Playmaking Zhamnov boosts Russia’s attack

Originally published on IHWC.NET in 2000

By Lucas Aykroyd

They call him “Archie.” Maybe that’s an appropriate nickname for Alexei Zhamnov. The red-haired Russian sometimes achieves hockey feats of the larger-than-life dimensions of a cartoon character. But other times, his play is a mere caricature of what it could be.

Russian Head Coach Alexander Yakushev must be hoping the real Zhamnov stands up at the 2000 World Championships in St. Petersburg. If he does, Russia’s chances of claiming a gold medal for the first time since 1993 increase exponentially.

In 1999-2000, the 29-year-old center from Moscow scored 23 goals and 37 assists in 71 games for the Chicago Blackhawks. Those are respectable numbers, but Zhamnov is capable of even more, based on his talent. His best NHL campaigns were with the Winnipeg Jets. Selected by the Jets in the fourth round (77th pick overall) of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, Zhamnov thrived on their free-flowing style to the tune of 267 points in four seasons. In the lockout-shortened season of 1994-95, he finished third in NHL scoring behind Jaromir Jagr and Eric Lindros with 65 points (30-35-65) in 48 games. And he scored an incredible five goals in a 7-7 tie with the Los Angeles Kings on April 1, 1995, most of the highlight-reel variety.

But Zhamnov’s linemates in Chicago, despite Tony Amonte’s goal-scoring frenzy, have never quite matched the combination of raw force and artistic brilliance that Keith Tkachuk and Teemu Selänne gave him in Winnipeg. Like fellow Russians Alexei Kovalev and Alexander Mogilny, Zhamnov is one of those players whose talent seems to outstrip his actual point production. It’s frustrated Chicago fans, who expected to get a savior in the August 16, 1996 deal that sent crowd favorite Jeremy Roenick to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Zhamnov, Craig Mills, and a first-round draft pick.

Regardless of the ups and downs of Zhamnov’s NHL career, he’s enjoyed major success on the international stage. The graduate of Moscow Dynamo has represented his country seven times before at the World Championship and Olympic levels. Highlights of his career include winning a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in 1990, a bronze at the 1991 World Championships, a gold at the 1992 Albertville Olympics, and a silver at Nagano in 1998. No matter which linemates Coach Yakushev gives him in St. Petersburg, Zhamnov should make the most of the big European ice surface.

Growing up in the Soviet Union, Zhamnov says his favorite player was Igor Larionov, now of the Detroit Red Wings. Zhamnov gravitated toward Larionov because he was a center too. “I’d go to the hockey games all the time and watch him. I’d try to learn. He’s still in the NHL and I’m still learning from him. He’s a smart hockey player and a nice guy, on and off the ice.”

Larionov, often dubbed the “Russian Wayne Gretzky,” influenced Zhamnov to think of himself as a playmaker first. Zhamnov recalls that in Winnipeg, the coaches exhorted him to shoot the puck more due to the different style of play in North America. “In Russia, if you see that your partner has a better spot, you give him the puck right away,” he explains. “It’s just a different mentality.”

Known as a smart player, Zhamnov avoids taking bad penalties. In 1994-95, his strong offensive performance along with a mere 20 penalty minutes earned the 6-1, 200-pound veteran a nomination for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most gentlemanly player. That classy style continues to earn him kudos from teammates and coaches past and present.

“Alex’s speed is the key to his game,” says former Chicago Blackhawks coach Dirk Graham. “When he’s really skating and competing, that’s when he’s at his best. He’s a world-class talent.”

And how does this world-class talent react to having such a quintessentially American nickname as “Archie”?

“I don’t pay attention,” says Zhamnov, who had never heard of Archie, Jughead, Veronica, and the rest of the Riverdale High gang before coming to North America. “Everybody has a nickname. It doesn’t bother me. It’s kind of funny.”

But if Alexei Zhamnov demonstrates the zip that’s taken him to the top of the NHL scoring heap before, opposing goaltenders at these World Championships won’t think there’s anything funny about “Archie.”