In a Gazeta.ru interview, the former Moscow CSKA head coach who guided the Russian national team and worked with Vladimir Plyushchev offered a candid read on the current state of the Continental Hockey League. He noted that this season presents a level of uncertainty across the league, and that success for a single club or a single coach does not automatically secure lasting advantage for others.
He argued that it is not enough to measure a coach’s value by CSKA’s red and blue achievements alone, pointing out that the league demands adaptability, roster depth, and strategic leadership across a range of teams.
CSKA has been on fire from the season’s outset; the squad shows strong form and a clear plan. Yet the roster still required decisions about the coaching role, and questions linger about whether the leadership will guide the team through the season.
Meanwhile, Dynamo Moscow is expected to bring more energy to the rink as CSKA eyes a rehabilitation after earlier seasons. Dynamo may seize the moment to push up the standings, given the broader competition and the uneven start many teams have faced.
Looking at the Western Conference in the opening round of the playoffs, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl will go up against SKA Saint Petersburg, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod will challenge Dynamo Moscow, and Spartak Moscow will meet Severstal Cherepovets in matchups that promise tight, physical play.
On the Eastern side, Traktor Chelyabinsk, Admiral Vladivostok, Salavat Yulaev Ufa, and Sibir Novosibirsk are in the mix, with Magnitogorsk Metallurg set to face the current Cup holder Avangard Omsk in the first round and Yekaterinburg’s Bars and Avtomobilist also in action.
Observers noted that there has been talk of a potential cross league exchange involving coaches from the KHL and the NHL, a topic that surfaces at the start of the season and stirs discussion among front offices and fans.
All in all, the season appears to put a premium on depth, leadership, and the ability to adapt from top to bottom. As teams balance coaching decisions with young players stepping up and veterans carrying expectations, these early rounds are likely to set the tone for the months ahead, shaping narratives, rivalries, and the paths teams rely on to reach the coveted Gagarin Cup.