PLAYER PROFILE: ZIYAT PAIGIN

/in /by

ZIYAT PAIGIN

2016-17: 17 GP, 1g-3a-4pts (w/ Ak Bars Kazan, KHL)
17 GP, 5g-2a-7pts (w/ Bars Kazan, VHL)
5 GP, 0g-0a-0pts (w/ Bakersfield)

2017-18: Year one of a two-year NHL entry level contract

 

GET TO KNOW ZIYAT WITH THESE FIVE FAST FACTS:

  1. 2017-18 will mark his first full season in North America after spending his entire professional career in his native Russia; he joined the Condors late in the season last year and played five games
  2. Was named to the 2015-16 KHL (Russia) All-Star Game as he had 27 points (9g-18a) in 37 games with HK Sochi
  3. Won a Silver Medal with Russia at the 2015 World Junior Championships; had three points (1g-2a) in seven games
  4. Pronounced “ZEE-yat” and goes by “Z”; stands 6’6″ tall and weighs 210 lbs.
  5. Grew up in Penza, Russia and played with former Condors winger Anton Slepyshev

WHAT HE’S SAYING:

“If I’d gone back to Russia this summer, I wouldn’t have worked as hard as I did here,” he said.

If he has to go to the Oilers AHL farm after their main training camp, bring it on, baby.

“If the coaches say go to Bakersfield, I’ll go there. it’s a good league,” said Paigin, who has little trouble with English verbiage; He welcomes interviews as part of his pro initiation.

“I started speaking English in elementary school and after I went to Kazan (KHL) we had four or five North Americans including Anders Nilsson. You know him here. Very good goalie,” said Paigin. “I want to play in the NHL. It’s the best league in the world.”

– “Z” in an interview with the Edmonton Sun’s Jim Matheson: full article here

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:

“He’s seven feet tall and he can skate like the wind,” joked Mark Letestu in a fit of hyperbole after seeing Paigin for two weeks at Perry Pearn’s 3-on-3 pro camp. “You can tell he’s played in a men’s league before.

“And he’s from Sleppy’s hometown, they grew up and played minor hockey together.”

HIGHLIGHT:

Z scores for HK Sochi off the rush

FROZEN MOMENT
Z celebrates with Russia during a recent contest. He has played for both the World Junior team and the Men’s National Team