Leo Komarov - about Toronto, Dynamo and the national team. Komarov, Leonid Aleksandrovich Why does Leo Komarov play for Finland

Teams
Former teams

Leonid Aleksandrovich Komarov(Russian : Leonid Aleksandrovich Komarov , Leonid Aleksandrovich Komarov listen), born January 23, 1987) is a Soviet-born Finnish-Russian professional ice hockey center currently playing for the New York Islanders in the National Hockey League (NHL). A natural center early in his career, Komarov made the transition to being able to play all three forward positions.

Raised in Finland, Komarov is the first Estonian-born player in the NHL. Komarov was a member of the gold medal-winning Finnish team at the 2011 IIHF World Championship.

Gaming career

After playing with various youth teams, Komarov began his professional career in the Finnish SM-Liiga with ASSAT. After winning a silver medal with ASSAT in 2006, he moved to the Pelicans. After a season with ACCAT, he was selected in the sixth round of the 2006 draft, 180th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Personal life

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Statistics

Statistics

№ - Game number

I - Number of games played

Ш - Abandoned goals

A - Transmissions

+/- - Plus/minus

Sht - Penalty time

Biography

Biography

Born on January 23, 1987 in Narva. At the age of 5, Leonid and his father moved to Finland, to the city of Nykarleby, where Alexander Komarov played for clubs in the Finnish second division. Since Alexander was a Karelian by nationality, the family had the opportunity to stay in Finland for permanent residence. Until 2005, Leonid played for junior teams. In 2006, he won silver medals in the SM-League as part of the Essyat team. From 2006 to 2009 he played for the Pelicans.

Finnish national team player. In 2006 and 2007 he played for the Finnish youth team at the World Championships (in 2007 he was team captain), in 2010 and 2011 - for the main team.

Since the 2009-10 season he has been a player of Dynamo Moscow.

In May 2011, Leo Komarov became the world champion in hockey as part of the Finnish national team, which beat the Swedish team 6:1 in the final of the 75th world championship.

Personal achievements

Personal achievements

Achievements at the club level:

Champion of Russia 2012, 2013
Winner of the Gagarin Cup 2012, 2013
Winner of the Opening Cup 2010
Participant of the 2011 KHL All-Star Game

Achievements at the national team level (Finland):

Third medalist at the 2014 Olympic Games
World Champion 2011
Second prize-winner of the World Championship 2014, 2016
Participant of the world championships 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015
Third medalist at the 2006 U20 World Championship
U20 World Cup 2007 participant

On stages of the European Hockey Tour

First place winner:

Channel One Cup 2009, Swedish Hockey Games 2010, Karjala Cup 2010, 2013

Second place winner:

Channel One Cup 2008, Karjala Cup 2009, Karjala Cup 2011

Third prize:

Swedish Hockey Games 2009, Czech Hockey Games 2009, Czech Hockey Games 2011

Tournament participant:

Channel One Cup 2010, Swedish Hockey Games 2012

Data

On May 17, 2012, by order No. 87NG of the Ministry of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy, he was awarded the title “Master of Sports of International Class.”

Press

Sports day by day / 05/04/2011

Finnish team forward Leonid Komarov started the World Cup in Bratislava with an injury: having received a serious cut on his hand in the first period of the first match, he was forced to miss the meeting with the Latvians. However, on Wednesday he must take to the ice in a game against the current world champions, the Czechs. In an interview with Sport, Komarov admitted that he had already decided where he would spend the next club season, and also assessed the performance of the Russian national team in this tournament.

Press service of HC Dynamo Moscow / 10/27/2011

Leo Komarov: It's time for me to wake up

Forward of the Finnish national team and Dynamo Moscow Leo Komarov is a favorite of the Dynamo torsida. His post-match show leaves no one indifferent. And the “Russian Finn” always sincerely greets the fans, knowing full well that he plays for them. Last spring, Komarov became the world champion as part of the Finnish national team, and now similar feats are expected of him at Dynamo.

Press service of HC Dynamo Moscow / 10/07/2010

Leo Komarov: Sometimes I score out of fear

Finnish forward of Dynamo Moscow Leo Komarov is a public favorite. To understand this, it is enough to visit the blue-white home match once. The fans simply dote on Leo. And he reciprocates their feelings. This season, Komarov came up with his own “trick”: after the team leaves for the locker room, he jumps out onto the ice in splendid isolation and, in his own way, thanks the audience for their support. We started our interview with him with a question about Leo’s know-how.

How did you manage to become the most Russian Finn and the most Finnish Russian?

I was born in Narva, when Estonia was still part of the USSR. I was about five years old, and my father, a hockey player, was invited to play in Finland. There we stayed. Then I received Finnish citizenship. And he signed up for the Russian one in 2009, when he started playing for Dynamo. According to one passport I am Leo, according to the other I am Leonid. But I'm more Finnish than Russian.

Is it difficult to live in Finland?

I got used to it easily. We settled in the village of Nykarleby, or Uusi Karleby in Finnish - maybe it’s easier for you. I went to a Swedish school. After all, Finland has two official languages, and in our village almost everyone spoke Swedish.

Is the typical image of a Finn a quiet alcoholic?

Well, just look at “Peculiarities of National Fishing”. Actor Ville Haapasalo showed everything very accurately. The way he played - this is a real Finn. Interestingly, Ville is not as popular in Finland as in Russia, where everyone recognizes him on the street. It's a pity we don't know each other.

Is it true that when you played in the Finnish league, you won the Most Hated Player award four times?

People lie, huh? I have only received such a prize three times. And it's not even a trophy. Just one Finnish newspaper annually conducts a survey of hockey players. Who is the best player, rookie, goalkeeper, who has the strongest shot, and who is a complete freak. I didn’t give the last nomination to anyone.

Why didn't they love you so much?

I'm a subcutaneous player. I mean, during a match I get under my opponent’s skin. I play against him so hard and tightly that he wants to cry. For fans of other teams, I was the main enemy. But when I started playing for the Finnish national team, everyone loved me at once.

You are now playing for Dynamo. The team bosses announced before the start of the season: “We will not have dollar millionaires.” Why are you doing so well in the KHL championship?

If you look at it on paper, our lineup by name is not impressive. Many would doubt us. But Dynamo is the coach’s team. Oleg Znarok led HC MVD to the final of the Gagarin Cup last season. And then the lineup was also not stellar. And then HC MVD and Dynamo were merged into one club. Znarok has assembled a team in which everyone is in their place and knows what to do. Training is fun. Znarok smiles and jokes: “How are you? How are you, bro?” And there are teams where you skate for an hour and go home, and no one says a word to you. The atmosphere in the team is important.

How do you like Moscow?

I came here to experience life. I'm from the village, I didn't see anything. We had deer walking through the streets there, and one day a bear ran out. When we came to matches in Helsinki, the Finnish capital seemed like Las Vegas. Until I got to Moscow. Recently I invited friends from the village here - they thought they were in heaven. In Finland they show a lot of films about Russia - they kill you, life is terrible. But it turned out the opposite was true. Moscow is a city where any desires come true. For example, here I first learned what sushi is. Only traffic jams, of course, spoil the mood.

We know how they joke in the NHL: they nail boots to the floor, cut off ties. Do Russian hockey have the same jokes?

Yes, the jokes are the same. When I played in Finland, I put cold coffee under my friend’s helmet. He gets dressed for the match in a white T-shirt, takes his helmet off the shelf - and then a coffee shower hits him! And we once flew to Dynamo on an away trip. Teammate Derlyuk was sleeping in a chair, his mouth open. I threw him a piece of paper there. And our goalkeeper Michael Garnett filmed it. So the guy woke up, his eyes were round, and he ran after the goalkeeper. Well, it's a stupid joke, I agree. But what else to do on the flight?

Name the main advantage of Russian hockey.

I love playing against stars. The same Jaromir Jagr from Avangard. When I was little, I watched his matches on TV. And now I’m going against him. Well, yes, Jagr gets angry when I play hard with him. But I’m so pleased! On the left is me, on the right is Jagr. Previously, one could only dream of this.

What about the bad?

Just airplanes. I hate flying! When it starts to shake on takeoff and landing, everything inside me turns over. There is no panic, but the feeling is terrible. When I need to fly on hockey business, I muster my will. But on vacation it’s hard to get me on a plane. I think I’ve only been to Spain and Bulgaria, and I’m still going to Dubai. And I go home to Helsinki by the Lev Tolstoy train, which runs from Leningradsky Station.

From 2006 to 2009, Komarov played for the Finnish club Pelicans, after which he moved to Russia, becoming a player for Dynamo Moscow. He became one of the leaders in the capital team, and in 2012 he decided to try his luck in the NHL, but his career in Toronto was very short-lived, and in 2013 Komarov returned to Russia, again signing a contract with Dynamo.

Komarov first joined the Finnish senior national team in 2009, and in 2011 he became the world champion. Leo Komarov was included in the Finnish national team's entry for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.

Awards

This season with Toronto has been a Leonid Komarov truly unusual in his career. The ex-Dynamo player was able to peel off the label of a highly specialized power forward, and is currently confidently leading the list of scorers for his illustrious club. At the same time, 29-year-old Komarov enjoys not only the trust of the head coach Mike Babcock, but also respect from the league, which invited him to the All-Star Game in Nashville. Leo’s personal achievements are so far far ahead of the team’s results: “Toronto” closes the table in the Eastern Conference and is very far from the playoff zone, but the Finnish forward does not lose his presence of mind.

Komarov scored another goal, which became his 18th this season. After the game, Leonid was in a good mood and answered questions from the “Championship” correspondent.

“I play for the best organization in , but not everything works out”

- Toronto won in Vancouver, managing to break a streak of three defeats. Are games against other Canadian teams special for the Maple Leafs?
- Of course, this game was very important for Toronto, especially after a number of failures.

This season we have been plagued by injuries, which have been increasing in number lately. But in the match with the Canucks we completed the task, the team scored the required two points.

You played away, but the Toronto fans were clearly louder and more active that evening. Did you feel their support?
- Of course, it was very, very nice to play on the road with such support! I can honestly say that I am very pleased to play for one of the best organizations in . The Toronto Maple Leafs brand is known all over the world. Wherever we perform, we receive incredible support, despite the team’s not the best results. We are trying, but, like last year, not everything works out.

This season you had a real breakthrough in terms of performance -. Which feeling is stronger: joy for personal results or sadness from team defeats?
- You know, for me my points have never been important. I've always worked for the team, and winning is the most important thing in hockey. When you lose and play the way we played this year, it's not a pleasant feeling. But our job is to get better every day. We try to do what is necessary.

You quite unexpectedly became Toronto's top scorer. Has head coach Mike Babcock's attitude towards you changed after that?
- When I played at Dynamo with Oleg Znarok, the attitude towards me was the same, that is, very good. He trusted me in many ways and gave me playing time. By the way, in terms of tactics, Dynamo’s game can be easily compared to how we now play in the Maple Leafs. This is convenient for me, because all five play in the same style, there is no division into “piano draggers” and bright stars. We may not be the most technical guys, but we try to act with dedication and play for results.

Are you satisfied with the mutual understanding with your line partners – newcomer Brendan Leipsic and experienced Michael Grabner?
- There are good games, and there are not so good ones. We always go against the first lines of the opponent, against the strongest opponents. On the one hand, we have a lot of playing time in the first line, but at the same time we have the best defenders in the world against us. I assure you, it is not so easy to resist them. Our main task is not to miss. The last three or four matches we have conceded two goals, so in this regard there is still something to work on.

- You played for Dynamo for a long time, you were one of the leaders of the club. What did the experience of performing in give you?
- A lot of things. A lot of everything! I have very good memories of Dynamo, it was a great time. Everything was great, and it’s nice to remember those times.

- Is it possible to follow events in?
- Yes, but I don’t follow it so closely anymore, I watch the matches a little bit. Last year I was able to monitor more. In the first year after leaving I watched quite regularly, but now I have less and less time. The match schedule is very tight, but I still try to find out how Dynamo is playing and the latest news.

“I hope I will be called to the World Cup team”

- You took part in the All-Star Game. What are your impressions?
- It was four great days in Nashville that will forever remain in my memory! Perhaps this was the first and last time in my life. I think that this will never happen again, so I am very glad that I was able to participate. Still, the All-Star Game is not an ordinary event.

- Did you like playing in the three-on-three format?
- In overtime in the regular season, I like to play three on three. But it wasn't for me in Nashville. (laughs).

There is still quite a lot of time left before the World Cup, and Toronto has not yet lost its theoretical chances for the playoffs. Nevertheless, are you ready to come to the national team if circumstances develop in a certain way?
- Of course, I always want to play for my country. In addition, this year the championship will be held in Russia, which is also important for me. I want to come, but we'll see. If I have enough time, I will be happy to come to the World Championships. This year the World Cup will be in September.

- Yes, and it will take place in Toronto. Do you think there is a chance of getting into the Finnish national team for this tournament?
- If they take me to the team, I will be very pleased. But I never set goals for myself in this way. In any case, I will be in Toronto at this time, as we begin training camp to prepare for the next season in . We need to wait a little. I hope I will be called to the national team.

“I would not criticize those who came to from. They play fine"

You are playing in your third season, but your performance has only just begun to improve. Before the start of the current championship, many famous Russian players left for the ocean - Plotnikov, Kalinin, Medvedev, Tikhonov, Burmistrov, but most of them are unable to prove themselves. In your opinion, why?

- The first season is always very difficult, it’s no secret. The second one, however, will be even more difficult.
If you dominate in, this does not mean that you will be in the lead roles. A number of factors are important: what kind of coach you have, what style the team has. If everything goes well for you at the very beginning, then it will be easier for you to play in the future. And by the way, I would not particularly criticize those who recently arrived from. In my opinion, they perform well.

- Is it easier for those who come to play in Russia to adapt than ours overseas?
- I think yes. Usually, those who played well in the NHL do well in Russia.

The Youth World Championships took place in Finland not long ago, where your team became champions. Did you have time to follow the tournament?
- I looked at it with one eye. I think that the Finnish national team has several very strong hockey players. We are a small country, but we play as a team. The youth team was coached by an excellent specialist, Jukka Jalonen, who also worked with our main team. I’m very happy for the guys, this is a great achievement for them. I hope that the new generation of Finnish players will be fine, even better than now (laughs). Teemu Selanne's generation has finished its career, it's up to the young.