Alexander Khokhlachev: "I moved to America to get drafted high"

Alexander Khokhlachev has been drafted in the 2010 CHL Import Draft by the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. In this interview pubblished at his former team's website he talked about his decision of crossing the pond, about his feelings on this move and even a little bit about Kirill Kabanov, who comes from the same team, Spartak Moscow.

RussianProspect.com offers you a translation.

Alexander Khokhlachev isn't a Spartak Moscow player anymore. Did you clarify this to yourself already?
Well, yes. We decided to make this step, to cross the Ocean. Spartak's staff understood that this was good for me and thus they let me go.

What can you tell us about your new league and team?
Windsor Spitfires play in the OHL and two years ago they won the title. Generally speaking it's a very good team.

You made your first step in hockey with Spartak Moscow. How does it feel to cutgo away your mother club?
Spartak is still my only team. I played all my life for Spartak and for Russian national team. Of course it's hard to go away. This team will be in my heart forever, and I'll be happy to play for Spartak when I'll be back [in Russia].

Do you understand that such a phrase is a risk? Ilya Kovalchuk said the same phrase, but then in the lockout season he didn't come to play to Spartak and it caused a lot of noise among Spartak fans, which still haven't forget him. So do you accept that with such a phrase you have a big responsability now?
I didn't say that I'm going to play for Spartak only, I said that I'll be happy to play for Spartak when I'll be back [in Russia]. I don't know when it will be, maybe in a couple of years, maybe in twenty years. If I and Spartak can agree, I'll be happy. I mean that in Russia I'm going to play for Spartak only and not in other KHL teams, even if they are better. My favorite team will always be Spartak - no matter where I'll play.

The goal of your move to America is clear - to get drafted as high as possible in the next NHL Entry Draft.
Yeah, it's like that. In the league I'm going to play the games are always attended by a number of NHL scouts. If you play well, score and help your team then there will be bigger chances to go high during the selections.

In our eyes there is still the Kirill Kabanov's example. Even if he left Russia at young age, he wasn't picked very high, even if he was once thought to be a contender for the first overall pick. Don't you fear to follow his path?
Everyone has his destiny. I don't want to talk about Kirill Kabanov, I've got my own life.

If you were guaranteed a regular spot with Spartak in the KHL, would you have stayed here or you would have crossed the pond anyway?
That's a tough question. Playing here [in Russia] is good as well, but I've decided to play there [in America].

How good is your English?
For now it's pretty average and of course I will have to study a lot once I move to America. But I guess I won't have problems.

Didn't you attend special lessons?
No, I didn't. But I studied it at school.