Daniil Prokhorov had an unlikely English tutor this summer: Chris Kreider.
The Islanders’ prospect from Krasnodar, Russia, stayed stateside this summer following the club’s July development camp.
During the summer, he trained with strength coach Ben Prentiss’ group in Stamford, Conn., that includes Kreider and Trevor Zegras, as well as fellow Russians Pavel Dorofeyev and Dmitri Voronkov.
When he was drafted with the 10th pick in the second round a year ago, Prokhorov spoke essentially no English, but on Friday, he spoke at a conversational level during an interview with The Post.
The improvement is in part down to having spent more time in the States, but Kreider — who is trilingual in English, Russian and Spanish — played a role, as well.
“He talks in good Russian, Kreider, and he trained me in English,” Prokhorov told The Post.
This will be Prokhorov’s first full season in North America, having played one game in Bridgeport at the end of last year. He shuttled between Russia’s KHL and VHL — the country’s second-highest level — for most of last season.
At 6-foot-5, Prokhorov casts an imposing figure on the ice, though his size does make skating an area in which he’ll constantly need improving.
“Full summer I trained, my physical coach, Ben Prentiss, [did a] good job,” Prokhorov said. “Three trainings every day: two gym, one ice. It’s a good summer. I’m ready for the season.”
Quinn Finley practiced Friday with a non-contact jersey, having undergone shoulder surgery early in the offseason.
Kyle Palmieri’s foundation launched a website called Roger.vet, a free online resource to help veterans and their families find programs and services on Long Island.
The website is currently available to veterans, service members and their families in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens counties, as well as New Jersey, with plans to expand throughout New York state in 2027.
AHL Hamilton coach Jay McKee had Vladimir Dravecky on his squad at OHL Brantford last season and called the defenseman “one of the steals of the draft” as the 13th pick in the fifth round.
“He’s one of the best practice players I’ve ever coached or even played with,” McKee said. “He’s very intense. Does everything with a purpose. Snaps his passes. He’s got a very active stick. He’s a very, very talented player. Like all of them, there’s areas of improvement, but his potential and his upside is very high.”
Former NHLer Francois Beauchemin, who last played in the league in 2018, was in attendance at Friday’s practice to watch his son, Samuel, who received a camp invite.
