HOW ABOUT IT: Oilers’ Klim Kostin settles in with a goal, an assist and a fight against the Coyotes

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Klim Kostin was the first Edmonton Oilers player in five years with Gordie Howe’s hat trick on Wednesday.

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There was his goal against Arizona goaltender Connor Ingram, his assist on teammate Derek Ryan’s breakaway, and then the Russian winger’s late fury with former Oilers thug Zack Kassian.

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In one of those juicy twists, Kassian had Gordie Howe’s old hat on Nov. 30, 2017, also at Rogers Place, when he got tangled up in the first half with Toronto’s Matt Martin, while adding a goal and a help.

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Kostin’s work speaks volumes about the last four games (two goals, three points) after his Oct. 9 trade with his big body and north-south style, points and fighting, his second in the NHL and his fifth as a North American professional. Definitely more words than he said when he was a St. Louis Blues rookie.

What could this Russian native say before learning English by watching movies in North America and hanging out with NHL players?.

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“I could say, ‘My name is Klim and I’m hungry,'” he said, his face lighting up with Friday’s home game against Minnesota (seven-game wins over the Oilers) next on the menu. .

He’s been hungry for work in the NHL for some time. The Blues, who won the Stanley Cup in 2019 and with an older, more established squad, couldn’t find him a regular spot, so they dealt him.

With Warren Foegele out, Kostin has averaged 11:54 in the last four games, well above 9:01 in his first seven games after being recalled from Bakersfield.
Right now, Kostin looks like a solid third-line player.

“Right off the bat (after he got back from Bakersfield), I noticed somebody big going to the net,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said.

“If he plays a simple, straightforward physical game, that’s something we need. He’s a young guy trying to find his full-time spot in the National Hockey League.

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“Sometimes young players just need a change of scenery. Maybe with fresh eyes, different teams have different needs. He clung to this opportunity. We want to find and use players who are competitive. When he plays on a formula of simplicity, he is quite effective.

Kostin skipped the fight with Kassian, who objected to an altercation between him and Arizona star Clayton Keller. Kassian had a bloody nose as he left the rink, Kostin took a few late punches and his fist was beaten. But everything is fine.

“If somebody challenges me, I’m ready to fight,” said 6-foot-3, 193-pound Kostin, whose only other NHL retirement was with New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield, with five others among minors.

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Kassian, who received a nice video tribute early in the Oilers game, wanted the fight, cross-checking Kostin a few times before the Oilers forced him.

He did not fight, if at all, in Russia. But he is not afraid.

“I’ve been here for five years… I grew up seeing the fighting,” he said.

He’s a big boy, so he’s strong-willed and getting more and more capable.

“You just need character no matter if you’re 6ft 3in or 5ft 7in. You just need character,” he said.

What about courage?

“I don’t know what that means,” he said.

Bravery?

“Yes, bravery.”

He seems at peace here, joy for the world, with Christmas approaching.

“I feel at home here. I like the group of guys here, the coaches, the players, everyone, even the media. I like you guys too,” he said, laughing softly. I don’t have any questions for you yet. I have to think about it.

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Living in the hotel next to Rogers Place may feel lonely, but his support group is in the locker room. No one cooks borscht for him yet, so it feels like home.

“I hope my father will come soon and prepare some for me,” said Kostin, who never tires of his workplace.

“He’s a rink rat,” said Woodcroft, who is used to seeing his face at all hours.

“The players are like family here,” Kostin said. “When I wake up in the morning, I can’t wait to go to the locker room, see the boys and get out there and practice.”

“Really good dressing room here, good food, lots of food. That’s probably why I’m staying so long. I have nothing to do at the hotel. The locker room is much bigger than my hotel room.

Kostin only plays even strength here, no special teams. But with his big body, maybe the 2017 first-round pick will eventually get a clear lead on the power play.

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A PP in Saint-Louis?

“Only in training, no games,” he said.

A penalty kill?

“Yeah, back in the KHL at Avangard (Omsk), Bob (coach) Hartley. He was teaching me defense to be a 200 foot player.

Kostin’s idols grew up with Pavel Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk and, of course, Alex Ovechkin.

When Ovechkin was in town with Washington on Monday, he gave Kostin an autographed stick that he will give to his father when he arrives.

“I have a Kovy stick, a Datsyuk stick, now Ovie to add to my collection,” he said. “What really worries me is someone grabbing the stick in the locker room…

“Probably (Dylan) Holloway,” Kostin joked as the rookie forward sat a few feet away awaiting his turn with the media.