HF’s Interview with Denis Grot

By Eugene Belashchenko
DENIS GROT’S FIRST NORTH AMERICAN INTERVIEW

BY: EUGENE BELASHCHENKO (WWW.RUSSIANPROSPECTS.COM / WWW.HOCKEYSFUTURE.COM ) 

DATE: 06/03/02

 

Denis Grot is a great offensive defenseman and one of Russia’s best in this year’s entry draft behind Denis Grebeshkov.  Denis has a great hockey sense and vision, establishing himself as a power play quarterback. His rights are owned by Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, but due to the teams crowded blue line, he spent most of the season on loan with Elemash Elektrostal.  On the Russian National 84 team, Denis was a top four defenseman, manning the quarterback spot on the second power play unit.  Besides his hockey ability, Denis is friendly, a true team player with a soft demeanor and a team first attitude. RussianProspects and HF writer Eugene Belashchenko caught up with Denis, while he was visiting Toronto for the pre-draft physical examinations and NHL team interviews.

 

EB: First of all, can you tell me where you were born, how you started to play hockey?

D. Grot: I was born in Minsk.  My father took me to play hockey.  I was 7 then. 

   

EB: You were born in Minsk? How did you end up with Elemash?

D. Grot: Well, I first ended up in Yaroslavl, which gave me to Elemash for a six month loan.

 

EB: What kind of a player do you consider yourself?

D. Grot: I really like fast paced offensive hockey.

 

EB: In what characteristics of your game do you feel you need to work on the most?

D. Grot: I need to work on every aspect of the game, to do everything faster. 

 

EB: As I understand it, there are more then 10 guys with Elemash who are members of the Russian 84 National squad.  Does this help you guys when you play for the National Team?

D. Grot: Of course it helps.  We definitely gain more experience.  We play those same games together, but at a higher level of hockey.  In the end we play much better together.

 

EB: At the U18 World Junior Championships you guys finished silver. Do you have any feelings, recollections you would like to share regarding the tournament?

D. Grot: My recollections are very positive, but I was very disappointed after the last game.

 

EB: What happened? Could you tell a little bit about that game against USA?

D. Grot: Well, it seemed that we started the game off very badly.  We were weak and I think they scored two goals against us right away.  Only then did we, more or less, started to play, and started to move. Then we scored a goal and in the end of the game we made a disappointing error, and they scored another goal.

 

EB: What role did you have on Russia’s 84 squad? Did you earn minutes on the power plays, short handed?

D. Grot: I played all the time on the power play and shorthanded.

 

EB: Denis Grebeshkov told me that you guys went and saw Toronto Maple Leafs game against Carolina. What did you think? How did you like it?

D. Grot: Everything was great.  They made an amazing show, everything was beautiful. All the people were shouting.  It was awesome. 

 

EB: Do you follow NHL?

D. Grot: Yeah, I follow it, but only sometimes.  There was really nowhere to watch it we only had six channels.  (laughing)

 

EB: At the beginning of this past season, while you played for Elemash, did you set any goals before yourself ? Do you feel you achieved your set goals?

D. Grot: I aimed to improve my play, to gain experience. Our goal was to improve the quality of play as much as possible.  We aimed to lose as little as possible, and tried to win every game.  That did not work out that well, – we couldn’t win often. It was a different level of hockey – more difficult.  But we tried, there were matches when we played great.

 

EB: This year you were invited to the annual NHL draft which this year is held in Toronto. The Central Scouting Bureau ranks you 11th amongst European skaters which gives you a very solid chance to get drafted very high in the draft. What are your feelings regarding this? Do you feel the pressure of the upcoming draft?

D. Grot: No, not really.

 

EB: Is this your first visit to Toronto?

D. Grot: Yeah, it’s my first visit. I like it.

 

EB: Did you guys do anything outside hockey?

D. Grot: Well, we just kind of walk around. Went to a couple of stores, electronics, hockey equipment.  We are planning on stopping by the Hall [of Fame EB].

 

EB: What are you guys doing during your, how can I put it, pre-draft preparations?

D. Grot: We are taking various tests. There are strength tests, flexibility tests, endurance tests.

EB: What are your impressions regarding the tests.  Are they a lot, or did you do similar lifting while with Elemash?

D. Grot: Here, everything is a lot more difficult then in Elemash.  In Elemash, well, there were days when we lifted with the coach, and we could go to the weight room on our own time, separately from the team. I lift on my own. 

 

EB: So, you go weight lifting outside the teams schedule.

D. Grot: Yeah, if I have time, I try to do it.

EB: Ok, but with the team you don’t really go lifting .

D. Grot: Well, not, not really, we do lift, just not very often 

 

EB: What are your plans for next year?

D. Grot: Next year I would like to earn a spot on Yaroslav’s main roster.

 

Thank you very much for your time Denis  Good luck at the draft.

- Eugene Belashchenko