Belarusian forward Vitaly Pinchuk, who played for Dinamo Minsk in the current KHL season and signed a one-year contract with the Nashville Predators at the end of April, spoke about his decision to try his luck in the NHL.
“When was I absolutely sure and realized I wanted to leave? After the playoffs. When we finished, we started discussing that moment, what options were available, and that’s when I made the decision.
Did I think the dream had come true when I signed the contract with Nashville? No, not yet. I don’t have any grand thoughts because I’m not there yet—I haven’t put on the jersey or stepped onto the ice for my first game. There’s still a lot of work ahead during the offseason. Plus, I need to get there, meet all the guys, and get to know the coaching staff. The dream hasn’t come true yet, but it’s close.
Who was the first person I called once the decision was made? Of course, my parents. When I knew in advance that I would sign the contract, I called them.
How did my mom react? She asked a lot of questions, of course. What kind of city? Where are you going? Who’s there from Russians, Belarusians?” Pinchuk said, as quoted by Sport5.by.
In the past regular KHL season, the 24-year-old Pinchuk recorded 66 points (31 goals, 35 assists) in 65 games. In the playoffs, he added 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) in eight appearances.
