Pavel Buchnevich: 'Blues Players Call Me The Russian Bergeron'

6 min read
Sep 9, 2024, 5:28 AM
Pavel Buchnevich

Pavel Buchnevich // Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

 

St. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich, who recently extended his contract for six more years, spent the summer in his hometown of Cherepovets, a city with a population of 300,000 located 370 miles from Moscow. He began his preseason training, skating with kids from the local hockey school and some local pros.

"Since the end of July, I've been skating three or four times a week and hitting the gym regularly to stay in shape," Buchnevich said in a one-on-one interview with RG.org. "In the summer, I build the foundation to feel good during the season. On July 20, I participated in Panarin’s and Sergachev’s charity game, but I had only skated three times before that. It was tough during the game; I couldn’t move my feet in the third period."

"I used to skate with players from the KHL, like Bogdan Kiselevich, Daniil Vovchenko, and Makar Khabarov," Buchnevich said. "Someone was always on the ice, and we played 5-on-5. I skated alone or with Severstal U18 in August to do high-intensity exercises. My coach is Sergei Sakharusov, and we played together for one year. He retired as a professional hockey player and became a coach, and he has some pretty exciting skating exercises. By the way, kids can do some exercises better than I can. I can’t do some anymore."

Buchnevich spends the final stage of his preparation in St. Louis. He arrived there in September, a few weeks before the opening of the training camp. He enjoys living in Missouri after the bustling life in New York.

"It's great. No traffic jams. Everything is fast. I like it!" he says.

Buchnevich admits feeling nostalgic for his first season with the Blues when Vladimir Tarasenko and Ivan Barbashev played on the team.

“When I was traded to St. Louis, I started playing more and got more powerplay time. We had a solid team with three strong lines. The players' level was very high. But we were unlucky with injuries in the playoffs. We had many good stories when Tarasenko and Barbashev played with us. It was a fabulous time. We communicated closely with the guys, went to dinners, and got together at someone's house. It's good to have Russians on the team."

"Now I mostly communicate with Alexey Toropchenko," Buchnevich said. "It's easier to communicate in Russian. With Alexandrov, of course, too. It's just that Nikita has been playing in North America for a long time and speaks English well. He is in contact with everyone. Maybe his mentality is a little different, but he is still Russian and speaks Russian well."

Russian Bergeron

Buchnevich wants to be a versatile player and play center next season. He was first tried in the NHL as a center in the 2022-23 and spent the end of last season entirely in this position.

"Everything new is interesting, and this is no exception," Buchnevich said. "Let's see how it goes. Faceoffs are difficult for me, especially when you lose them. If you lose a faceoff, you have to spend 20 seconds trying to get the puck back from your opponent, and everyone wants to have the puck. When I played on a wing, [Robert] Thomas won a lot of faceoffs, and before that, [Mika] Zibanejad. They all had over 50%. It is much easier to create something with this type of players.”

Buchnevich admits he has no one to work with on faceoffs in the summer, but he pays close attention to this during the season.

"I can't play against a 15-year-old kid. It's pointless", Buchnevich smiled. "I talked to assistant coach Steve Ott, who played in the center a lot, so we worked on faceoffs. At the end of the season, after each practice, we worked on them. He said everything comes with experience, and I must practice as much as possible. Ott said, 'You go up against the strongest centers, like [Patrice] Bergeron, who has been playing this position for many years, and you have just started. It will be difficult.' He tells me what to pay attention to. I may forget about it in the game, but it is automatic for the players used to play center."

"We practiced powerplay on pregame skates, and I stayed to work extra. Someone shoots, someone takes shootouts, and I practice faceoffs. I hope this will give results."

Buchnevich said the teammates jokingly called him "The Russian Bergeron" when he first tried to play as a center.

"That was the first time I was put as a center," Buchnevich said. "Everyone giggled. During the game, all the guys helped me, talked to me, and told me what to do. They understood that playing in the center was new to me and that it needed time."

"McDavid is a mix of Messi and Mbappe in hockey"

Buchnevich believes that Dallas is the best team in the NHL regarding faceoffs:

"The Stars are the strongest team in the league in terms of faceoffs. They have left-handers and right-handers on each line. You always go against the strong side. It's tough."

According to Buchnevich, the top three centers in the NHL are Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Aleksander Barkov.

"I haven't played against McDavid on the dot; I've played against [Leon] Draisaitl. But if this isn't about faceoffs, then, of course, I've played against McDavid a lot. You prepare for a game with him differently. His speed makes him a unique hockey player. He scores 150 points when two players are against him. If he only played one-on-one against me, he would score 300 points. He's unique. His hands are powerful. It's great when you can handle the puck at that speed. It's an art. Connor is a mix of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in hockey."

Daria went to St. Petersburg State University and earned a bachelor of international journalism. Working as a sports journalist from 2014, from 2016 as a hockey journalist. Covered 5 World Championships, 2022 Winter Olympics, 2020 World Juniors, 6 Gagarin Cup Finals. 

Owner of a telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth.

Integrative nutritionist specializing on sports nutritionology.

Interests:
NHL
Nutrition
Interviews

More RG Exclusive Interviews

Our Authors

Paruyr Shahbazyan began his business career in 2000 as a private entrepreneur. Over thirteen years, he developed a deep understanding for business and leadership, laying a solid foundation for his professional journey.

In 2013, Paruyr stepped into the sports and betting industry as the founder and president of Bookmaker Rating. This online mass media platform, which he led until 2020, focused on providing in-depth analysis and insights in sports betting, earning a reputation for its quality content. 

Continuing his innovative approach in 2022, Paruyr co-founded Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol. This venture showcases his dedication to integrating advanced technology in the evolving landscape of sports betting. Through these diverse experiences, Paruyr has continuously influenced and shaped the betting industry, driving new trends and setting high standards.

 ExperienceYear
Engaged in private entrepreneurship2000-2013
Founder and President at Bookmaker Rating, an online platform focused on sports and betting2013-2020
Co-founder at Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol2022

"Innovation in sportsbetting comes from a deep understanding of both technology and the human element of sports." 

- Paruyr Shahbazyan, Founder, RG

 

Principles and Ethics

Paruyr Shahbazyan's core beliefs lie in the power of informed decision-making and integrity in the betting industry. He understands that the foundation of successful betting is not just about odds and predictions, but also about the trust and reliability of the information provided. Paruyr advocates for a betting environment where transparency and knowledge are paramount, ensuring that bettors are well-equipped with accurate data and insights.

Strategic Vision

Paruyr's vision is to revolutionize the sports betting industry through the integration of technology. He sees the future of betting as a blend of traditional sports knowledge with innovative tech solutions, like decentralized protocols, to enhance user experience and fairness. His aim is to create platforms that are not only user-friendly but also uphold the highest standards of ethical betting, contributing to a more responsible and enjoyable betting culture.

Future Perspectives

Looking towards the future, Paruyr envisions a betting landscape that is more inclusive, technologically advanced, and globally connected. He anticipates a significant shift towards more decentralized and transparent betting systems, driven by blockchain technology. Paruyr is committed to being at the forefront of this change, continuously exploring new possibilities and innovations that can redefine what it means to engage in sports betting in a digital world. His focus is on building systems that prioritize user empowerment, fairness, and the global growth of the sports betting community.

 

Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Editor-in-Chief

Sol has over 20 years of experience in writing for diverse industries including sports, gambling, regulation, technology, and startups. As the Editor-in-Chief at RG, Sol brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role, focusing on delivering transparent, evidence-based content grounded in thorough research. Sol's mission is to empower readers to enjoy gambling responsibly and make informed decisions, enhancing their overall experience through insightful and engaging content. Under Sol's leadership, RG prioritizes the highest standards of integrity and reliability, ensuring that all information provided is accurate and trustworthy. Sol's dedication to transparency and research-based writing helps create a responsible gambling environment where readers can truly benefit from the content. This commitment to excellence has positioned RG as a leading source of information in the gambling industry.

Experience:

  • Over 20 years in writing and editing across multiple industries
  • Former head of regional innovation at BMO Financial Group
  • Senior Writer, Online Casino Reports
Cristina Varela Galan
Cristina Varela Galan
Problem Gambling Expert

Cristina used to work as a Psychology Assistant in the Bizkaia Pathological and Risky Gamblers Association. She was also part of a research team in Deusto University, specializing in pathological gambling area. While working there, she managed to develop her own project 

 “Exploring the association between emotional regulation, alexithymia, stressful life events and gambling in adolescent and young adult women”.

Nick Ashbourne
Nick Ashbourne
Senior Writer

Nick has been fascinated with sports since he was first taken to a Toronto Maple Leafs game back in 1998, and he's written about them professionally since 2014.

Nick has covered baseball and hockey for outlets like The Athletic, Sportsnet, and Yahoo Sports, and his sports betting expertise has grown since its legalization in Ontario in 2022. 

Between 2022 and 2023 he worked for a betting startup called NorthStar Bets, and in 2024 he contributed to Oddspedia before joining the Responsible Gambler team.

Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Head of News Department

Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.

Anna Kravtcova
Anna Kravtcova
Problem Gambling Expert

Ph.D. in organizational psychology, an internationally certified psychologist (EuroPsy 2022, Cognitive behavioural therapy of mindfulness 2020, International Society for Emotional Intelligence 2017, Russian Psychological society 2014, American Psychological Association(Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologist) 2011), speaker of many international conferences (USA, Brazil, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, etc.). TEDx speaker.

Mark Medina
Mark Medina
NBA Reporter

Mark Medina is a longtime NBA reporter that includes stints as a Lakers blogger with The Los Angeles Times (2010-12), Lakers beat writer with the Los Angeles Daily News (2012-17), Warriors beat writer with Bay Area News Group (2017-19) as well as an NBA reporter/columnist for USA Today (2019-21) and NBA.com (2021-23). Medina is also an NBA insider with Fox Sports Radio and frequent contributor to CBSLA's SportsCentralLA with Jim Hill and with Spectrum Sportsnet.

Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria went to St. Petersburg State University and earned a bachelor of international journalism. Working as a sports journalist from 2014, from 2016 as a hockey journalist. Covered 5 World Championships, 2022 Winter Olympics, 2020 World Juniors, 6 Gagarin Cup Finals. 

Owner of a telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth.

Integrative nutritionist specializing on sports nutritionology.

Paul M. Banks
Paul M. Banks
Sports Reporter

Paul M. Banks is a professional Content Creator whose career has seen bylines in numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Yahoo, MSN, FOX Sports and Sports Illustrated.

Banks has made scores of guest appearances on live radio and television, featuring regularly on NTD News, WGN-TV, CCTV, ESPN Radio, the History Channel, SiriusXM and CBS Sports Radio.

He is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank.net, which has been featured and linked in hundreds of leading media outlets all across the world.

He has also authored two books, one of which, "No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in Sports Media," became an assigned textbook in journalism courses at State University New York-Oneonta.

Marco D'Amico
Marco D'Amico
Hockey Reporter

Marco D'Amico is a beat reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL Draft, while also being a recurring guest on TSN690 and BPM Sports. His work primarily on NHL CBA breakdowns and prospect analysis, all while covering the Montreal Canadiens on a day-to-day basis.

Show More