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Константин Шафранов Позиция - правый нападающий
Играл за усть-каменогорское "Торпедо" в 1989-94
- 173 игры, 69 голов, 60 передач. В 1994-96 гг играл за магнитогорский
"Металлург" - 53 игры, 24 гола, 33 передачи.
В 1995-96 гг, играя за команду из Форт Уэйна в
ИХЛ, в 74 играх забив 46 голов и сделав 28 передач, был признан лучшим
новичком ИХЛ. В 1996-97 гг выступал в "Уорсел АйсКэтс" в АХЛ - 62 игры,
48 очков (23+25), в 1997-98 снова в Форт Уэйне - 67 матчей, 80 очков (28+52).
В 1998 году был выбран во второй состав "Всех Звёзд" ИХЛ.
Регулярно появлялся в составе национальной сборной
Казахстана. В семи матчах на Олимпийских Играх 1998 года забросил четыре
шайбы и сделал три голевые передачи.
В 1998-99 гг в магнитогорском "Металлурге" - 28
матчей, 13 очков (4+9). С 1999 по 2000 года снова во вторых лигах Северной
Америки. С 2003-04 гг в России. Выступал за "Химик", "Крылья Советов",
"Торпедо" Нижний Новгород. В 2007-08 снова перебрался за океан, в "Форт
Уэйн Кометц" (ИХЛ). В 2008-09 гг, в возрасте 40 лет, набрал 63 очка (28+35)
в 60 матчах ИХЛ.
Матч за матчем ПРЕССА: 20 сентября 1996 года.
If only Konstantin Shafranov spoke English. Then, we could learn so
much about him.
Like how to pronounce his name, for starters.
Blues general manager and coach Mike Keenan calls him Sha-ram-nov, perhaps
in tribute to former Blues cult hero Vitali Karamnov.
Veteran Peter Zezel says the "sh" sound, then covers his mouth to produce
a bunch of muffled r's and v's. "Shererverrov," was as close as Zezel could
come.
Shafranov (pronounced "SHAF-fran-ov") has minimal name recognition as
he tries to make a name for himself in the National Hockey League. In fact,
he's a mystery man as he tries, against all odds, to land a spot with the
Blues.
Shafranov speaks little English. On Thursday, he looked quizzically
at a reporter making small talk, finally saying, "I'm sorry. I can't."
It's too bad, because his life makes an interesting story.
The 5-foot-11, 176-pound winger is a 28-year-old rookie. He was born
in Magnitogorsk, Russia, and played hockey in Moscow but never landed a
spot on one of the country's elite teams.
Without the elite exposure, no team in the NHL gave him a second look.
So, last season, Shafranov paid his way to America to look for a hockey
job.
"That tells you a lot about him right there," scouting chief Ted Hampson
said.
Shafranov signed with the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Komets of the International
Hockey League but arrived at training camp without skates or equipment.
Once outfitted in the proper gear, Shafranov showed he could play. He
scored 46 goals in 74 games and was named the IHL rookie of the year.
"Anyone who scores (about) 50 goals, I don't care at what level, knows
how to score goals," Keenan said.
On a tip from Fort Wayne coach Dave Farrish, a former NHL defenseman
who is an offseason neighbor of Keenan, the Blues took Shafranov with their
final pick in the NHL entry draft at Kiel Center in June. He was the 229th
player selected.
Not many players picked that late in the draft make it to the NHL, unless
they're picked by the Blues. Shafranov is one of four players picked in
the ninth round or higher who actually has a chance of making the team
this season.
The others: Libor Zabransky; ninth round, 1995; Christer Olsson, 11th
round, 1993; Alex Vasilevskii, 11th round, 1993.
"We've got the draft backwards," Keenan said, with a laugh. "We get
our first-rounders in the late rounds. You have to give credit to our scouts."
Still, there was some debate at the draft table on whether to pick Shafranov.
But Jim Pappin, the Blues' director of pro playing personnel, and pro scouts
Bob Plager and Rick Meagher gave Shafranov the thumbs up.
Considering the Blues' trouble scoring goals last season and the possibility
that Shafranov could contribute immediately, the choice quickly became
a no-brainer.
"How many ninth-rounders are going to make the NHL?" Plager asked. "For
a ninth-rounder, that's a pretty good pick. After the draft, I asked a
couple of scouts from other teams what they thought of our last pick. They
said, `He might fool a lot of people. He might be a good one.' "
Shafranov has been one of the Blues' pleasant surprises in training
camp, along with his linemates Robert Petrovicky and Jonathan Zukiwsky.
Their line has produced five goals in two preseason games, with Shafranov
notching two goals and an assist.
Keenan said he intends to play newcomer Joe Murphy on a line with Petrovicky
and Shafranov tonight in a preseason game at Chicago "to see what they
can do."
Shafranov has good hands and good skill. His skating leaves a little
to be desired - it's choppy - but he gets the job done. Around the net,
he can be deadly.
"He's a natural-born goal scorer," Petrovicky said. "All the time, he
knows where he's supposed to be. He has a quick shot. He gets the puck
on his stick and releases it so quick that by the time the goalie moves,
the puck is already in."
Keenan marveled at the goal Shafranov scored Wednesday in the Blues'
6-3 preseason loss to the Dallas Stars at Reunion Arena.
"It was an unreal goal," Keenan said. "He put it where momma hides the
cookies - in the top shelf."
The Blues certainly could use another goal-scoring threat. Last season,
they scored 219 goals, which ranked ahead of only New Jersey and Ottawa
among the 26 NHL teams. Only two full-season Blues topped 20 goals - Brett
Hull (43) and Geoff Courtnall (24).
Although Shafranov can't say so himself, he could lend a helping hand.
"His record speaks for itself," Plager said.
15 октября 1996 года.
Despite a limited command of the English language, Russian Konstantin
Shafranov knew exactly how to describe the experience of scoring his first
NHL goal.
"Fun," he said. "I had fun."
Fun, indeed.
"He's a happy guy . . . his first goal," linemate Robert Petrovicky
said. "Hopefully, he'll relax more and remember those old times in Fort
Wayne last season and put the puck in the net."
Shafranov, a 28-year-old rookie right winger, scored 46 in Fort Wayne
last season. He scored his first goal Saturday in the Blues' 5-3 loss to
Vancouver at GM Place.
Shafranov deflected Christer Olsson's shot past goalie Kirk McLean to
tie the game 3-3 at 14 minutes 51 seconds of the second period.
With the help of Russian Yuri Khmylev as an interpreter, Shafranov talked
about the goal.
"He's happy he scores his first NHL goal, but he thinks he was lucky
when he scored, tipping the puck," Khmylev said. "Olsson shot at the net
and the puck just hit his stick."
"Change puck's way," Shafranov chimed in in English.
Initially, the goal was credited to Olsson, but replays clearly showed
Shafranov tipped it. Geoff Courtnall fished the puck out of the net and
gave it to Shafranov as a memento. What was Shafranov going to do with
the puck?
"He thinks he'll present it to his Russian coach," Khmylev said.
Vladimir Golts coached Shafranov in Sibir, Russia, "when I was young,"
said Shafranov, who earlier had assisted on Stephane Matteau's goal.
Blues coach Mike Keenan praised the work of Shafranov and linemate Petrovicky,
who assisted on the goals by Shafranov and Matteau. With the Blues' veterans
showing the effects of playing two games in two nights, Keenan gave them
significant ice time.
"They had some legs, so that helped," Keenan said. "They certainly had
some energy and certainly added a spark to our offense. There was no question
about it."
To this point in the season, the Blues' newcomers have been carrying
the team offensively.
Rookie Jim Campbell leads the team with four goals and six points. Campbell,
Joe Murphy and Shafranov have combined for seven of the Blues' 14 goals
to this point.
Campbell, Murphy, Petrovicky, Peter Zezel and Chris Pronger are the
only players with more than two points. Zezel is second to Campbell on
the team with four points. Murphy has four, while Petrovicky and Pronger
have three each.
The Blues' No. 1 line of Brett Hull, Courtnall and Shayne Corson has
produced only two goals - one each from Hull and Corson - and one assist
- from Courtnall.
"Right now, I'm not scoring and Hullie's not scoring," Courtnall said.
"We need everybody chipping in. Jim Campbell has done a great job so far.
For all the young guys to get confidence here will help us win some games
in the long run.
"You know what the established players are going to do. They know what
their roles are, and they will come through for you in the long run. A
lot of teams' success in the second half comes from the confidence in the
play of the young players."
Despite the loss Saturday, when the defense rested in front of Jon Casey,
it was a good trip for the Blues. They were 2-1, sweeping Calgary and Edmonton.
"It's still a pretty decent trip," Murray Baron said.
Goalie Grant Fuhr served as Casey's backup on Saturday. It marked the
first time in two seasons with the Blues that Fuhr was physically able
to start but didn't.
Fuhr suffered a career-threatening knee injury in the playoffs last
year and has made a remarkable recovery.
"We're not going to jeopardize his health at this point," Keenan said.
"He'll get stronger as he continues his rehab. He's working harder than
he has ever worked in his life."
Fuhr would like to play back-to-back games to see how his knee responds,
but Keenan said that probably wouldn't happen this week when the Blues
play Toronto on Thursday at Kiel Center and Friday in New York against
the Rangers.
Olsson made his season debut against Vancouver, getting an assist on
Shafranov's goal. He replaced veteran Trent Yawney in the lineup.
"He had a big play on the goal," Keenan said. "He's contributing."
Olsson was the last player on the 24-man roster to play in a game.
29 августа 2007 года.
Sebring, Blake.
Aug. 29--After his Russian Elite League seasons ended, Konstantin Shafranov
would come back to Fort Wayne each summer and stop in to say hello at the
Komets offices. Each year, Komets General Manager David Franke would ask
when Shafranov was ready for his fourth tour with Fort Wayne.
This year, Shafranov took him up on the offer. The 38-year-old left
wing and two-time Kazakhstan Olympian signed with the team Tuesday, along
with rookies Evgeny Saidachev, Randy Upshall and Jamie Dowhayko.
It will be Shafranov's fifth season with the Komets (not including training
camp in 1993-94). His first was 1995-96 and last was 1999-2000. Blessed
with quick hands, he has scored 89 goals and 184 points in 161 regular-season
games. Two of those seasons were in the Class AAA International Hockey
League, and one was in the Class AA United Hockey League. He has played
the last seven seasons in Russia.
The big question will be, can he still produce?
"Chris Chelios is 45, and he's still playing in the NHL," Shafranov
said. "It's up to you. If you feel you can do it, you can do it. Right
now, I feel I can play at least a couple more years. I feel very good right
now."
Shafranov said he's two pounds over his playing weight of 198 pounds.
"I have a house here, and I want to live here," he said. "I love the
city and I love the team, and my family wants to stay here."
During his last season with the Komets, Shafranov scored 44 points in
33 regular-season and playoff games.
As he has aged, Shafranov's offensive numbers have remained relatively
steady, averaging essentially a point per game over the last seven seasons.
Two years ago, he scored 21 goals and 67 points in 48 games.
"He's never had a serious injury, and he's always kept himself in great
shape," Franke said. "He looks the same today as when I first met him in
1993. I don't view his age as a negative at all."
Shafranov's signing means the Komets have five of a potential seven
veterans under contract. Franke said the team will be very selective with
those final two spots and might even open the season with six veterans.
That way, the Komets could hold the spot open if a veteran returns from
Europe or is released from an American Hockey League camp.
With eight rookies signed, Franke said the Komets are concentrating
on finding toughness, another potent forward and more defensemen. He said
the team still is talking with dispersal draft picks Mike Sgroiand Chaz
Johnson, though he doesn't think it will be able to sign Johnson.
"That's just something that is going to happen when it happens," Franke
said. "There will be guys available, but the one thing is, we have always
felt if you were going to be tough, you have to be able to play the game
as well. We want them to be able to help out the team and not just be the
19th man who just skates two shifts a game."
With 19 players signed, Franke said he expects to have between 25 and
30 players signed when training camp opens Oct. 8. |
Данные подготовлены Дмитрием Поповым. E-mail: southstars@yahoo.com |