Team Russia left winger Alexander Frolov is on pace for career highs in goals (28) and points (70) for the Los Angeles Kings this season.

Kings' Frolov ready for a
bust-out tournament
By Doug Ward | NHL.com correspondent
Feb. 13, 2006

Although he is one of the brightest young NHL players to come out of Russia in recent years, Alexander Frolov says he can stroll the streets of his native Moscow unrecognized and unimpeded.

"It's such a big city," Frolov, 23, says of his hometown. "There are over 12 million people in Moscow and they all have different interests. It's like New York, or Los Angeles, so nobody even notices a guy like me."

By the end of February, things might be different. Frolov concedes that all of Mother Russia will be watching his every move for two weeks in February. If Frolov's two-week Olympic tournament goes the way his third NHL season has gone thus far, he might have to wear dark glasses next time he walks the streets of Moscow.

Playing on the Los Angeles Kings' top line alongside Olympians Craig Conroy (USA) and Pavol Demitra (Slovakia), the right-handed shooting left winger is on pace for career highs in goals (28) and points (70).

That's the kind of production he'd like to provide for his friends and neighbors during the Olympic tournament.

"The Olympics are really big back home," Frolov says. "All of Russia watches. All my friends and family will watch the games, too. That's why it means so much to be in the Olympics if you're from Russia. You really want to win for the people back home."

Frolov says he'll take a small entourage of his own to Torino, for a little moral support during the Games. "Some of my friends will come with me," he says, "and my girlfriend will be there."

All of which only serves to make the Games even bigger to Frolov.

"It's a huge tournament," Frolov says, "probably the biggest in the world. That's why I'm really excited about it."

Frolov believes this year's Russian entry has the kind of team that can return hockey glory to his homeland. He says Russia has an excellent chance to improve on the bronze medal it won at Salt Lake in 2002.

"We have a really good team, too, so I'm looking forward to trying to win a gold medal. We have very good players, very good offensive players and we're really excited to play together."

The larger Olympic ice sheet, with about 13 more feet of ice to operate on, has traditionally favored the smooth skating teams from Russia and Frolov says he likes the surface, too.

"I like the larger ice," he says. "I played last year in Russia on the larger ice surface and I've played on the big ice before, so I'm used to it by now. I like it fine, because you have more room to make plays."

Another player who figures to play a prominent role for Russia is 20-year-old Alexander Ovechkin, a fellow Muscovite. "We've played together and know each other pretty good," Frolov says of the dynamic left winger who is having a phenomenal rookie season for Washington. "Alexander is really good," Frolov continues. "I think it's the way he plays. He's really strong and has speed and quickness. The new rules really help. He can really skate and nobody can touch him and stop him. He's so strong it's hard to stop."

Alexander Frolov believes this year's Russian team can return hockey glory to his homeland, and has an excellent chance to improve on the bronze medal it won at Salt Lake in 2002.

Frolov can be physical and hard to stop, too. He knows that if his team does well, he and his teammates will be regarded as national heroes.

"When you're playing for your country it's really a great feeling, especially in Russia because everyone in the country is a fan."

Historically speaking, those Russian fans have had a lot to cheer for. From 1956 to 1992 teams representing Russia, the Soviet Union, or the Commonwealth of Independent States, won gold in eight out of 10 Olympic gold medals, losing only to overachieving American teams, first at Squaw Valley (1960), and again at Lake Placid (1980).

"I'm really excited about doing something for my country," Frolov says. "Bringing the gold medal to Russia would be great." Frolov believes the field is wide open. "It's hard to say right now who will be the favorite. Every team is so good. They all have the best players from the NHL and every other league, too. I think every team there has a real chance to go to the finals."

Since leaving Russia, Frolov has spent three winters in Los Angeles. "The big difference between Moscow and L.A. is the weather. Because it's LA, we have good weather all year. That's not like Moscow."

But you'll never hear the mild-mannered Frolov complain. Besides, he has been able to find enough commonalities to feel comfortable in California.

"LA is a big city," he says, "and in that way, it's like Moscow. All my family and all my friends are back there, but there is a big Russian community here, two-or-three-hundred thousand people, and that makes me feel at home."

Still, Russia will always be his real home. "In the summertime," Frolov says, "I always go back to Moscow."

Next summer, when Frolov finds himself walking down a crowded Moscow sidewalk, he just might be the one drawing the crowd.