- Sergey, did you watch the matches of the Russian national team against Sweden?
- I saw only the first game. It is difficult to draw any conclusions, especially if you look for five minutes. And the composition of our team is constantly changing. We need to see how those who get into the final application play.
“Have you heard what happened to Alexander Semin?”
- Yes.
- Your opinion on this?
- I do not know all the details, only in general terms. To draw any conclusions, you need to talk with Alexander himself. And so I can not say anything.
- Is it not strange that a person flies from overseas to a tournament, but is he immediately disconnected?
“Strange, of course.” But only the coach knows the true reasons.
- Seven players from the NHL is enough for our team?
- This is also a question for the coach. But in modern hockey, matches do not win one five or one person. We must be all together.
- Bykov has a motto that all players in a team are the same.
- It is right.
- Doesn’t it frighten such a severe discipline?
- No, it doesn’t scare. Without discipline, nothing is won now.
- Not surprised that Crosby refused to participate in the World Cup?
- In the NHL during the playoffs, everyone plays with injuries. He had certain procedures before the match. But in general, we did not talk with him on this topic. He immediately said that he would not go to the tournament.
- A big loss for the national team of Canada?
- Players of this level are a big loss for any team.
- You flew to Russia with a delay, why?
- Caught in a traffic jam at the New York airport, sat on the plane for an hour and a half and could not fly out.
- Yeah, if you are late for Novogorsk, then you can be expelled.
- We are now going from the airport to the base right away. At five o’clock already training.
- Not too tough?
- On the contrary, for acclimatization the very thing. Let's be quick to rebuild.
- Do you have insurance?
- Not yet. This is the first thing we learned when we flew here. Now our agents are doing this.
- You will not play with Austria?
- I don’t know how the coach will decide. Yes, and insurance must be issued.
- Have you seen the squad?
“I haven’t seen it, but I know that there are familiar names there.” Lesha Kaygorodov, Vitaly Atyushov. I played with them in Magnitogorsk. I know, of course, Alexander Kharitonov. But there are many candidates in the team so far, about forty people.
- What about goalkeepers?
- I do not know them. Varlamov and Koshechkin are younger, I am not familiar with them.
- The absence of Alexei Kovalev - a big loss?
“Of course, he's our captain.” He is a team player. The coach, of course, knows better. But such a hockey player will help any team.
Alexey Shevchenko