Former CSKA head coach Sergei Fedorov is unlikely to accept a future role as head coach of a Kontinental Hockey League club in the upcoming season. This development was reported by Sports Express.
CSKA announced on March 27 that the collaboration with Fedorov would end, with his current contract set to expire on April 30. In the interim, the army club named Ilya Vorobyov, a former coach of the Russian national team, to assume the position.
Fedorov briefly stepped back into the CSKA helm in 2021. Under his leadership, the club captured the Gagarin Cup twice, in 2022 and again in 2023. He has also served as an assistant coach for the Russian national team since 2021.
This season, CSKA under Fedorov did not reach the Gagarin Cup quarterfinals, bowing 1-4 to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the series. The team won the opening game 4-0, but in the regular season of the Kontinental Hockey League the army squad finished in fourth place.
Fedorov spent a notable portion of his playing career with CSKA and Detroit, earning three Stanley Cup titles.
There is a general sense that the tenure with the national team and the franchise would be evaluated against the broader backdrop of KHL coaching changes, with analysts noting that Fedorov could be weighing options outside the league if no suitable offer emerged.
Observers have highlighted Fedorov’s long-standing influence on players and his track record of success in executive and development roles within Russian hockey. The potential for him to pursue projects beyond CSKA or to consider opportunities abroad has been a topic of discussion among experts and fans alike.
Overall, the recent decisions around Fedorov’s contract and future plans point to a period of transition for both the coach and the club. The situation is being watched by hockey communities across Canada and the United States, where many fans have followed Fedorov’s career since his days as a star player with CSKA and the Detroit Red Wings.