Kings’ Zhitnik Says He Was Threatened : NHL: He acknowledges that organized crime elements in Ukraine tried to extort money from him.

Alexei Zhitnik of the Kings acknowledged Sunday that he was targeted for extortion last summer in his Ukrainian homeland. Zhitnik, a second-year defenseman, said the threats from an organized crime group in the former Soviet republic were verbal, rather than physical.

Zhitnik’s candor was surprising, because many NHL players from the former Soviet Union have been reluctant to discuss alleged incidents with the so-called Russian Mafia.

Team executives and Coach Barry Melrose are so concerned that they have urged Zhitnik not to return home to Kiev this summer. Their concerns are shared by other NHL general managers, including the San Jose Sharks’ Dean Lombardi, who described the alleged gangster influence of former Soviets in the NHL as “1930s Chicago stuff.”

“I have little problem with Russian Mafia,” Zhitnik said. “They say things like, ‘Blow up your car.’ And different (stuff).”

Zhitnik, 21, said neither he nor his twin brother, Dmitri, were harmed. He said he did not pay the gangsters.

“If you pay the first time, the next time you pay much more,” he said. “But my friends helped me. Like the police, the cops can’t do nothing. No rules. No laws.”

Mighty Duck defenseman Alexei Kasatonov, who is from St. Petersburg, said the extortion schemes involve “not just a couple of players. It’s every sports people who have money.”

He said he had not been approached, but has spoken with several players who have been threatened, including his former New Jersey Devil teammates, Alexander Semak and Valeri Zelepukin; Darius Kasparaitis and Vladimir Malakhov of the New York Islanders and Sergei Nemchinov of the New York Rangers.

“It’s like America had Al Capone,” Kasatonov said. “I’m serious. It might be dangerous . . . Now, there’s so much illegal groups there, big and little. You don’t know who is protecting you and who is helping you. Maybe your neighbors are in the same situation or maybe they take your parents and ask about money.”

Kasatonov said he had contacted NHL security personnel, who said they could not take action unless he had been threatened. Zhitnik’s help came from friends he declined to identify. He said some of the threats came from men he grew up with.

“I knew a couple of guys, went to school with them,” he said.

Coming off a successful rookie NHL season, Zhitnik had a relatively high profile when he returned to Kiev last summer. That, as well as his $400,000 salary, made him a potential victim of extortion.

Agents representing Russian players are also aware of the dangers their clients face as affluent citizens in the economically unstable former Soviet republics. Mike Barnett, who represents Sergei Fedorov of the Detroit Red Wings, urged Fedorov to bring his family to the United States before signing a four-year, $11.7-million contract that makes him the NHL’s highest-paid Russian player.

Zhitnik’s mother, father and brother live in Kiev, and Zhitnik said he talks to them once a week. His father, Nikolai, when contacted Friday in Kiev by The Times, said the family has not had any problems with gangs.

“For my parents, it’s nothing bad,” Alexei said. “They are like normal people. Fifty-six, fifty-seven. (I am at bigger risk because) I go to different places, restaurants, discos.”

Said Melrose: “Every time he goes back there, I don’t breathe easy until he gets back. We’ve tried to get him to move over here and move his family, but it’s tough.”

Lombardi said the Sharks heard of threats made to Alexander Cherbayev, the team’s third pick and 51st overall in last June’s entry draft, but he was unable to confirm any incidents.

“I asked the kid and he said no,” Lombardi said, “but this is 1930s Chicago stuff and it wouldn’t have been smart for him to talk about it.”

Melrose also said NHL scouts are so fearful of becoming victims of crime in Russia, the world junior tournament was moved from Russia to the Czech Republic.

Although Zhitnik discussed his situation, Pavel Bure of the Vancouver Canucks continued to deny stories in the Vancouver Province newspaper that said he had made two payments to ensure the safety of his family.

“I never heard about it, but I’m not worried about it until they ask me,” he told the newspaper.

Times staff writer Carey Goldberg in Moscow contributed to this report.