In recent seasons, we have become accustomed to the fact that Ak Bars was called one of the main contenders for the Gagarin Cup, at least from the East: a powerful squad was assembled in Kazan, and important figures were on the club’s training bridge. However, the dream team that was in the capital of Tatarstan failed to get its hands on the city’s first trophy since 2018: the Kazan squad was very strong on paper, but in reality it was limited to the final a year ago, and in the past – the playoffs and went on vacation altogether after the first round. Something tells us that in the new season the three-time winners of the Gagarin Cup will not be among its contenders, at least at the beginning of the regular season.
Ak Bars’ 2024 offseason pick
Missing: Alexander Radulov, Vadim Shipachev, Dmitry Kagarlitsky, Stanislav Galiev, Artyom Lukoyanov, Kirill Petrov, Riley Barber, Evgeny Svechnikov, Kirill Adamchuk, Vyacheslav Voynov
Came: Alexander Barabanov, Nick Petan, Albert Yarullin, Egor Korshkov, Mark Yanchevsky, Egor Babenko
For the first time in many years, Ak Bars entered the stage of restructuring. After the failure in the series with Avtomobilist, several of the team’s main stars and leaders, including several club veterans, left the team. Almost all changes have occurred in the front line – Kazan’s attack will be significantly different from what it was just a few months ago.
Ak Bars did not make a massive purchase in attack – apparently, the club believes in the further progress of the club’s students Katelevsky, Bykov and Terekhov, who will receive more playing time. Alexander Barabanov, who returned from the NHL and became the team’s most notable acquisition in the off-season, is competing for the role of offensive leader. First of all, results are expected from him, as well as from Dmitry Yashkin , in Kazan.
Nic Petan, who after a few years finally convinced himself to come to the KHL, can also become one of those who will lead the attack of Ak Bars. At the same time, the three listed above will have good help: last season’s Kazan wildcard Semyon Koshelev, Yegor Korshkov, who shone in Khabarovsk, and the most useful player of the team Kirill Semenov should become a good support for the firepower. The depth of the first line is a bit confusing, where, again, young people will have a lot of time. However, according to the team’s general director Marat Valiullin, it is still possible to strengthen, and as we know, with young players you can win.
Related materials
Championship hangover or title defence? What awaits Magnitogorsk next season?
There were no radical changes in defence, but there was the long-awaited return of Albert Yarullin by the home fans. The defensive corps of the Kazan team seems to be fully equipped: last year’s leaders, with the exception of Vyacheslav Voinov, remained in the mix, while some progress can be expected from players such as Zhuravlev, Knyazev and Miller.
Changes in the technical team
Missing: Zinetula Bilyaletdinov, Yuri Babenko, Alexander Boykov, Sergei Abramov
We have arrived: Anvar Gatiyatulin, Alexander Makritsky, Alexey Tertyshny, Denis Yachmenev, Georgy Gelashvili
The era of Zinetula Bilyaletdinov at the helm of Ak Bars seems to have finally come to an end. Initially, Ilya Vorobyov was supposed to go to Kazan instead, but together with Yuri Babenko, the former coach of Metallurg and SKA will work at CSKA, and the Kazan team was led by Anvar Gatiyatulin, who brought the entire Traktor headquarters to Tatarstan.
Zinetula Bilyaletdinov
Photo: Ilnar Tukhbatov, photo.khl.ru
The main question for the new coach of the team is what style his Ak Bars will play. As we remember, Gatiyatulin’s hockey was never distinguished by brilliance: the game of his players in different clubs was more pragmatic and was based mainly on defense. It would be a bit strange if this trend continues in Kazan: the set of players allows the Kazan team to play more often as number one, although the strength of this Ak Bars has not yet been tested from a distance. However, Gatiyatulin himself promises to organize active hockey in Kazan.
Team Perspectives
At the last press conference, the goal of fighting for the Gagarin Cup was announced, which so far seems to be a difficult task. “Ak Bars” will have very serious competition in the East in the person of the champion “Metallurg”, who traditionally aspires to the top “Avangard”, who dared to take on Avtomobilist during the last playoffs, and the same eternal rival in the person of “Salavat”, which in some places looks more promising, but, as you know, can invent problems out of nothing. There are also several teams in the West that right now seem to be better candidates for the cup than Ak Bars.
Related materials
Classification
Whose offense will be the most powerful in the KHL?
However, the Kazan team should be in the top eight of the Eastern Conference in any case, but the team’s advancement, it seems, will largely depend on its opponents. There are still doubts that Ak Bars will be able to get past the second round.
