Comments of Russian coach Igor Bakhmutov legal betting He expressed the opinion that the best years of hockey players Ilya Kovalchuk and Nikolai Khabibulin are behind them.
In his opinion, inviting veterans is a marketing tactic for Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) clubs aimed at attracting the attention of fans.
“I don’t think Kovalchuk or Khabibulin will show anything in terms of results. No matter what she says, nature cannot be fooled; His best years are behind him. I am against such a return. If you have already finished it, you need to prepare yourself for a new life.
Life after hockey is hard and a hockey player is like a little kid. Not everyone can become a coach right away. You need to learn a new stage in life. This applies to both coaching and management in sports. “There are many areas that need improvement,” said the expert.
40-year-old Kovalchuk signed a contract with Spartak Moscow in December 2023. He previously played for the Red and Whites between 1999 and 2001. Together with the club, he became the champion of the Major League. In 2021, he won the Gagarin Cup three times as part of Omsk Avangard and decided to suspend his activities as a player.
Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo goalkeeper coach Nikolai Khabibulin, 50, signed a contract with the club at the end of December as a hockey player, but has not yet appeared on the ice. Khabibulin has not played professionally since the 2013/2014 season.
Former Russian hockey player happened The first star of the day in the NHL.