Veniamin Korolev, a defenseman for Spartak Moscow, discussed head coach Aleksey Zhamnov’s guiding ideas after Spartak defeated CSKA two to one in a regular season clash. The comments offered insight into how the coach blends smart positioning with controlled physical play. The victory over the archrival highlighted Spartak’s willingness to push pace, win battles, and execute the game plan as they push for a strong run in the Kontinental Hockey League.
Korolev explained that he prefers to apply power at the right moment but avoids reckless hits. He plays by his position, reads the flow of the game, and moves the body when the moment demands it. This approach reflects the coaching staff’s emphasis on powerful shifts and a precision approach to contact. They encourage players to start with the stick and joints, using body contact only when it fits the sequence and protects the team’s puck pursuit.
He stressed that the coaches want players to engage in puck battles in every situation. Spartak’s system values physical contests when necessary, but always with control and timing. In practice, players work on stick work to disrupt opponents, stay balanced on the edge of players, and protect the own zone while pressure builds. The staff aims to maintain pace and momentum rather than rely on brute force.
This season marks Korolev’s first year with Spartak. He has one assist in thirteen regular-season appearances. The team sits in second place in the Western Conference with thirty-three points after twenty-three games. The role of the defenseman is to stabilize the back end, enable clean breakouts, and contribute on special teams, and Korolev’s early progress is watched as a gauge of the club’s depth as the schedule continues.
Looking ahead, Spartak’s emphasis on timing, discipline, and smart physical play points to a plan that leverages the roster’s experience and youth. Korolev’s adaptation to the coach’s system will be tested as the squad tightens zone coverage, improves puck management, and grows cohesion on the ice. In a league defined by speed and precision, every shift matters, and Spartak appears ready to translate potential into consistent results as the season advances.