It was not a good start for the Blue Jackets and the same goes for the 27-year-old goaltender, who struggled out of the gate and then battled injuries. He was recently named Team Russia's starting goalie for the World Cup of Hockey following a tremendous pre-tournament performance.
Here are some of his thoughts on the World Cup, the upcoming season and more:
What did you do this summer to prepare for Russia’s camp?
I just prepared myself as I normally do. I did some on-ice and off-ice. I prepared myself for this season, and it's all about the process, so I worked on it.