CALGARY, Alberta – As Coyotes associate coach Jim Playfair drew on a whiteboard plastered to the boards during an off-day practice, winger Sergei Plotnikov stood behind many of his teammates to watch the lesson.
Plotnikov, who is Russian and was acquired Feb. 29 in a trade with the Penguins, speaks limited English, and the Coyotes have been using winger Viktor Tikhonov – who also speaks Russian – to translate when needed.
But once the explanation ended and players scattered to start the drill, Plotnikov skated off without needing any further instruction.
“My language’s definitely improved since the beginning of the season,” Plotnikov later said in Russian with Tikhovov translating.