Kammala wannan jumla: Da farko Buffalo Sabres ne suka zana shi a cikin
1996 NHL Entry Draft, an yi amfani da Tezikov a ranar ƙarshe na 1998-99 NHL kakar zuwa Washington Capitals a musayar Joé Juneau. Ya shafe 'yan shekaru a cikin ƙananan yara kafin a yi ciniki da Mighty Ducks na Anaheim, sa'an nan kuma Vancouver Canucks ya yi da'awar a kan waivers.