Big Russian forward called up to big club

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This article was published 05/02/2020 (2041 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Andrei Chibisov was one of the more intriguing new faces at Winnipeg Jets training camp back in September.

Standing six-foot-four and weighing 235 pounds, the 26-year-old forward from Prokopyevsk, Russia, was nearly impossible to miss.

After five seasons in the KHL, Chibisov was gearing up for his first season on North American soil as he signed a one-year, entry-level deal with the Jets on June 1.

He didn’t make the team out of camp, as the club sent Chibisov down to the Manitoba Moose to start the year. In 46 games on the farm, Chibisov has scored seven goals and registered 17 assists to go along with 73 penalty minutes.

On Wednesday morning, the Jets sent down defenceman Cameron Schilling and called Chibisov up for the first time. Veteran Jets forward Mathieu Perreault was placed on IR on Tuesday with an upper-body injury that is expected to keep him out of action for at least two weeks.

“Of the available players down there, he had played very well,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “While I don’t necessarily have a lineup change up front, based on his work, his size and his hands, I may want to see him here.”

Chibisov was on the ice with the Jets during their afternoon practice, but he wasn’t made available to the media afterward as he can’t speak English. Although Chibisov wasn’t able to say what he can bring to the table, his former Moose teammate Logan Shaw did the talking for him. Shaw suited up for the Moose in 16 games this season and he had nothing but praise for the big Russian.

“He’s a power forward, for sure. I mean, that guy takes two strides to the other end of the rink,” said Shaw, who has two goals and an assist in 27 games with the Jets.

“He’s so strong. I’m not saying he’s like (Jaromir) Jagr, but he’s one of those guys that doesn’t have to move as fast because he can protect the puck so well. He’s such a big body and he knows how to use it. He can see the ice and his puck-protection skills are some of the best I’ve ever seen. It’s pretty special. The way he plays, he’s a gamer. I’m not saying he puts up 100 points or anything, but he’s strong, he’s powerful, he’s effective, he hits, he makes those little plays and he can shoot the puck.”

Maurice noted Chibosov’s strength and heavy shot as well. He also credited Moose head coach Pascal Vincent for helping Chibisov transition to the North American game.

“He has relatively no English, which is an important factor. So, the learning curve is then going to take a little bit longer,” Maurice said.

“What Pascal Vincent and his staff have done with all of these players that we bring up is a marvellous job in teaching them where to go. When you take a player that has played as long in that European/Russian system, there’s a big change to the game. That’s a big rink. And then it’s a completely different style of game in Russia, maybe more than any other European style. So, there’s a whole big learning curve there and Pascal is happy with where he’s at from a systems point of view. I don’t know when he’s going in, if he’s going in, but I have interest in seeing him play.”

• • •

Nathan Beaulieu’s first full season with the Winnipeg Jets hasn’t exactly gone according to plan.

The defenceman has been sidelined since Dec. 31 with a lower-body injury, but it started before that as he also missed a chunk of time earlier in the season after blocking a shot with his right hand. Beaulieu has four assists in 21 games this season. He was activated from injured reserve on Tuesday and Maurice said after Wednesday’s practice that Beaulieu will play tonight in St. Louis against the Blues.

“It’s been a tough year for me, obviously. I’ve been on the IR basically the whole season it seems like,” said the 27-year-old Beaulieu, who was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres at last year’s deadline.

“So, coming off (IR) yesterday was a big step and having another good practice today was another big step. It’s not easy to step into these games right now. They’re so important and the speed is so quick. When my name is called, I’ll be ready to go.”

Beaulieu was asked what he can bring to a Jets team that is struggling. The club is 1-5-1 in their last seven games.

“I think just being a presence. Obviously these games are (a grind) and nitty-gritty. They’re one-goal games,” he said.

“So, being reliable, being a presence out there, being physical, you know, these games are seeming to be like playoff games. It’s so important with how tight the standings are. Just being a presence out there. I mean, I feel like a pretty big voice in this locker room, so just being a leader.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31