Chris Lee: “I could have moved to CSKA, but I was in the right place.” Malkin did not let him into the NHL, and now he will help Magnitka beat SKA in the final. I never even thought about accepting citizenship of another country.

Oleg Li played his first official match for SKA against HC Sochi. He shot at goal three times and almost started a fight during the post-match handshake. From the game, apparently, there was something left unsaid regarding one of the opponents. The first match is always strong emotions...

“We still have a match with them ahead, we’ll sort it out there,” Viktor Tikhonov acted as a peacemaker in the situation, pulling Oleg away from the enemy.

St. Petersburg, it must be said, did not greet Oleg Lee, who transferred from Amur this summer, very hospitably. I just showed up for pre-season training when an Infinity was stolen on Nevsky.

Flying didn't bother me much

- You, Oleg, didn’t take an hour to get to the match by metro - like HC Sochi, whose bus had an accident?
- Yes, everything is fine, the car is with me - it was returned.

- How did you miss her? In the city center there is still...
- Oh, let me expand on this topic.

- But it’s still inhospitable, it turns out that Peter met you...
- On the contrary, the city greeted me well. It’s just that there are, let’s say, dishonest people everywhere...

- When did you find out that SKA was your next club?
- Towards the end of the season, the agent said that there was such an option. To be honest, I had no idea how events developed further. So, in fact, I found out that I would play for SKA when the exchange took place.

Moreover, they exchanged you and your trio partner Alexey Byvaltsev. Both probably exhaled: “Finally, let’s stop living on airplanes!”
- I may surprise you, but long flights didn’t bother me much. It was harder to adjust to time zones. I really liked Khabarovsk - a beautiful sunny city with great fans...

- ...who would probably ask you now: “So why didn’t you stay?!”
- Life does not stand still. We need to move forward and achieve new heights. And SKA is a new level for me. The St. Petersburg club has big ambitions - the important thing here is not just to get into the playoffs, but to win the Gagarin Cup. This, again, is a new level and a great challenge for a hockey player.

I would even say for a bunch of hockey players. During last year's regular season, your tandem with Alexey Byvaltsev was one of the most productive in the KHL...
- It’s good, of course, if they continue to release us in one group. Alyosha and I have a good understanding. Now the two of us played our first official match for SKA. We'll see how it goes. It’s up to the coaches to decide who to play with whom. Our job is to try, to work, to justify trust.

I never even thought about accepting citizenship of another country

With all due respect to Amur, Admiral, Atlant and Lada, your former clubs, SKA is so far the most serious club in your career. What was the first thing that caught your eye here?
- The fact that SKA is a top club is no secret. Accordingly, in terms of organization in St. Petersburg, everything is top level.

- For example?
- Yes, this manifests itself in everything, in every little detail. Previously, it would seem that you didn’t even think that this was necessary hockey team, but it exists and brings its benefits. It’s just difficult to pick just one thing right away. Unless it's "Hockey City". But this is far from a small thing. An excellent sports complex that has everything. Moreover, not only for professional athletes. For the younger generation of hockey players - children, young men, the conditions here are also excellent. Just work and don't think about anything.

Doesn't it bother you that the base is located within the city? Usually coaches take their teams to training camps away from civilization.
- For me it really was new experience. Usually in the summer I worked with a team somewhere outside the city. But I liked everything here too - it’s a shame to complain.

- Ilya Vorobyov’s preseason - what is it like?
- The training is not too long, but very intense. Physical fitness trainers worked with us on the ground. Good trainers, interesting activities...

I remember that on the eve of the 2018 Olympics, representatives of the Korean Hockey Federation offered you to play for their team in Pyeongchang. Finding yourself in today's conditions, you hardly regret that you refused...
- I never even thought about accepting citizenship of another country. Even if we are talking about sports citizenship. I was born in Russia (in Volgograd - “Sport Day by Day”), grew up in Russia, Russia is my home.

SKA is the base club of the national team. You're probably really looking forward to the moment when you put on the jersey of the country's first team for the first time... You've already played for the second team...
- I wish I could wait! Of course, I wait, hope and work to make this dream come true.

Defender of Magnitogorsk "Metallurga"- an amazing player. IN professional hockey he got there almost by accident. At the same time, he almost made it to Russia, but without playing a single match there, by the age of 30 he was tired of beating his head against the wall and moved to Europe. It was necessary to play and earn money - they needed money to support their son, who had Down syndrome. And in the Old World, he, a small-sized but very mobile defencist, immediately began to do well. The best defenseman of the German championship, the most productive defenseman of the Swedish Hockey League - offers from the KHL were not long in coming. In his first season in Russia, he won the Gagarin Cup, and in the third, he got another ring, beating "Magnitogorsk" machine-like in the finals, and now leads the list of defenders-scorers by a significant margin, gaining more points per game. And this at 36 years old!

AFTER THE FIRST GAME OF THE FINAL I THOUGHT THAT CSKA WOULD BREAK US

- You missed the first match of the final with CSKA due to disqualification, hitting between the legs. It seemed that they hit with precision.

No, what are you talking about? There was no intent there. I just wanted to play harder against him, but I ended up in a very bad place ( laughs). This is clearly visible on the replay. After the match, we talked to him, I apologized, and we understood each other. I'm not one of those players who use such techniques. Just an accident.

- And how did you feel about the disqualification then?

There should have been an expulsion, but disqualification... I didn’t agree with her, I was very upset.

- And without you, Magnitogorsk was simply demolished in the first meeting.

For the first five minutes everything was fine. He also scored. But then everything went completely differently than we would have liked. It was very difficult to watch this match from the stands. CSKA played very well, and, to tell the truth, there were thoughts in my head: “How can we beat them? Yes, they will tear us apart.” And I don’t think I could change anything if I went on the court.

- Do you doubt the final victory?

I got nervous. If before the final I thought that we had good chances, then after the first game my thoughts were already in the spirit of: “Damn, we should at least win one match.” Seriously. The army guys were that good.

- Surely you changed your mind when you took to the ice in the second meeting?

Not particularly. After the game, having already leveled the series score, yes. Considering how the first one went, this was the most important victory for us. We realized that we could overcome this well-oiled “machine”, which would work non-stop according to the same scheme.

- Interesting comparison. Did CSKA look so much like robots?

It’s not very nice to say that, but, to be honest, I reminded you. A huge number of threes, a huge number of new faces in every match, and they do the same thing all the time. Shifts of 20 - 30 seconds, throw after throw, movement, movement, forecheck, forecheck. And so - without stopping, they did not stop executing the program for a second. Of course, they also had very skilled guys - , . They played smartly and were different from the rest, but, like everyone else, they worked to the fullest.

- Wasn't CSKA hockey too primitive?

I don't know if it's primitive. Perhaps a little simpler than the others. The emphasis is not on puck control, not the European style, but the North American one. Throw-ins, throw-ins, physical pressure, forecheck. It's not a matter of whether it's primitive or not, they just have the personnel suitable for such a game. Those who can cover large volumes of movement, are good in contact wrestling, are ready to work hard, and this brings them success. Yes, it's similar to what they play in the AHL. There are practically no back passes, a minimum of “breakouts” (controlled transition from defense to attack. - Note I.E.) with control of the puck, if you are near your blue line, throw the puck, if you are near the red line, throw it in, and then the forecheck will come into play. When everyone does the same thing, seeing the game the same way, the efficiency of such hockey can be very high. In the end, they won the regular season and reached the seventh match of the finals. This means that everything was done more or less correctly, since the efficiency was so high.

- Isn’t the reason for your victory that Metallurg played more complex and smart hockey?

I'd like to think so, although I don't know the answer to this question. By and large, we played in many ways similar, although we still put the emphasis on something else. Because CSKA didn't give us space. With such an aggressive forecheck that they used, our players had almost no time to play any combination. Is it our top three? Mozyakin- - did everything I wanted. But they can, they can “draw” something against anyone, they’ve been playing together for four years now. And everyone else - we just tried to play actively, not to come up with anything extra. There was definitely a resemblance.

Paul MAURICE (center) and Ilya VOROBYEV (left). Photo by Alexey IVANOV, "SE"

PAUL MAURICE HELPED MAGNETKA CHOOSE

-Which of the two Gagarin Cups was more difficult for you?

Oh, you can’t say that right away. I played in finals several times, but only with "Magnitogorsk" managed to win. The first one probably brought great satisfaction. After all, I’ve been playing hockey for so many years, and I finally won something. And the second... You know, it was much more difficult. The opponents turned out to be very serious. Even in the first round it was very, very difficult for us. Once you win, even if you don't current champion, you still have a “mark” from your opponents. Who are ready to do anything to prevent you from winning again. So the second one was probably harder. Moreover, in the finals we were opposed CSKA- almost best team The KHL at that time, and even now, if they are inferior to anyone, it is only. In general, winning the Gagarin Cup is such a difficult path, you spend so much effort, are so concentrated that you feel a kind of numbness. Like an insensitive blockhead acting on instincts. But then, when the final siren sounds last match, all this passes quickly, and there is nothing equal to this feeling. Because you understand how much work you put in, and that it still paid off. In fact, it’s impossible to describe what exactly is running through your head, what these emotions are, but it hits you.

- As far as I know, you could have ended up in CSKA when you decided to move to the KHL. The army team was one of the two main contenders.

There were conversations, I heard that they were interested, but I would not raise this topic because I do not know the details of the negotiations. I think I ended up in right place (smiling).

- Why did you choose Magnitogorsk? Moscow was on the other side of the scale.

You know, before the move, in the spring of 2013, I talked with (a coach who worked with Magnitogorsk in the 2012/13 season, just before he moved to "Metallurgist"). We have a common agent, and he gave me his contact information. And Paul praised the club very much, saying that the organization there is at the highest level, that Magnitogorsk - perfect place for playing hockey. He said that the team really needed a player like me, that my partners would be fine, and we would definitely achieve success. There’s nothing to even think about - that was his message, although he admitted that he would not train "Metallurgist" next season. At the same time, he said that if there was an opportunity to return, he would definitely return. So I had no doubt about my choice. And then, after I had already signed the contract, he became the head of Magnitogorsk. Which really encouraged me. Not because he's Canadian, but because he's a legend.

- You once said in an interview Metroland Media : "We fly in style, we stay in hotels in style, we play in style, the league is just great."

Nothing has changed since then, it is still the case. I can’t speak for other clubs, but here at Magnitogorsk everything is at the highest level. Our club treats its players very carefully and does a great job. Every day he asks: “Is everything okay?” And this is not a routine question, he is really interested. And if something is really wrong, they will help you right away. I personally have nothing to complain about at all. And if someone asks me if it’s worth going to "Metallurgist", I will say: “Don’t even doubt it.”

- But what about the city, dotted with smoking chimneys, and the climate?

A beautiful city. From a hockey point of view, everything is perfect here. But I came here to play hockey. And the fewer temptations, the fewer things that can distract you from your main activity, the better. You focus on work, which is great. As for the pipes, everything is not as bad as it seems. It’s just that usually people who come to Magnitogorsk on hockey business stay in a hotel near our arena. And all the windows there are on these pipes ( laughs). Therefore, it seems as if there is nothing but pipes. In fact, they don’t even always smoke. And so - both with the climate and with nature, everything is great. The city center is good, the restaurants are in order.

- Do you often visit the metallurgical plant?

Been there several times. Very cool and thought-provoking. You see how all this happens, you see how people work who put much more work into their work than we do. And they support us very well. Therefore, knowing how they plow, we simply cannot afford the slightest concessions. We play for each other, but first and foremost for them. And they must correspond to them.

- I know that you are very happy about the Eurotour, because it allows you to see your family during the season. Why don't you transport it to Magnitogorsk?

My son has Down syndrome, so I can't transport them. There are simply no necessary conditions for him to stay here. There are no relevant institutions. That's why they stay there.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT MOZYAKIN WOULD ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN THE NHL

- During last season, Keenan was replaced as head coach. Why do you think management made the change? And what did this give?

Why is it not for me to judge, but the shift itself went very smoothly, since Ilya worked here and under Maurice, and Kinana was an assistant. He knew very well the capabilities of all the guys, and this is actually very important. If you hire a coach from outside, it takes him a lot of time to get to know everyone better. Vorobiev I didn't break anything, I just made a few adjustments. We slightly modified our actions in the forecheck, added a couple of “breakouts”, and began to move from defense to attack a little differently. He had a few ideas, tested them, and they worked, making our lives easier. Again, here we were talking only about adjustments in terms of the transition from defense to attack and back. And it didn’t take us much time to do this, as it could have been if the coach had been from the outside. We quickly found a common language with him, played well under his leadership, and the team was impressed. And that's still the case. It is important that Vorobiev speaks English, although all our assistant managers speak English, as does the goalkeeper coach.

- Have you learned Russian?

I understand a lot, but it’s very difficult for me to speak. Probably because in the arena everything is entirely in English, there is no practice. I can order food in Russian ( laughs), something like this, simple.

- But you don’t have many players who know English.

Actually this is not true. A lot of people say it. Sometimes it happens that legionnaires say something to local guys in Russian, and they respond in English. Fun mix. But we understand each other perfectly, especially when it comes to hockey. And even if something is not clear to someone, there is always someone who will help and explain everything. In this regard, we have a very friendly team.

- Do you even communicate with the taciturn Mozyakin?

So he speaks English. And very good.

- I wonder what he’s like as a captain? Judging by the way he communicates with the press, in the locker room he is clearly not a “vocal leader”, as they say overseas.

Definitely not. He is one of those captains who spur the team on by example. And an example is needed here - he best player The KHL has been around for a very long time. In the locker room he is rather silent, as if a little withdrawn. He rarely says anything, but when he does, everyone becomes quiet. "Everyone be quiet, Mozzie says." But in general, even without him, we have someone to “give speeches to.” Zaripov, For example. He's very good at it. It's great to have people like you Mozyakin And Zaripov, in a team. Both are legends, both have enormous authority. Everyone listens to them.

- What makes Mozyakin so special?

I wish I knew ( laughs). I've been trying to find out for a long time myself. I’ve been at Magnitogorsk for four years now and I still can’t stop him in training. Whatever I do. I don't understand how he does it. It seems to me that on a mental level the game takes place at a completely different speed for him. In his head it is much slower than for others than in reality. And, having this advantage, he manages to see and calculate everything. It is difficult for me to understand how this is possible; this is already at the level of subtle matters. He's the best player I've ever played with, I've ever seen. In general, when I moved to the KHL, at first I was stunned by how fast and skilled everyone here was, even the young guys, compared to Sweden and Germany. And he is like that in general. Mozyakin, by the way, helped me grow as a player. I play against him all the time Kovarza And Zaripova in training. That is, I have to confront players of a level that is not very common in the KHL. And it’s not just me who can’t figure out Sergei, the whole league can’t. His three continue to dominate and are a joy to watch.

- Are there any players whom you could call similar to Mozyakin?

IN European leagues oh, and in the KHL - definitely not. They probably should be in the NHL, but I didn’t get to play there. Honestly, I'd really like to see how Mozyakin plays in the National hockey league. Just wondering how he would have fared there, although I'm sure he would have been successful there. I've never seen anything like this outside of the NHL.

- You had a couple of training sessions with Pittsburgh. Didn't you really leave an impression?

Yes, I spent two whole days in the NHL, but never played ( laughs). And Sid and Gino - I remember them well ( smiling). At the only Penguins practice I attended, we practiced 2-on-1s. And they put me against Crosby With Malkin. It seems that in one game they managed to pass the puck to each other six times. And I - make two revolutions around its axis. When I came to my senses, the puck was already in the goal. In general, I dejectedly drove into the central circle, and there either Mark Eaton, or Brooks Orpik They told me: “Don’t worry, they “undress” everyone like that.” I perked up a little. But it was something.

Tim BRENT (left) and Chris LEE with the Gagarin Cup. Photo by Alexey IVANOV, "SE"

IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME EVEN TO EXPLAIN TO MYSELF HOW I MANAGED TO BREAK OUT

- Your whole career looks incredible. From the third division of the US student league, you managed to get into the professionals, which is rare for anyone to achieve, and at the same time you almost made it to the NHL, set several records in the European leagues and the KHL, won two Gagarin Cups, being one of the team leaders. And they retrained as defenders only at the age of 25. How is this possible?

The devil knows. This topic has already come up in conversations with a couple of people. And it was difficult for me even to explain to myself how this happened. Maybe I should have played defense from the very beginning. Maybe it’s about believing in yourself, hoping, never giving up, working like hell. If you do everything right, give your all to your work, sooner or later you will reach another level. As for the change of position - when the coach told me that he was moving me to defense, I thought he was crazy. But I played a couple of matches, and he said that he would not return me to the attack. I said, "Well, ok." I finished the season, and then they told me that they wanted to sign me for the next season as a defender. “Let's try,” I think was my answer. It worked, as you can see. Why it worked - try to figure it out. I always read the game well, I knew well what to do in certain cases. And still there are a lot of differences in the play of forwards and defenders. Maybe being a defencist was my calling. And it took me 25 years for me to realize this ( laughs).

- From defenders to attackers, it happens that they switch already in adulthood. Brent Burns, Dustin Boughlin - as examples. But I don’t remember the opposite at 25 years old. Obviously, you need a tall hockey player IQ . Have you tried to develop it?

You know, I've always been a good hockey theorist. And, as we say, he was a “hockey student.” That is, I watched a lot of hockey, noticed some details for myself, especially when I changed my position. I watched the games and tried to see some little things that help the defenders in the defensive game. To become stronger, better. This game is my life, my passion, it would be stupid not to dedicate myself to it.

- Who did you follow when you tried to adapt to a new position? ? ?

They were always a pleasure to watch, great attacking defenders. Actually, our coach wanted something like this kind of game from me, with a discount on the level. So that I can join the attacks using my skating and help the attack as much as I can. Of course, I didn’t reach their heights, but I learned something. The most difficult thing to learn is when to connect, at what moment. This cannot be done on a permanent basis. Because it is fraught with attacks from the opponent with a player advantage and goals against you. You need to be able to calculate risks. It seems that I was able to grasp this aspect.

- You probably took risk management courses at the university. Did it help?

In fact, I went to the State University of New York to study science and only as I graduated did I transfer to business management. I think it helped. Higher education In general, it helps in life because it develops you intellectually. I don't know how much real intelligence overlaps with hockey intelligence, but I like to think that people who are smart off the ice are also smart on it. Although there are also opposite examples. Therefore, it is difficult to discern the connection here. But I think it helped me. I can't speak for the rest.

- When you graduated from university, did you imagine yourself even for a second in professional hockey?

Absolutely not. Absolutely not. From the third division to professional sports getting in is almost impossible. Not everyone makes it from the highest level. Where is the third one? And then the lockout in the NHL began when I graduated from university, that is, in the lower leagues the box was already full. True, my last season turned out to be good. And I even got calls from a couple of East Coast League teams. But I thought that they called out of nothing to do. So I finished quietly, received a diploma, but in the summer they showed interest in me again, and then I started thinking, maybe it’s worth a try? I called my close friend, his father worked in "Florida Everblades" equipment manager. He said that they were interested in me. He told me not to sign anything yet and arranged an interview for me, and I eventually signed the contract. Even for me it was a complete surprise.

- What would you have done if you hadn’t gotten into Everblades?

Don't know. Something I studied, management, probably. I didn’t have much time to think about the future - I signed the contract pretty quickly. And I can’t imagine what would happen to me now, who I would become, what I would achieve.

Chris LEE. Photo by HC "Metallurg".

I DID FIGURE SKATING FOR TWO YEARS

- Obviously, large venues have only benefited you. Why?

It’s easier for me to use my skating here. Due to the width of the platforms, the time for making a decision increases by about half a second, and this is a lot for hockey. There is no time to think about narrow ones. And here you have time to see what your partners are doing, and you can calculate the best option for developing an attack, for example. I like big clearings, it’s more interesting to play on them. The game itself turns out to be smarter, or something.

- Where, by the way, do you have such great skating? Niedermayer himself might have liked it. Figure skating didn't you study?

Actually, I did. Two whole years. I was about thirteen years old, I probably don’t remember anymore - I’m getting old. My father met an instructor figure skating, who moved to our tiny town. And he told me to work out with him. I had to obey, although the idea itself disgusted me. But he explained to me that I would be training in hockey skates, that there would be no pirouettes. Those classes turned out to be very useful. She, the instructor, worked on my balance, on turns, acceleration, on instantly changing direction. She helped me stand stronger on skates because I was very small. Although I am still small ( laughs). My skating is the only thing I can be proud of. And I achieved my current level largely thanks to that instructor. In general, the more skating allows you, the longer you can play. Therefore, I have always paid great attention to this and still do.

- And how long can you do it? Now you are gaining a point per match. And it’s as if you’re improving every year, despite your age. How does this happen?

I don’t understand it myself. It should be the other way around. The guys say that I just learned to give the puck to Mozyakin, and he “decides” there, that’s why I have so many points ( laughs). Well, how can you not give it to him? I don't know, I just try to always be in good shape, take care of my body. I'm trying to play smart, working on my skating. As long as I'm at the level, I can play, experience is only a plus. It would be nice to continue the season in the same spirit.

- If we return to the topic of the courts, the other day I called on the NHL to increase their size and return the red line to make the game a little slower and safer. He's had eight concussions in his career, I think, and he's all about safety.

I also think it would be worth increasing it. Maybe not up to 30 meters, but up to 28, but it would be worth it. This would also benefit the game. It just seems that these two meters will not solve anything - they will, and how. Now there is a lot of confusion and clashes. As for the red line, it’s hard for me to judge.

- Do you even remember what it’s like to play with a red line?

I remember a little. With red everything is a little different, everything seems so small. It’s easier to pin down your opponent, because you can’t make a pass to the far blue one. True, if you manage to get out of pressure, then danger immediately appears. There is probably some truth in Lindros' words. But hockey has always been traumatic form sport and will remain so. If you go out on the ice, you accept these risks. Well, individual speeds have grown, and dimensions too. That is, perhaps it would not have given anything. What’s more important is to remove blows to the head from the game, this is something we definitely need to fight against. Well, expanding the sites is a more effective measure.

Ilya KOVALCHUK (left) and Alexander RADULOV. Photo by Alexander FEDOROV, "SE"

KOVALCHUK IS NOT AS GOOD AS PANARIN AND RADULOV

- Which forward is most difficult for you to play against in the KHL?

There were two, but they both went to the NHL - Radulov And . It's very difficult with them. Both are amazingly skilled, Radulov is also endowed with a very large physical strength. He is very difficult to deal with. And Panarin seems so small, you think - now I’ll put it on. But he easily gets away from you, very nimble. It was always interesting with them. It's a shame they left. But Mozyakin is still stronger - I know him well from training.

He's good, but not as good as Panarin With Radulov. True, he's having a great season. I'll take a closer look at him when we meet SKA next time. In the first meeting he did not make much of an impression; those two still caused more problems.

- Is it a dream for other teams to have a roster like SKA’s?

Their composition is, of course, fantastic. In their team, count five links of the first level of any other team. In attack they do something unimaginable. And it looks like they'll break a lot of records. I remember our recent meeting, we were even leading 2:1, but in the end they beat us. All this is good, but "Motorist" I recently beat them. This means others can too. So anything is possible. You should never give someone else victory in advance. We have proven it.

Chris Lee was not allowed into the NHL by Malkin and Crosby, but he came to Magnitogorsk to earn money, broke all the KHL records and even made the national team.

Moved to Russia to earn money for his son’s treatment

The defender's wife Eileen and his sons Carter and Jackson live in the United States. When Chris first moved to Magnitogorsk, he immediately outlined his main goal: to earn more money for Carter’s treatment. The child has Down syndrome, but the father is not going to despair.

– When we first learned about this diagnosis, we were shocked, of course. But now we don’t see anything wrong with it. Our son is a gift from heaven, like any other child. “He’s our son and we love him very much,” the Canadian said four years ago.

The hockey player is definitely not lying; new photos of Carter constantly appear on the Lee spouses’ Instagrams. Moreover, the five-year-old boy already has his own account.

The children have never come to Russia; they mostly see their dad through FaceTime. But Eileen has already been to the city of magnets and mountains twice, the first time she came to support her husband at the final game in the series with Lev.

Record Man

The Canadian has already set several records in the KHL. In the 2014/15 season, with 37 assists in the regular season, he became the best assist among defenders. This season he already has 51 assists. In February of this year, Lee became the most productive defenseman in the history of the USSR and Russian championships, and in the match against Barys he broke the record among defensive players for points scored in one playoff.

Malkin and Crosby prevented from playing in the NHL

It’s surprising, but a hockey player with such qualities has never played in the NHL. Although the contract with the club National League Lee still had it: in 2008, he was signed by the New York Islanders. But it was not destiny for Chris to play in the best league in the world - in an exhibition match against the Florida Panthers, he collided with Rostislav Olesh and lost consciousness. After a serious injury, the rookie no longer had a chance to gain a foothold in the Islanders, so he had to return to the AHL. He played out the season at the Islanders' farm club, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

A year later, Lee had another chance to get into the NHL. Chris then played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and during the season he was called up by the Pittsburgh main team. Lee trained once with the base, but was never called up for a match. And it's not hard to guess why.

-At the only Penguins training session that I attended, we practiced 2-on-1 exits. And they put me against Crosbies Malkin. It seems that in one outing they managed to pass the puck to each other six times. And I - make two revolutions around its axis. When I came to my senses, the puck was already in the goal.

After the second unsuccessful attempt, the 30-year-old player had no patience left at that time, and he left for Germany, to the Kölner Haie club.

Could go to SKA, CSKA, Avangard or Salavat

Despite the fact that Lee did not shine in the NHL, scouts of many Russian teams paid attention to him. Even before the Canadian moved to Russia, there were rumors that SKA, Avangard and Salavat Yulaev wanted to get Chris Lee and Alexander Salak. Salak became a soldier, and Lee a few months later moved to Metallurg, which won the competition from CSKA. As Lee himself said, in the end it ended up in the right place.

Changed his hockey role

Chris Lee was originally a forward. He was transferred to defense only in his second season professional club, when he played for the Florida Everblades in the ECHL. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Canadian is so productive in the KHL.

Played for the national team in the German Cup

With such a relationship with the NHL, Lee was not particularly useful in the national team. But in October last year he was still invited to play in the German Cup along with other hockey players from the KHL and European leagues. The Canadians took second place, and in the most important game against the Slovaks, Lee missed the post-match shootout.

Perhaps Chris will have a second chance to join the national team: the NHL has banned hockey players who play in the league from going to the Olympics in Pyeongchang. Line is young, but there is not long left before the Olympics.