"I was lucky enough to have (teammate) Pavel Rosa (former Los Angeles Kings farmhand, originally from the Czech Republic), who spoke Russian and English. The coach would be yelling at Pav in Russian to say something to me and Pav would be nice enough to tone it down." Lupaschuk got a far different appreciation for the Russian players and coaches, not to mention the travel demands in a huge country.

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Ross Lupaschuk

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"In North America, the Russian guys come over and sometimes it looks like they don't care. But being over there, it opened my eyes, how hard they work, on and off the ice. They train like crazy," he said.

Now, Lupaschuk has to show he can play on an NHL roster. He's theoretically in the prime of his playing days, at 27 and he wouldn't be the first D-man who figures it out late.

Mike Mottau, a former Hobey Baker winner as NCAA player of the year, scuffled around the minors until Brent Sutter gave him a shot in New Jersey last year and he seized it.

"Even if I have to go to a training camp without a contract, that's what I want," said Lupaschuk. "I can always go back for a farewell tour (of Europe)." jmatheson@thejournal.canwest.com