Aiming at the playoffs again. Sochi season preview

Last year, the Black Sea franchise didn’t qualify for the postseason after a disappointing showing. However, the team worked hard in the summer to give its head coach Alexander Andriyevsky a competitive roster with solid international players and a reliable goaltender. Is it enough to see the playoffs again in Sochi?

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Last season

After reaching the postseason twice in a row in 2018 and 2019, Sochi couldn’t make it three and failed to qualify for the postseason, scoring only 59 points — seven less than a year before — and scoring the fewest goal in its history.

An impotent attack was mostly the underlying cause of Sochi’s lack of success in 2019-2020 — only Dinamo Riga scored less than the Black Sea franchise. Maybe with a bit more goals, Sochi could close the five-point gap the team had from the playoff’s line and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.

Head coach

It will be the second season for Alexander Andriyevsky on the bench of Sochi. Last year, he came to help the team in October, but his hiring wasn’t enough even if the team clearly improved under his guide.

Andriyevsky can bring plenty of experience to the table, having worked with Dinamo Minsk, Sibir Novosibirsk, and Admiral Vladivostok, other than with the Belarusian national team.

Key departures

As usual, the team saw a high turnover rate among international players, with three imports leaving and four joining. While Simon Bertilsson failed to impress in his first season abroad, Robert Rosen was excellent for the Black Sea franchise — especially in his first season.

Both moved back to Sweden, while Canadian defenseman Morgan Ellis signed with Dinamo Riga. The future of Malte Stromwall, who convinced last year with 21 goals and 39 points, is still up in the air.

Key arrivals

If there is no news regarding Stromwall yet, Sochi already has a full set of five imports for the 2020-2021 campaign. Marcus Nilsson and Linus Johansson were among the best for Farjestad in Sweden — Nilsson led the SHL with 54 (12+42) points in 50 regular-season games.

Another exciting signing is Jere Karjalainen. The 28-years-old forward had a breakout season with Tappara Tampere in Finland, leading his team with 24 goals. The starting goaltender — at least on paper — will be Joel Lassinantti. The Swedish goalie bested the SHL by goals-against average in the latest two seasons and won the best goalie award in 2015.

As a further sign of a solid job in the transfer market, Sochi also welcomes back Pavel Padakin. The Ukraine native climbed up to the KHL All-Star Game with Sochi a few seasons ago, and the hope is that he’ll be able to return to his old shape.

Star player

David Rundblad will be called to another strong performance on the Black Sea’s shores — the D-man joined the franchise last year from SKA. Rundblad established himself as a critical defenseman in Sochi, patrolling the blue line and logging more than 23 minutes a night.

Moreover, Rundblad can also be an example and a guide for Sochi’s new Nordic players who joined the team this year to ease their adaptation. Most of these new players are in their first experience abroad.

Expectations

After clinching the playoffs four times in five seasons, it will be disappointing for Sochi to miss the postseason twice in a row. However, this time around the Black Sea franchise has all it takes to return into playoffs contention for the 2020-2021 campaign. And should they be able to resign Malte Stromwall, chances can only go up.