was like a puppy and he began to coach me to become a master. Thanks to Zinetula Haydyarovich I became who I am now."
It is very nice of him to say that. I never had any problems with him.

How Ovechkin has changed since his days with Dynamo?
A lot is said about him this season... I saw him live at the game vs Montreal. I liked what I saw. Alex scored a power play goal and showed a competent, responsible play. I can see that he can play well in both offense and defense. Ovechkin has progressed in terms of defensive play. He plays for the team.

They say that Alexander plays a primitive hockey. He is a forward of one move.
I do not think so. Each player has a stronger side. Ovechkin is a power forward with a good shot. He can beat you one to one, he creates scoring chances.

So why didn't he score a single point in five games at the 2011 World Cup?
I didn't flew to Bratislava.

But you have seen them on video.
You have to know what happened there. What was the atmosphere in the team, how Ovechkin was used. I can't judge it because I was not there.

Do you see Ovechkin in the most valuable player role? Like what you had in Radulov during the Euro Tour.
You just have to use the player properly based on his best qualities. The national team choses the best players and they must give all for the result. As of the coach, his task is to create the team.

Did you see that hit in the game against Pittsburgh for which Ovechkin got three games suspension?
Yes, I saw it and I was very surprised. I didn't see a hint of a foul play! It is hard to understand why Sasha was punished. Even the referee didn't give him a penalty.

Did you too had a breakfast with Ovechkin?
No, we met after the game. The boys were rushing to the airplane, didn't have much time. We got together with Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Dmitry Orlov.

Compared to the last season Semin got twice as less points.
But he is still the master. He knows how to play with the puck and without it. He can skate around you and score the goal.

Semin was shining when he played with Sergei Fedorov. Is he too dependable?
Every hockey player would like to play with a good partner. Yes, a professional should go out and play with anyone put on his line. But put Semin with Datsyuk or Malkin and his stats will double. It's a simple math, the amount of skill will increase.

And what do you think about Orlov?
He plays a stable and solid game. He's calm and confident. Doesn't do anything in excess. This is his first season in the NHL. But I'm glad that he already shows a stable game.

Is he ready for the World Cup?
And why not?

Source: http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/505408

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