Alexander Burmistrov: "I am still no one"

Alexander Burmistrov is now skating at the Atlanta Thrashers' training camp. In this sports.ru interview by Vadim Kuznetsov Burmistrov said that it's early to compare him with Kovalchuk, talked about the draft and his future with the team.

RussianProspect.com offers you a translation.

You played almost two minutes in the KHL, during a game against Avangard in the 2008. What do you remember about that game? Could you imagine that such a game could be, for now, your last for Ak Bars Kazan?
Burmistrov: "I remember the atmosphere at the Tatneft Arena. It's impossible to describe it. It was the first game of the season! And that night the team won and thus I only have the best memories. I couldn't imagine that it could be my latest for Ak Bars and I never thought about it."

Many of the 2010 draftees already signed their first pro contract. Did you already discuss this with Atlanta's management? Was it the most important thing to be drafted during the first round?
Burmistrov: "Now I'm trying to get a spot in the main team and consolidate myself. I never thought about signing a contract. My task is showing good hockey, for all the rest there is my agent. Regarding the draft, it was an honor getting drafted in the first round. But not the most important thing. The important is what happens after the draft."

When commenting the draft results, Andrei Nazarov said that Atlanta had to surpass their nostalgy for Ilya Kovalchuk, and thus they drafted you. Aren't you tired about all these comparisons with Kovalchuk?
Burmistrov: "Thanks for such comparison, but it's still early to compare me with Kovalchuk. He did a lot both in the NHL and with Team Russia. I am still no one."

In the Russian press they write about the OHL almost only when there is a fight or a disqualification, like it was with Zack Kassian or your friend Cormier. Is the play so roughly there?
Burmistrov: "OHL is one of the best junior leagues in the world and thus I don't think that fights are the only reasons why they write about it. In that league games are fast, they play hard, but not roughly. Sometimes the emotions go too far, it happens everywhere, in Russia too."

You also said that you like playing tough, which isn't surprising for a guy from Kazan. Did you have the chance to fight?
Burmistrov: "I feel positive about such style of play. If you don't play tough you'll have little chance to get a spot in the NHL. Regarding brawls, I wanted to fight someone, but the coaches stopped me and said that for this there are other players."

Your favourite player Pavel Datsyuk is famous for scoring beautiful goals. Can you remember three goals scored by him?
Burmistrov: "I remember not three, but much more. His whole style of play is a masterpiece."

You said that you want to work on your shot. Also Pavel Datsyuk, for example, was criticized for not attacking the crease enough in the early stages of his career. You didn't have such problems?
Burmistrov: "I try working on any part of the game. On my shot too. And they constantly remind me that I need to shoot more."

A.J McGuire said that 'Burmistrov's skating reminds me of a spider sliding on the water.' How do you like such a comparison? Who taught you to skate?
Burmistrov: "I didn't know that I look like a spider. But I think this is a good compliment. My father taught me to skate. Well, actually we are still working on it."

You spent in America a full season. Why in your opinion in the NHL every year there is a new Crosby, Stamkos, Tavares and so on and in the KHL it doesn't happen? Is the Russian press not hyping young stars or there are no such players?
Burmistrov: "I think that in the NHL they trust youngsters more, they support them more. This gives you confidence. The press sees the results of this process, and the matter is not the hype."

You played with St. Louis Blues' prospect Alex Pietrangelo, who is the leader of the Canadian junior team. What do you think, is he ready for the NHL?
Burmistrov: "Alex is talented and a hard worker. I think that in this season he'll have a leading role for the Blues. He's ready!"

Also another former Ak Bars player signed a contract with Atlanta, Andrei Zubarev. How does he like Atlanta? Did you hear anything about Evgeny Artyukhin? Did you manage to have a look at the city? Did you visit the Coca Cola museum?
Burmistrov: "I can't talk about Artyukhin. Zubarev already settled him down in Atlanta. I help him with English from time to time, we help each other. I like Atlanta, it's a good city. Unfortunately I had no time for museums."

Do you still have a bitter taste in the mouth due to the 2010 WJC? Can you share your impressions about Vladimir Plyuschev's work?
Burmistrov: "Just like everyone else I try to forget about this WJC, but always someone remembers you about it. I worked with Plyuschev for more than one year and I have only the best impressions from him. He gave me a lot. But the results were different."

If you were an editor for The Hockey News, who would you put as top three players in the NHL?
Burmistrov: "Datsyuk, Malkin, Ovechkin. I think that there is no need to talk about them."