There is an argument to be made that soon-to-be-one-year-old Alexei, who props himself up against his dad in front of their television, has helped Nikolai Kulemin's career more than any coach.

Together, the two watch Treehouse, a father and son learning the foundations of English that will eventually make them both more at ease in Dad's adopted hockey home.

"English is easier than Russian," Kulemin says with a smile, talking about his television tutor.