NY Islanders prospect found an unlikely English tutor this summer

Daniil Prokhorov came to North America with plenty to work on.

His skating. His strength. Adjusting to a different style of hockey. And, apparently, his English.

The New York Islanders prospect found a pretty unlikely tutor for that last part: in the form of former New York Rangers star and current free agent Chris Kreider.

Prokhorov stayed in the United States following the Islanders’ development camp in July and spent the summer training in Stamford, Connecticut, with renowned strength coach Ben Prentiss. The group included Kreider, Trevor Zegras and fellow Russians Pavel Dorofeyev and Dmitri Voronkov.

A year ago, when the Islanders selected Prokhorov with the 10th pick of the second round, the 6-foot-5 winger spoke almost no English.

That has changed quickly.

“He talks in good Russian, Kreider, and he trained me in English,” Prokhorov told the New York Post.

Kreider speaks English, Russian and Spanish, making him a rather convenient teammate to have around during long summer training sessions.

The result was noticeable. Prokhorov was able to conduct an interview in conversational English this week, another small sign of how much more comfortable he is becoming in North America.

That adjustment matters because this season represents his first real extended opportunity on this side of the Atlantic.

Prokhorov spent most of last season bouncing between Russia’s KHL and VHL before appearing in one game for Bridgeport late in the year. Now he is preparing for a full North American season.

He certainly put in the work.

“Three trainings every day: two gym, one ice,” Prokhorov said of his summer routine. “It’s a good summer. I’m ready for the season.”

For an Islanders prospect already learning a new league, a new country and a new style of hockey, having Kreider double as an English teacher probably wasn’t something anyone saw coming.

But it certainly didn’t hurt.

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