"Childhood dream is to play in the NHL"
One of the main Russian talents of the generation, Danila Yurov, will continue his career in the Minnesota system. This is already a settled issue. On April 22, the striker terminated his contract with the Magnitogorsk club and signed a rookie contract with the Wild. In an interview with Izvestia and Sport-Express, 21-year-old Yurov spoke about his decision, defeat by Avangard in the first round of the KHL playoffs, injuries and competition with Kirill Kaprizov.
The Metallurg executives understood that I wanted to go to the NHL.
— What prompted you to leave for Minnesota next season?
— The desire, goal and dream of childhood is to play in the NHL. After last season, I realized that I would most likely spend my last year at Metallurg. I was mentally prepared for this decision. I've been dreaming about going to Minnesota all season. I've already been there, I understand how everything works, and that motivated me too.
— Alexander Nikishin and Ivan Demidov left for the NHL immediately after the end of the KHL season. Why didn't you do the same?
— I wanted to fully recover. This is an important factor. There was no point in going not 100% ready. With agents and parents, we decided to stay in Russia, recover peacefully, have a good rest, train, get a work visa and go prepare for the next season.
— Has Minnesota been trying to persuade you to join the team now?
— We have explained our position to the club. I want to come fully prepared and help the team. There were no problems, they understood everything. They also need a fully healthy player.
— How did Metallurg try to save you? There was a moment when you said: don't contact me for negotiations?
— I immediately told the agent that I have a great desire to go to the NHL. Metallurg tried to leave me, but Evgeny Nikolaevich Biryukov and Alexey Greedy also understood that I wanted to go to the NHL.
— How was your communication with the Wild during the season?
— It's the same as in previous years. They sent me errors, and they asked me about my condition every week. They were worried when I came out after a shoulder injury. I had constant contact, they were always ready to help me. He didn't feel any drop in interest in me. I couldn't imagine my week without a message from Minnesota.
— And who wrote to you? Scout for Europe, personally general manager Bill Guerin?
— Head of the scouting service, development coaches, scout for Russia Ivan Nepryaev. I talked to Bill Gerin last spring after my surgery.
If necessary, I will make my way to the Minnesota roster through the farm club.
— The head coach changed at Minnesota a year ago. John Hines replaced Dean Evason, who brought Kirill Kaprizov to the NHL. Does this add to the uncertainty for you?
— We haven't talked specifically about my role yet. Maybe I'll come to Minnesota before the training camp and have a chance to talk. The main thing now is to give the leg a full recovery and have a good rest after a difficult season. All my thoughts are just about unloading my head.
— How are you preparing for North America? Are you learning English? Are you learning the basics of independent living?
— I'm learning English. I practice at least once a week. In everyday life, it is still completely impossible to plunge into what awaits me in North America. I'll only understand that there. Don't think that life in America is another universe. We need to get into their rhythm of life as quickly as possible. I've been to the USA a couple of times, I know how they live. I hope the adaptation will be quick.
— How would you rate your English? Can you give an interview in this language?
— I know hockey terms ideally. Mark French, Mike Pelino, and Fredrik Stillman worked at Metallurg. Speaking english: it will be awkward if I say something wrong. As it was, for example, with Leonid Slutsky. I can also talk to foreigners. When I went to Minnesota, the general manager, the staff, and the doctors understood me. I knew that I had to learn English, so I immediately took it up.
— There are people in your environment who have already left for North America: Nikita Grebenkin, Marat Khusnutdinov. Did they give you advice?
— Nikita Grebenkin is due to arrive after the playoffs. I think we'll see each other and train together. So we'll talk to him. My agent should help me with the adaptation. Plus, I plan to train with the Russian guys from the NHL. They'll explain everything to me, they'll tell me everything. I understand what traditions and manners Americans have.
"And what manners?" In the USA, you should always smile. Are you ready to be friendly all the time?
— If necessary, I will adjust. I like to laugh. There is no such thing as going gloomy. At first, it will be unusual to be asked how you are, but this is just a formality — how do we say "hello"? It will take time to adapt, but everyone goes through it.
— How did you feel about the exchange of Marat Khusnutdinov from Minnesota to Boston?
— With surprise. At first, I saw that one Czech had been exchanged, and Marat's last name was only at the end. I was surprised. He played the whole season in the NHL, but he was traded. I think it will be easier for him to gain a foothold in Boston. He's got talent, he's an efficient guy. I hope he succeeds.
— How do you feel about a possible transfer to the AHL?
— They will send and send, what's the big deal? I'm going to prove everything through the AHL.
— Some players immediately stop this with a clause in the contract about a possible return to Russia.
— If necessary, I will fight my way through the farm club. I've learned to be patient over my career. I don't see anything terrible in the AHL. Hockey is different in North America. Perhaps it's even easier to get used to it in a farm club. There is an example of Kirill Marchenko: he was sent to the AHL, he played for a month in Cleveland, and he was promoted to Columbus. Egor Chinakhov and Dmitry Voronkov also played at the farm club.
— Kirill Kaprizov is already a legend of Minnesota. What kind of relationship are you in? Can you call him and ask him where it is better to rent a place?
— There is no problem with that. When I came to the training camp, we talked and called each other. I think I can call him without any problems, but the playoffs are underway right now. Obviously not up to it yet. After the season, maybe we'll call him and ask him some questions.
— Aren't you afraid to stay in Kaprizov's shadow? There is an example of Edmonton, where Leon Draisaitl is always second after Connor McDavid.
— No, I'm not afraid. I don't think we will have a rivalry with Kirill. I'm going to the NHL to learn new details, progress, gain a foothold in the main team and win the Stanley Cup. No matter what role awaits me, I am ready for anything. All the names are engraved on the cup, not just one.
The Avangard series lacked simple solutions and skill.
— In the 2024/25 season, you suffered the most serious injuries of your career and two surgeries. Have you rethought the value of health?
— As for the shoulders, I knew that they needed to be pumped up. My shoulder hurt for a long time, I played like this for two and a half seasons. But the sore took its toll — I had to have an operation. It was a stupid situation with the ankle. I twisted my foot on the puck. I played a match, then there was a pause. Everything seemed to be fine, but in the game with Traktor I twisted it again, and with Siberia I finished it off. Although it seemed that the pain had calmed down. I probably should have put on a special "boot" right away and given more peace.
— Did an ankle injury prevent you from playing in the playoffs?
— In the Avangard series, I gave my best. I didn't skate on clean ice — I tried to keep up everywhere. It was hard because of the loss of game rhythm. But I gave everything I could. Now I understand that the leg wasn't 100% ready, maybe 70-75. But I had a great desire, that's why we decided that I would play from the second match.
— What was missing to get past Avangard in the first round of the playoffs?
— Simple solutions and craftsmanship. It's on the surface. I recently reviewed the sixth game. It seems that we are pushing, pushing, and Avangard defuses the situation by running or stopping. This was the case throughout the series. I didn't have enough basic experience in making simple decisions.
— Have you felt for yourself what the season after the championship means?
— As Andrey Vladimirovich [Razin] used to say: "You seem to do everything the same way: you train, you work, but the puck doesn't go into the goal." It's at times like this that you start to eat yourself up. I think a lot of people in the team have been through this. We played and treated the matter the same way as we did in the last goal. But something didn't work out. How many matches did we play from 0:3, from 1:4. The fart probably turned away a little at first. It was not enough for us to take the second place in the conference.
— Were you worried that you didn't score points as often in the regular season?
— At first— yes. Especially after last season. I've talked to Andrey Vladimirovich and other people. I understand that I've been playing in waves all season. And this is a normal story after such operations. No matter how much you prepare, it's hard to play without a preseason. I think Roma Kantserov and Denis Zernov had the same story. You just have to endure it.
— How did you deal with the psychological pressure when the game wasn't going on? What has this situation taught you?
— I tried to distract myself. Turn on a comedy series or movie. And go to bed as soon as possible. I don't have any problems sleeping after playing games. I came, ate, and lay down. You need to be able to unload your head. A new day begins at 00.00. And last day is history. Everything comes through work. The generation when Sergey Mozyakin and Danis Zaripov played also produced such series. Everyone goes through this. These are the features of a career.
— In recent seasons, you have played both in the center and on the wing. Where are you more comfortable?
— It's more comfortable in the center. I'm already used to this role. When they put it on the edge in the season, it was unusual. You spend more time with the puck in the center. Let's see what position I'll be used in Minnesota. I'm ready to play everywhere.
— What should I add before leaving for the NHL?
— Muscle strength, endurance. You can't play 82 matches in the regular season just on desire or muscles. You need stamina. I think we can also add to the speed. And in terms of technology, they will tell you already at the training camp.
It's hard to leave the place where I grew up, where I became a hockey player.
— Did you see how Ivan Demidov was greeted at Montreal? Were you surprised?
— Montreal is the capital of hockey. I was there at the draft, so I know what the hype is there. There was no surprise. This is how many avenues are greeted in Montreal. But if something goes wrong, the pressure starts right away. I hope Vanya will succeed. And it won't come to that.
— Are you ready for the same thing to happen in St. Paul?
- yes. There was also some pressure in Magnitogorsk. Last spring and summer it was hard to go outside — there was a lot of attention. It's important to be mentally prepared, read less about yourself, and be able to clear your head. Don't get hung up on being loved or hated, you just have to do your job. From love to hate is one step. But also vice versa.
— It's not a fact that it's one step back.
— There are examples when a man in the playoffs pulls a shot out of an empty net or scores an important goal and they start praising him. You just have to ignore the pressure and be your head in hockey, not around it.
— Aren't you worried that you're leaving the place where you've lived for a long time, that you'll be away from your parents now?
— Of course, it's hard to leave the place where I grew up, where I became a hockey player. But it must be done to get out of the comfort zone. I understand that it's time to move on and become stronger. If not now, then later it will be difficult to go mentally. Take the example of Anatoly Golyshev. He left at the age of 26 with his children and his wife. He told me how hard it was for him: he had to drive 100 km because he didn't know where he was going to play, in the NHL or the AHL. At his age, it's more comfortable to play in Russia. I realize now that leaving is a difficult moment, but I understand that this step must be taken.
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