Forward Alexander Khovanov was predicted to have a great future overseas, but at first he could not confirm his level in the KHL, and then he did not even gain a foothold in the AHL. Minnesota got tired of waiting and put him up for a waiver draft. What will happen to the Russian striker now?

Incredible prospects

Khovanov was considered talented not only in Russia, but, most valuablely, overseas. In the 2019/20 season, he had an outstanding year for Moncton in the Quebec junior league, which coincided with a silver year for the Russian youth team. In Canada, he scored an insane 99 points in 51 regular season matches, and at the MFM he scored 8 (3 + 5) points in seven meetings, securing the title of one of the heroes of the tournament.

Photo: © RIA Novosti / Chris Barry

Khovanov went through hardships to this success: he managed to get to the World Youth Championship only on the third attempt, and in the 2018 NHL Draft he fell unexpectedly low. All due to a serious injury that knocked out the hockey player, and jaundice. He fell ill in the midst of his debut season for Moncton, missed half of the campaign, did not have time to surprise the scouts and was selected only 86th, although, according to early forecasts, he could claim a much higher number. But Khovanov restored his position very quickly, already in 2019 signing a three-year rookie contract with Minnesota. Then it seemed that the club was incredibly lucky – after all, the Russian had not yet realized all his talent.

Failed business trip

Before the 2020/21 season, Khovanov realized that junior hockey had already outgrown, but the AHL was not yet suitable for the 20-year-old forward – “it was not overgrown with meat.” Then he returned to his homeland, to Ak Bars, where he planned to gain experience in order to prepare for the fight for the basis of the Wild. But even this level turned out to be beyond the power of talent: he received little playing time, he looked frankly bad in a link with skilled legionnaires Azevedo and Da Costa and, it seemed, he could not adapt to adult hockey. After a small conflict in the club, a misunderstanding and a desire to get an exchange, Khovanov eventually went to the VHL, where he played quite confidently for Bars, scoring 24 (8 + 16) points in 30 regular season matches.

Alexander Khovanov / Photo: © KHL / Tukhbatov Ilnar

But on this, the forward decided to put an end to Russian hockey, again going overseas. Due to visa problems, he was late for the start of the Minnesota training camp and ended up on a business trip to the Savages farm club, but not in the AHL, but in the East Coast League, where the Wild also has its own club. It turned out that the season in Russia did not affect the development of Khovanov’s playing qualities at all. All the minuses, for example, the speed of the game, on which he had to work, still left much to be desired.

“He was in disgusting shape”

Hockey player, selected in the third round of the draft, the NHL clubs are traditionally ready to wait. But not forever. Usually they are given time to make mistakes, correct them and gain playing practice. Khovanov had all these opportunities, and he did not justify the hopes of Minnesota. It seems that evil fate regularly intervened in his hockey fate – hepatitis, misunderstandings in Ak Bars, problems with a visa.

Last season, which in many ways should be decisive for Alexander, Khovanov failed on his own. After moving from the East Coast League to the AHL, the striker played in just 22 games, in which he scored one goal and made 5 assists. The explanation for the failures of the once-star junior was given by the head coach of the farm club:

“We gave Hovey a lot of chances,” said Tim Army. “But he was in terrible shape. So the reasons for the failures are in himself.”

The credit of trust has been exhausted. Minnesota, which believed in Khovanov even after the hepatitis that knocked him down, put the hockey player up for a draft bounce. The American dream of yesterday’s star forward of our youth team has not yet been conquered, but the 22-year-old striker still has a chance to start everything from scratch, once again trying to play for Ak Bars. Already without a valid contract with the NHL club, but still with the same skills that attracted the “savages” in Khovanov.