Ice of events: what made the first weeks of the new KHL season memorable?

The new season of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) lasts just over two weeks, but it has already managed to present several high-profile stories. The main event of recent days has been the unexpected departure of striker Kevin Hayes from "Ak Bars". One of the most stellar newcomers of the offseason came to Russia only in the summer, and now he has finished his career, having played only five matches for Kazan. """"Metallurg" head coach Andrey Razin noted resonant statements about one of the leaders of the team, Vladimir Tkachev, and the reigning champion "Lokomotiv" after six consecutive victories was unexpectedly defeated at home by "Barys" (0:5).

A month in Kazan

Kevin Hayes has played 805 games in the NHL regular season in 12 seasons and scored 446 (185+261) points. Therefore, the signing of such a center forward on August 25 became one of the main events of the KHL offseason. Moreover, "Ak Bars", which reached the final of the Gagarin Cup in the spring, parted with a number of key players in the summer and needed to be strengthened.

At the same time, certain risks were obvious. The 34-year-old Hayes spent his last season in the NHL unsuccessfully.: He played 28 games for the "Pittsburgh Penguins", scored 8 (4+4) points and gradually lost his place in the squad. Therefore, one of the main issues after his arrival in Kazan was the physical condition of the American.

The management and coaching staff of "Ak Bars" did not hide that the newcomer would need time to get in shape. The lack of effective actions at the start of the season therefore did not look critical. Hayes' announcement on September 21 about his retirement turned out to be all the more unexpected. He explained his decision by his physical condition, which no longer allows him to play at the desired level.

As a result, the American played only five matches for "Ak Bars". He thanked the club's management and expressed regret that the cooperation turned out to be so short. Kazan head coach Anvar Gatiyatulin said that the club was sympathetic to the hockey player's decision. Now general manager Marat Valiullin will have to look for reinforcement in the center of the attack again.

Hayes' departure came against the backdrop of a good, though not the most stable start for "Ak Bars". After eight matches, the team is second in the Eastern Conference, having scored as many points as the leading "Metallurg", but having played one more game. At the same time, at the end of last week, Kazan lost to "Sochi" (2:3), which had not won this season before.

It was after this meeting that the theory arose that Hayes' decision could have been influenced by a trip to Sochi. Due to problems with departure, the team was delayed in the city, and the match with the Southerners turned out to be the last for "Ak Bars" for the American. However, the hockey player himself said that he had thought about retiring before this game and had almost made a decision by that time.

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""If Hayes suddenly finds a contract in North America or Europe, it will be clear that talking about retirement is just an excuse to leave Russia, but so far we have no reason to think so," Vladimir Krikunov, former Ak Bars head coach, shared his opinion with Izvestia." — So far, it looks like a guy who was at a good level in the NHL recently came to Russia, thought it would be easy for him in the KHL, but he saw that our league was strong, that he was not physically dragging his feet, and decided to finish. If so, then he acted honestly. I could have held on to a contract, a good salary, and earned until the end of the season. But he honestly parted with "Ak Bars", not cheating hockey and remaining a ballast for the team, but at the same time freeing the club from a senseless waste of money.

Razin and the Leaders

Andrey Razin, the head coach of "Metallurg" Magnitogorsk, is in his fourth season in his current position. Over the years, there have been periodic conversations about his disagreements with the star players. First of all, this concerned the captain of the team, defender Egor Yakovlev. Last season, star forward Evgeny Kuznetsov stayed at the club for a short time, and a year earlier striker Sergei Tolchinsky periodically dropped out of the squad.

"" In September, Razin initially left Yakovlev out of the squad, who missed the first four matches of the season, and last week at two consecutive press conferences - after defeating "Barys" (3:0) and "Neftekhimik" (6:2) — he spoke emotionally about Vladimir Tkachev's game. One of the KHL's most prominent strikers joined "Metallurg" a year ago, but until recently he had received almost no public criticism from Razin.

The coach reacted harshly to the journalist's remark that Tkachev was "not at ease."

— What the coach said, he should do. But not like this: I want to play, I want to play, I don't play. Should I bring him a blue-edged plate and blow it in one place (the original word was changed for censorship reasons. — Ed.), so that he could play? Razin declared.

The next day, Tkachev posted on social media a photo from a restaurant with a blue-bordered plate in front of him. At the same time, the hockey player later stated that he had no conflict with the head coach.

In recent matches, Razin has moved Tkachev to the third tier. The player's agent, Shumi Babayev, drew attention to this.

— When he was put in the first line in the last game, he scored points, and he was moved to the third. I can't discuss coaching decisions. The coach sees that he has to play like this and benefit without scoring points. It was the same that year, and it's clear that Razin doesn't need Tkachev's glasses, they're getting in his way," Babaev told "RB Sport".

After the match with "Neftekhimik" Razin again emotionally discussed Tkachev with journalists. In particular, he recalled the career of figure skating coach Eteri Tutberidze, noting that she achieved success through rigidity and discipline. At the end of the controversy, Razin recalled that "Metallurg" is in the first place, and in his usual harsh manner advised critics not to interfere in his work.

"Magnitogorsk" is indeed a leader in the East. Razin achieved his main success in his coaching career in the 2023/24 season, his first at the head of "Metallurg", winning the Gagarin Cup with the team. Back then, the coach relied heavily not on the stars, but on less high—status hockey players and talented youth - Ilya Nabokov, Nikita Grebenkin, Danila Yurov and Roman Kanzerov. All of them are playing in the NHL now.

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Defeat of the leader

Yaroslavl "Locomotive" was unexpectedly defeated at home by Astana "Barys" (0:5). The railwaymen started the season well, continuing the winning streak that helped them win the previous two Gagarin Cups. Those successes were achieved under different head coaches — Igor Nikitin and Bob Hartley. Both left of their own accord — Nikitin accepted CSKA's offer, and Hartley ended his career.

The team is now headed by Dmitry Kvartalnov. The composition has remained almost the same. Only the legionnaires left — Martin Gernat, Richard Panik and Byron Fraz. No one from abroad has been signed in their place yet. But Kvartalnov once again showed his ability to work with young people by introducing a number of newcomers to the squad, who won the Kharlamov Cup with the "Loko" youth team in the spring.

Artyom Kuzin, 20, and Matvey Kotkov, 18, have already started scoring goals and justifying their trust. 17-year-old Andrey Pustovoy has not yet been noted for effective actions, but he still shows himself well on the ice. "Lokomotiv" won the first six matches, including against the main rivals — away from CSKA Moscow (3:1) and at home from Omsk "Avangard" (2:1).

But the seventh game turned into a home defeat from Astana "Barys" (0:5), which few people took seriously before the season. Interestingly, Yaroslavl also lost heavily to the Kazakh team on its ice last season (0-4).

"Barys" has already won four out of six matches and won bright victories not only over "Lokomotiv". ""He also defeated Novosibirsk "Siberia" (7:1) at home and Tolyatti "Lada" (6:0) on the road. The victory over Ufa's "Salavat Yulaev", which started well, was also bright (8:6). Mikhail Kravets's team has made a serious bid to reach the playoffs, where they have not been since 2020. "The "Locomotive" defeat from "Barys" is not particularly affected so far. Kvartalnov's team continues to lead in the regular season.