| Only the “blue and white” did not announce new players Today, the Russian Super League championship resumes with eight matches of the 36th round. The break for the traditional December tournament of national teams in Moscow coincided with the second additional application campaign in the elite clubs. It began on December 16, a day after it became known that the NHL players' union had once again failed to reach an agreement with the commissioner of the overseas league, Gary Bettman, and the lockout would, in all likelihood, last until the end of the season. Nevertheless, in the second campaign of additional applications in Russia, there were much fewer high-profile transfers of players than in the first, November one.
There are several reasons for this. Firstly, many clubs have already chosen a rather strict limit on foreigners. You can declare as many of them as you like, but more than three Varangians cannot play in one match. And keeping extra foreign players in the squad is an unaffordable and unnecessary luxury. Although a number of strong hockey players currently playing in the championships of Sweden, Finland, and the Czech Republic could strengthen Russian clubs, and for a salary that is moderate by our standards - on average in Europe they pay much less. Secondly, those unemployed NHL players who are already tired of forced downtime are unlikely to want to go to Russia on the eve of the Christmas holidays, and teams that are not afraid for their entry into the playoffs do not need them now. Why pay extra money? The last period for additional applications will occur on February 10-14, and then we should expect a new wave from overseas.
In the last campaign, the migration of players from club to club took place approximately according to the following principle: rich teams got rid of those who could not prove themselves on the court, outsiders took these same hockey players, parting with those who spent the majority of the wage fund . “Spartak”, “Molot”, “Siberia” and “Salavat Yulaev” can only be included in the competition for tickets to the playoffs purely theoretically, the gap in points from the rest of the group of teams is too large, and there is no need to fight for survival - the super league from this closed for the season. Therefore, the main task of outsiders is to finish the championship more or less adequately with minimal financial losses.
It is symbolic that the only team that did not make a single acquisition during the December break was the championship leader Dynamo Moscow. And this despite the fact that the Blue and White infirmary is now overcrowded. It seems that Muscovites coach Vladimir Krikunov is guided by the principle “do not seek goodness from goodness,” expecting a speedy recovery of a whole group of players. The newcomers of Dynamo's closest pursuer, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, were known even before the start of the pre-application campaign. Magnitogorsk has the most stellar newcomers in the Super League - San Jose Sharks goalkeeper Evgeniy Nabokov and New Jersey and Czech Znojmo forward Patrik Elias.
Disappointment continues with some NHL returnees who were given far more advances than they actually deserve. Forward Nikolai Antropov may be good for Toronto, but in ten matches at Ak Bars he scored only two goals, and those were against Spartak with its far from formidable defense. Since, according to the regulations, 28 players cannot be registered on one team at the same time (not counting hockey players from the farm club and the youth team), Ak Bars is freeing up jobs for new recruits. Kazan coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov, in his usual style, emphasized strengthening the defense, and the experienced 32-year-old Buffalo defender Alexey Zhitnik joined the team. Antropov, together with striker Alexei Mikhnov (two goals in 26 matches for Sibir), joined the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv squad.
Severstal carried out a serious cleaning of its ranks. The Cherepovets started the championship with an unbeaten streak of 11 matches, and then sharply slowed down and played nine matches in a row without a single victory. The club said goodbye to forwards who have solid experience in the NHL: Oleg Kvasha, who played for the Islanders last season, and Vyacheslav Butsaev. They returned to where they left for the first time overseas - to CSKA. And in return for Kvasha and Butsaev, the brothers Alexander and Evgeniy Koreshkov arrived in Cherepovets, amicably parting with Sibir. Indeed, the best scorer brothers in the history of Russian hockey have nothing to do as part of an outsider.
Among the teams fighting for a place in the coveted eight, SKA St. Petersburg made a good strengthening. American goalkeeper Garth Snow, who did not always help the team, was replaced by Finn Markus Korhonen from the Swedish Brunhes. Another acquisition is a Swede, but he played in Finland. This is Kärpät striker Michael Nylander, who has proven himself to be a good passer. He played in the NHL since 1993 and made 307 assists in 648 games. Neftekhimik relied on the Slovaks. Dukla defender Tomas Starosta and Zilina’s most effective forward (25 points in 26 games) Miroslav Lazo will get to know the peculiarities of life in Nizhnekamsk.
“Khimik”, in addition to the PR move with the inclusion of Igor Larionov in the lineup, was strengthened by two Canadians - Detroit goalkeeper Manny Legace and Vancouver defender Allen Bryan. Young Russians have been called up from the AHL - Alexey Shkotov will come to Voskresensk, and Igor Radulov, a graduate of the Dynamo school, will come to Spartak. It seems that by mid-February, the only European hockey players overseas will be multimillionaires who can afford a year's vacation. Ilya TRISVIATSKY |
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