Daniil Prokhorov arrived in North America with a full list of things to figure out, and English was right there near the top.
The New York Islanders prospect had already spent the summer grinding on the usual hockey essentials - skating, strength and the adjustment to a different style of play - but he also picked up something a little less expected along the way: help with the language from former New York Rangers star Chris Kreider.
Prokhorov remained in the United States after the Islanders’ development camp in July and trained through the summer in Stamford, Connecticut, with strength coach Ben Prentiss. That group also included Kreider, Trevor Zegras and Russian forwards Pavel Dorofeyev and Dmitri Voronkov.
A year ago, when the Islanders took Prokhorov with the 10th pick in the second round, the 6-foot-5 winger spoke almost no English. That has changed fast.
“He talks in good Russian, Kreider, and he trained me in English,” Prokhorov told the New York Post.
Kreider’s ability to speak English, Russian and Spanish made him a useful presence during those long summer sessions, and the payoff showed this week when Prokhorov was able to do an interview in conversational English.
That’s a meaningful step for a player entering his first real extended stretch on this side of the Atlantic. Prokhorov spent most of last season moving between Russia’s KHL and VHL before appearing in one game for Bridgeport late in the year.
Now he’s getting ready for a full North American season, and he says he put in the kind of work that leaves no doubt about his readiness.
“Three trainings every day: two gym, one ice,” Prokhorov said of his summer routine. “It’s a good summer. I’m ready for the season.”
And if the English keeps coming along like this, he may have more than one adjustment handled before long.
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