GQ: So is there a sense of camaraderie among the Russian players in the NHL?

Oh, yeah, of course. We’re friends here. Everyone, we go to dinner together and if I see Alexander Ovechkin or Pavel Datsyuk [of the Detroit Red Wings] or Nikolay Kulemin [of the New York Islanders], it’s all friends. We play national team, we spend time in Moscow sometimes. All good friend and try to support each other.

What did you think about Ovechkin’s 484th goal on November 19, making him the highest-scoring Russian-born player in the history of the NHL?

It’s amazing numbers and it’s not over. He’s just 30 and it’s not last goal. I mean, he can score, I know, maybe four more hundred goals. He scores every year a lot of goals. He’s a good guy, good player. I mean, I’m happy he scored but he’s not over. We’re different. I mean, I’m a little bit different player. He’s more shoot puck and I play center. I’m a little different. I’m happy when he scores, maybe he happy when I’m scoring. We’re good friends. We play national team together.

And you were drafted together…

Yeah, drafted together, because I was second. We spent time in Moscow a little bit together, you know. We play basketball one day, you know, I come to his house. We play four-on-four. It’s fun time, you know, we eat dinner with his family. He’s a really good guy.

How do you prepare for games, any sort of superstitions?

It’s all secret because I do this long time. Of course I do something, but it’s all secret.

What do you want our readers to know about you—as a personality and as a player?

[Laughs.] Personality, I’m a quiet guy. I like stay at home with my family and friends and girlfriend, you know. About my hockey, I play center. I’m a big guy. It’s a physical game. Like everything. I love hockey and I’ve played for 23 years, it’s long time.

Are you physical, as a player?

I like physical game. When I go to skate to corner, play one-on-one against defenseman, I use my body and use my shoulders. I like to play here because it’s a physical game.

What do you consider your best fight?

Fight? I’m not have a lot of fights. I don’t like fights, so it’s a tough question because I only have two fights against Henrik Zetterberg [of the Detroit Red Wings] and Rick Nash [of the New York Rangers] but it’s not really fight. It’s just quick, five seconds. A scuffle, and no bleeding. Nothing.

What’s the difference between North American players and Russian players?

Maybe a little bit because when we grow up we play in Russia it’s a little bit different hockey. It’s bigger ice. You have more room. We not play, most Russian guys not play physical. Most Russian guys are skills guys because it’s a little bit difference practice. We use stick handle, you know. We play puck. It’s a little bit different hockey. I think it’s Russian: not physical and maybe a little bit more skills.

You’ve received a bunch of awards, over the course of your career. Which has meant the most?

I think each one is very important for me but if we take one I think it’s the Conn-Smythe because I know it’s the Stanley Cup but my trophy is important, too, because I know I’m first Russian guy who won this trophy. It’s good. Sometimes, it’s very important because I know I work hard all year. It’s long year, long playoffs, and we win the Stanley Cup and the NHL gave me the Conn-Smythe.