Russian rookies reunited and loving it at Jets training camp By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 5:42 PM CDT Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2023 Last Modified: 10:15 AM CDT Wednesday, Sep. 27, 2023 Updates

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This article was published 26/09/2023 (1092 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They’ve come a long way — literally and figuratively — from being childhood friends who started playing hockey together in their hometown of Moscow 15 years ago.

The shared history and sense of occasion wasn’t lost on Nikita Chibrikov and Danny Zhilkin as they hit the ice Sunday in Edmonton, this time as professional teammates.

“It was a great experience. It was like the start of a dream,” a wide-eyed Chibrikov said of suiting up for his NHL preseason debut with the Winnipeg Jets and having Zhilkin right beside him.

“It was pretty cool,” said Zhilkin. “We started out when we were so little. So many changes since then. Now, to be on the ice again here is pretty special.”

The Jets didn’t go out of their way to draft the longtime buddies in consecutive years — Chibrikov was taken in the second round in 2021, while Zhilkin was selected in the third round a year later — but you couldn’t have scripted a better outcome for all involved.

“We’re roommates here as well now, so we’re pretty much together 24/7,” said Zhilkin. “It’s awesome.”

It’s been especially helpful for Chibrikov, who just came to North America for the first time last spring after playing three years in the KHL. The 20-year-old naturally experienced plenty of culture shock, but having Zhilkin — who moved to Canada with his family when he was 10 — ready to roll out the welcome mat helped immensely.

“It was a great experience. It was like the start of a dream.”–Nikita Chibrikov

“It’s very good to have a friend here,” said Chibrikov, who has been making tremendous strides in learning English. “If there’s something I don’t understand he helps me.”

Zhilkin, 19, spent three seasons playing in the Ontario Hockey League with the Guelph Storm and, most recently, the Kitchener Rangers. He joined the Manitoba Moose once his junior season wrapped up last spring, around the same time Chibrikov did as well.

They’ve been inseparable since, spending the summer training together in the Toronto area. Now, both are trying to make a solid impression in Jets training camp.

So far, so good on that front.

Chibrikov and Zhilkin were on the same line in Edmonton on Sunday, with 2022 first-round pick Brad Lambert between them. The “kid line” generated plenty of energy and excitement and had a few good scoring chances in a 2-1 shootout victory.

“There were a couple moments that were real good, a two-on-one, a couple shots from the danger zone,” said Chibrikov.

“We practise all summer together. We’re the same age, so it’s easier for us to understand. I think we have chemistry and it works for this. Lambert is good too with us on the line. We had a couple moments to score. I think it was a good game for us for the first game.”

Jets coach Rick Bowness agreed with that assessment.

“Chibrikov, he got banged around a little bit. He’s starting to realize the pace of our league is quicker, the size and strength of the guys is a little quicker. It didn’t bother him. He just got up and kept playing,” Bowness said, earlier this week.

“You can see his poise with the puck, his skill with the puck, his confidence with the puck. He’s like every other young player over here, they’ve got to learn to play without the puck. The effort, getting used to new systems and new style of plays, (the) pace. Honestly, for both of them (Zhilkin and Chibrikov), for their first game… there’s enough there to build on, work on and be encouraged on.”

Winnipeg, 2-0-0 in the preseason after shutting out the Edmonton Oilers 5-0 on Monday night, hosts the Calgary Flames (2-1-0) on Wednesday. Game time is 7 p.m.

Although they have many similarities when it comes to their raw skill and speed, the 5-9, 160-pound Chibrikov and 6-2, 185-pound Zhilkin are clearly different in stature. Chibrikov loves to get his nose dirty and plays much bigger, something his buddy has known for years.

“I think coming from Russia he’s got that aggressiveness on the ice,” said Zhilkin, who attended Jets training camp last year before going back to the OHL where he had a combined 56 points (29 goals, 27 assists) in 60 games split with Guelph and Kitchener.

For now, the two Russian rookies are thrilled to have a more-seasoned mentor to look up to in 30-year-old Vladislav Namestnikov. The veteran of 630 regular-season games has a personal connection with Zhilkin, and his 19-year-old brother, Max, also played with the Guelph Storm last season.

“It’s been great. He’s been hanging around with us, and it’s a big help,” Zhilkin said of Namestnikov.

“Honestly, for both of them (Zhilkin and Chibrikov), for their first game… there’s enough there to build on, work on and be encouraged on.”–Jets coach Rick Bowness

With so much NHL-ready depth at the forward position, Chibrikov and Zhilkin are unlikely to break camp with the big club. Rather, the pair are likely headed down to the American Hockey League to get their professional feet wet with the Moose.

“Could be,” said Zhilkin. “We’ll see how camp goes here, if we get another (preseason) game or so. We’ll see how that goes. On the Moose this year we might play together. It would be pretty great.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

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