Two Weeks Ago, A Vienna Capitals Press Conference

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With the International Central European (ICE) Hockey League standings all but finalized, 17-year-old winger Konstyantyn Shevchenko found himself standing behind the podium, fielding questions from a pair of reporters. It was largely standard fare - "How disappointed are you in how the season has gone?" and "What do you think you could have done differently?" and so on - but it was clear what both reporters wanted to ask, and what they built up to.

 

"Have you decided yet if you will remain in Austria with the Capitals, or are you leaving the ICE Hockey League?"

 

 

Shevchenko did not appear surprised by the question, or caught off-guard in the least. "It is still a decision to be made with me and my family, but I think probably the best for me and my future is to go to the VHLM next season."

 

The reporters finished jotting their notes before one of them asked a followup: Do you have a preference for a VHLM team?

 

"Not at all," Shevchenko answered without hesitation. "I expect to hear from some teams once the news is public. I have been told that it is customary to have an agent represent a player's business interests but I'm not sure I want that. I'd rather handle it all myself and with some insight from my mother and my father."

 

Another question: What's the first thing you're going to buy with a big VHLM paycheck?

 

For this, Shevchenko answered with a laugh. "Probably pay my rent and hopefully get a sandwich."

 

Despite the decision being all but finalized, Shevchenko hasn't "checked out" of his duties as a member of the Vienna Capitals. He has notched 3 goals and a pair of assists in the past 4 games, a definite step up for the young Ukrainian. He's averaged slightly over half a point per game this season, no small feat for a player his age. And while he'll likely never be known as any kind of physical powerhouse, delivering crushing body checks against hapless opponents, he has stepped up his play in his own zone, to the point where he's even received some small amount of time on the penalty kill. Shevchenko has recently shown himself capable of utilizing angles to play opponents off of the puck, which could raise his draft stock.

 

On that subject, it's wildly unclear to try to project exactly where Shevchenko will find himself ranked in the VHLM Entry Draft, should he finalize his decision to make himself eligible. As per the usual with the Draft, there is a considerable amount of hype and expectations around some players, as teams always look for The Next One.

 

Is it possible that Shevchenko himself could be The Next One, the one who not only garners pre-Draft hype, but lives up to expectations or maybe even exceeds them? Certainly. And what a story that would be if this Ukrainian refugee set the hockey world on fire, etching his name into the league's history books while crafting an inspirational story for children around the globe. Or, perhaps, he simply carves out a nice, quiet career for himself and, like so many before him, moves on with his life.