Media Football League President Nikolai Osipov spoke in an interview about betting legality and shared thoughts on the 2024 Gagarin Cup, highlighting that two teams stand out as the most probable champions based on early indicators and steadier form. He emphasized that the race for the trophy remains open and that a mix of veteran experience and rising talent could tilt the balance in favor of the frontrunners he mentioned, with Dynamo and Avangard appearing to be the strongest contenders in his view.
Osipov noted a shift in how teams are evaluated, pointing to the new crossover playoff format that begins from the quarterfinal stage. This change, he argued, has introduced additional layers of complexity when assessing team depth, consistency, and the ability to maintain high performance across a broader stretch of the postseason. Such a structure tends to reward strategic flexibility, depth in the roster, and the capacity to manage fatigue over a longer playoff run, according to his assessment.
He suggested that the terrain of predictions is now more nuanced. Where previously analysts could rely on a traditional East versus West dynamic, current circumstances require weighing multiple factors such as schedule density, travel logistics, and momentary form. In his estimation, Dynamo and Avangard have demonstrated resilience and the kind of execution during critical moments that separates favorites from the pack over the course of a tightly contested season and into the playoffs.
Beyond club-level forecasts, the season also carried broader implications for Russia in international play. After the KHL campaign concludes, the national team will assemble for a series of friendly matches, though it will not participate in the 2024 World Cup. The decision, made by the International Hockey Federation Council during a February meeting, will extend the suspension of Russian teams from certain international competitions. The council resolved to monitor developments and return to the question of reintegration for the 2025/26 season when it reconvenes in May 2025, reflecting ongoing international governance considerations in the sport.
Historically, the IIHF has taken steps to adjust participation based on broader geopolitical and organizational criteria. In the spring of 2022, the federation restricted Russian players from participating in international events, even when playing under neutral status, and it also removed the possibility for Russia to host the junior world championship in 2023. These decisions have shaped the competitive landscape for Russian teams on the world stage and have influenced how national teams plan their development and competition schedules moving forward.
In separate developments, reports indicated strategic playoff results during the Gagarin Cup series, including a notable clash in which Tractor defeated Dynamo in the second game of the Gagarin Cup quarterfinals. This result contributed to the evolving narrative of the postseason, where every matchup carries significant implications for momentum, confidence, and strategic adjustments as teams press toward the cup final. The season’s outcomes thus far still hint at a dynamic and unpredictable finish, underscoring the high level of competition across the league and the ever-present potential for upsets even among perceived favorites.