Here are Five Questions With … Andrei Svechnikov:
Do you think you can play in the NHL next season?
"I could never be 100 percent certain, but I'm pretty sure I will. I think I have everything for the NHL, like my speed, shot and I can play a physical game. I can play in any situation, and enjoy playing on the penalty kill just as much as playing on the power play."
There's a good chance you may be selected by the Carolina Hurricanes, who hold the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Do you have any thoughts on Carolina?
"That's a team that looks like they're on the way up. They have a lot of good young players, and that suits me well. I will be honored to be selected by any NHL team; it's my dream. I watched my brother get drafted, and it was great. It's something I've dreamed for my whole life."
You played against many of the top prospects of the draft at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, including Dahlin (Frolunda, SWE), Filip Zadina (Halifax, QMJHL) and Brady Tkachuk (Boston University, Hockey East). What do you think of those players?
"Well, Dahlin is a great player; he seems to be able to do everything. But ... it's going to be fun going up against him, hopefully, in the NHL one day. It's really not my time to say I am better than anybody else. I am confident in what I can do. The scouts will see that we are all great players; they have to make the hard decisions at the draft. I just go out there and play the game I love."
Do you have any superstitions, and what is your favorite pregame meal?
"I do have a superstition, but I can't tell you because otherwise my routine won't keep working for me. My mom makes great Borscht. It's a cabbage soup that's delicious. In Russia, that's a favorite for a lot of people. It's very popular. But I can't have that for a pregame meal. Usually, I like pasta and chicken before a game."
What has been your most memorable hockey moment, and do you feel more effective playing on the smaller rinks here in North America?
"I think having the chance to play for my country at the 2018 World Junior Championship was the most memorable moment. I've been playing in North America for three years (with Muskegon in the United States Hockey League and Barrie), so I feel more comfortable on the smaller rink now. I think my game is a bear on the smaller rink; I like this game because that means more action, more contact and more chances to score."