Alexander Avtsin: "I'm ready to play in the AHL"

In July the Montreal Canadiens inked hot prospect Alexander Avtsin to an entry level NHL contract. He is now skating with the Habs in the team's training camp prior the start of the season. In this interview with Gennady Boguslavsky published by SovSport he stated that he's ready to spend the 2010-11 season in the AHL.

RussianProspect.com offers you a translation:

Avtsin: "I've started the 2009-10 season playing in the MHL, the Russian junior league", said Avtsin. "Then they started getting me involved in the games with Dynamo's senior team. By mid season I already had good ice time."

You scored nine points (3+6) in 30 games, with an average ice time of 7.21 minutes a night. Not bad for a 18-years-old! How did the Habs offer you a contract?

Avtsin: "I started talking with them at the end of the latest season. I had to understand where to continue my career. I wanted to go. I thank Dynamo, because they listened to me and gave me the chance to prove myself in the North America."

Did they try to talk you out of it?

Avtsin: "Dynamo put no pressure on me. They told me: 'It's up to you. If you feel ready for the NHL, no problem. If you don't, stay with us'."

And what did the Habs do?

Avstin: "The Canadiens showed interest, they talked a lot with my agent Mike Lewitt. They discussed all the details and as a result we signed a contract."

You signed a three-year, two-way deal worth $1.82 million, but this money are guaranteed only if you play for the pro team. And usually youngsters start from the farm team...

Avtsin: "I know that even the most promising Habs players started their NHL career playing for the farm team. If the coaches say that I'm not ready yet, no problem - I'll play in the AHL. I'll learn the North American game."

Defenseman Pavel Valentenko in 2007 was signed by the Canadiens, but then he was assigned to Hamilton. In the second season he gave up and get back to Russia, playing for Dynamo Moscow. There he showed nothing and now he's on a try-out with the Rangers. Don't you fear to muddle through the same in your career?

Avtsin: "This was Pavel's decision. I know him, he's a good guy. But there are many other examples. Tomas Plekanec spent three or four season in Hamilton and now he's one of the leaders of the team. Also Mike Cammalleri played until he was 23 for farm teams, then they gave him a chance. Everyone has his time, and who's ready to wait will get his way."

How do you imagine AHL?

Avtsin: "Many fights for the puck. And a faster game than in the KHL, due to the small rinks. This means that you need to shot more. In Russia you get in the zone and you can still go for three meters before creating a danger. In North America you can shot directly from the blue line. You can score yourself or your partner can score on the rebound."

There was a big workload in the training camp?

Avtsin: "Rather big. But the coaches understand that not everyone is in perfect shape. For example now we work a lot on technique. It's better not to hurry in doing exercises, but doing everything correctly so to not get an injury."