Follow me on Twitter: @JTQ_1
Join the conversation on Facebook! Like the Hockeybuzz – Blues Page
-
Most St. Louis Blues fans likely don’t know the team holds the rights to a Russian prospect not named Vladimir Tarasenko or Evgeny Grachev. They do and his name is Sergei Andronov. The Penza, Russia native was selected 78th overall (3rd Round) in the 2009 draft and has spent the few years and change with CSKA Moscow of the KHL. According to that teams’ GM, Sergei Fedorov (a name known very well to blue bleeders), the winger’s time with the high profile club has come to an end.
From a post on CSKA’s Website (and run through Google Translator):
CSKA striker Sergei Andronov has decided to pursue a career in North America.
- First of all, we would like to congratulate Sergei Andronov's birthday - said the general manager of the Personnel and Sport HC CSKA Sergei Fedorov. - He played for our club over the past two and a half seasons. Now Sergey has decided to try his hand in North America. We wish him every success in this endeavor, because the performances of the ocean are an invaluable experience for any hockey player. If Sergei wants to return to Russia HC CSKA Moscow will be happy to see him in their ranks.
Obviously the announcement doesn’t directly state he’s coming to the Blues, but seeing as Andronov is part of the organization and St. Louis is located in North America… such a conclusion is not a stretch.
The 23 year old is listed at 6-foot-2 and 189 lbs. In his KHL career Andronov has split time between CSKA and Lada Togliatti, appearing in 152 games and registering 44 points (24 goals, 20 assists). He has 14 international appearances for Russia in World Junior Championship competition. An equal split between the U-18 tourney in 2007, in which the Russian took home the Gold, and in 2009 at the U-20 level where he chipped in 3 goals and 8 points for the Bronze Medal squad.
So, what type of player is Andronov? Llet’s turn to the prospect sites and other sources for some help.
Elite Prospects says (run through Google translator) he is, “A forward with good speed, technology and talented in the game without the puck. Can play all forward positions. Not a good finisher.”
Hockey’s Future rates him a 7.0 D, think along the lines of a
top 9 winger with a relatively low chance of reaching that mark in the NHL, and says, “His speed, technique and game without the puck makes him a prospect worth of attention, and the kind of experience he gained in the last two seasons make him a readier prospect under certain aspects.”
RussianProspects.com paints the picture of a speedy, skilled winger who doesn’t work well in the dirty areas.
A talented winger...very good technique and smooth hands...excellent skating, doesn't lack mobility and balance...thanks to his excellent skating he's a fast player with very good acceleration...likes to play the puck and skate throughout the offensive zone...very good nose for the net, dangerous without the puck with a good positioning...not a physical player, he tries back in the zone but isn't too effective...tries to play out of trouble and stay off the traffic...the areas of the game he needs work on are physical play and overall defensive awareness...
In a
September 2011 interview I conducted with Russian hockey blogger Alessandro Seren Rosso on BluenoteZone.com, he had the following to say about Andronov’s progression over the last two years:
BNZ: How is Sergei Andronov doing? Is his development progressing?
ASR: Andronov is having a very good season as well, he’s growing, but I somewhat doubt he’ll ever cross the pond. He never looked much interested, and also in America I don’t think there is a huge excitation about him. He can be compared – not as a player, but as a “situation” – to Nikolai Lemtyugov. A good player with a high skill level, without that extra “something” to make it through the NHL.
ASR is correct in the fact that there really hasn’t been much -- really, none at all -- talk or concern given regarding Andronov making the jump to the NHL. Certainly some of the subdued nature is due to the drafting of Tarasenko the next summer. The remainder is because of the similar situation to the afore mentioned Lemtyugov. The big winger languished in the AHL with the Peoria Rivermen not because he lacked the requisite skill to play in the big show, but because he couldn’t find that extra gear or commitment to working hard enough. Why would fans invest time in attaching themselves to a prospect when by all accounts his crossing was greatly questioned and may not have the blue collar attitude they crave? The answer is they won’t and they haven’t.
Concerns be what they are, this is another home run swing by former Blues draft guru and Director of Scouting, Jarmo Kekalainen, worth taking.
With the General Manager Doug Armstrong building a team centered on speed and puck possession there is a legitimate need for talent and raw athletic ability up and down the lineup. While Andronov will have to adapt to the physicality and smaller surface of the North American game, his mobility and understanding of where to be without the puck -- critical in the system bench boss Ken Hitchcock has installed -- should ease the transition. It should also provide him an advantage over others pacing towards similar roles in St. Louis as well. In the
200 foot game pressure on the puck carrier and counter attacking are how even strength offense is generated. Both are areas that his development should be steered in that he should be able to ideally contribute to. If his physical game can be grown over the next few seasons the Blues could perhaps have their own version of Carl Hagelin. Put that ball over the Busch Stadium wall.
It will take the next two to three years for Andronov to work his way up the pecking order and potentially earn NHL minutes. For now he would slide in to Peoria’s roster and battle the likes of Anthony Nigro, Brett Sonne, Jay Barriball, Tyler Shattock and other
bottom 6 Rivermen forwards. As situations dictate, hockey gods know injuries and transactions can and will change things, the Rivs top six currently looks like TJ Hensick, Jaden Schwartz, Adam Cracknell, Phil McRae, Evgeny Grachev, and Derek Nesbitt or Stefan Della Rovere. There won’t be much of an opportunity for Andronov to break in to that group.
Keep in mind that the team has yet to make a formal announcement. For now we’ll just have to take Fedorov at his word. Skepticism is warranted given the news originates out of Russia, but why would the team make a statement about a player’s departure if he wasn’t really leaving?
-
Your Take
Quick Poll: How many Blues fans know who Sergei Andronov is before this post?
The Blues history with Russian born players is littered with examples of why they should stray away. Yet, they continue to go back and try again. Not to say Russians are bad players. Clearly they are not. But previous experience has been painful and unproductive to say the least. Do you like the team is bringing in more of them? Do you have any expectations for Andronov? Excited at the potential of an all Russian line -- Tarasenko – Grachev – Andronov --in a few years?
-
Thanks for reading!
St Louis Blues Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»