Centre Alexandre Volchkov played three games for the Washington Capitals in 1999-00. The enigmatic talent was a dangerous player in junior but was only marginally successful as a pro.
The Moscow native played junior with the OHL's Barrie Colts where he starred one night and floated the next. He still managed to make the league's second all-star team and earn accolades as a potential NHL star.
Volchkov was taken fourth overall by the Caps then spent most of the next three years chiefly in the minors. The first round bust eventually abandoned North America all together and signed with Molot-Perm of Russia in 2000.
REGULAR SEASON
PLAYOFFS
Season
Club
League
GP
G
A
TP
PIM
+/-
GP
G
A
TP
PIM
1994-95
CSKA Moscow
CIS
1
0
0
0
0
1995-96
Barrie Colts
OHL
47
37
27
64
36
7
2
3
5
12
1996-97
Barrie Colts
OHL
56
29
53
82
76
9
6
9
15
12
1996-97
Russia
WJC-A
6
0
2
2
4
1996-97
Portland Pirates
AHL
4
0
0
0
0
1997-98
Portland Pirates
AHL
34
2
5
7
20
0
1
0
0
0
0
1998-99
Portland Pirates
AHL
27
3
8
11
24
0
1998-99
Cincinnati Cyclones
IHL
25
1
3
4
8
-5
1999-00
Washington Capitals
NHL
3
0
0
0
0
-2
1999-00
Portland Pirates
AHL
35
11
15
26
47
-1
1999-00
Hamilton Bulldogs
AHL
25
2
6
8
11
-7
2000-01
Molot-Prikamje Perm
Russia
14
2
1
3
6
2000-01
Vityaz Podolsk
Russia
10
1
1
2
8
NHL Totals
3
0
0
0
0
OHL All-Rookie Team (1996) OHL Second All-Star Team (1997)
Traded to Edmonton by Washington for a Edmonton's 4th round choice (later traded to Anaheim - Anaheim selected Brandon Rogers) in 2001 Entry Draft, February 4, 2000.
___________
Play hard, shake hands, drink beer.
"LA needs two hockey teams like Switzerland needs two navies" -- Norman Chad (from "My 10-Point Plan to Save Gary Bettman from Himself")
"Playoff hockey is the best two months in team sports . . . period."
Re: Lest We Forget . . . the Last Caps "Top-5" Pick
June 2 2004, 2:33 PM
Word is he liked his Vodka a little too much. I remember going to camp to watch that kid play. The combination of size, skill, and speed was amazing. I always thought he would eventually make it, but it never panned out. That year, we took Svejkovski later in the 1st round and Bulis in the second. It was supposed to rejuvinate the offense for years to come.
Some interesting notes.
Bulis was Volchkov's center in Jrs. Their line along with Daniel Tkachuk was considered one of the best lines ever in Jrs. Only Bulis really has done anything in the pros - considered the least talented of the three in Jrs..
Milbury had the third pick that year. The Isles were slated to take Volchkov, but Milbury didn't like the interview. He surprised people by taking another forward - seems shrewed until you realize that JP Dumont didn't do a heck of a lot for the Islanders.
The top four - Phillips, Zyuzin, Dumont, and Volchkov have not had the impact you would think a top four to have. Phillips has turned into a solid Dman, but not the franchise he was touted to be. Zyuzin has been on at least four teams I can think of. Dumont is a mid to solid forward and Volchkov is nowhere.
Zubrus was picked in the middle of this round too.
