2020-2021 Torpedo review: consistency and Zhafyarov's records
KHL.ru continues reviewing the 2020-2021 campaign for the league’s 23 teams. Once again, Torpedo was moved from the West to the East, but its results didn’t change.
David Nemirovsky’s Torpedo conquered many fans this year, even among those who aren’t from Nizhny Novgorod. Naturally, its offensive play and the unique ability to rally back in games when other teams would have already surrendered couldn’t avoid gaining sympathy from other teams’ fans. However, other than this ability, there’s another feature that helped Torpedo much more, even if it didn’t leave any romantic feeling among the observers as the comebacks. The Nemirovsky men won 21 regular-season games after being up at the end of the second period — such consistency is unmatched among the league’s other teams.
Once again, the Nizhny Novgorod franchise was moved from the Western to the Eastern Conference this season. However, its stats didn’t change, even if last year the calendar had two more games. Torpedo had the same wins (29) and regulation victories (22), with two fewer defeats (31 against 33). The team also scored five more goals, also allowing one more, ending the regular season as the eighth seed and losing 0-4 in the first round. The only difference is that this year, its opponent was Ak Bars, when last season, Torpedo faced CSKA.
Best players
62 games, 62 (21+41) points
After Novokuznetsk, Moscow (CSKA), Novosibirsk and Vladivostok, Zhafyarov finally found his place in Nizhny Novgorod. With Torpedo, he scored 34 points in his first season, doubling his previous best. In the second season, he further improved, reaching 39, while this year, he had a point-per-game campaign. As a result, Zhafyarov set a record for Torpedo’s most points in a single season after 38 years. In addition, the forward was the regular season’s third-best scorer and a nominee for the Golden Stick award.
63 games, 43 (10+33) points
Torpedo signed Wideman to replace another offensive defenseman, Charles Genoway. And in his debut season in the KHL, he ultimately reached this goal. Not only was he the team’s third goal-scorer, but he led all the league’s defensemen in scoring. If returning to the comparison with Genoway, it’s incredible to see that Torpedo scored and allowed the same number of goals with the two blueliners (47 and 51, respectively). However, Wideman topped Genoway in goals, assists, shots on goal, hits, and blocked shots. Moreover, he was in seventh place in the KHL with 100 blocks, and no one of the players above him scored more than 25 points.
47 games, 36 (19+17) points
The 22-years-old forward also was at his debut in the KHL. He played a season in the JHL in 2015-2016 and then moved to North America. Before crossing the Ocean, he played for HC MVD, but he’s from Yekaterinburg, and he tried to sign with the Motormen at the start of the season. However, Avtomobilist didn’t see him in the main roster, while Torpedo was ready to offer Chekhovich a spot on the team’s first line. His line with Andy Miele and Zhafyarov netted 43 goals — only Salavat Yulaev and Dynamo Moscow’s lines were more productive. As a result, Chekhovich had his debut with Team Russia at the Euro Hockey Tour level. He scored a goal and a helper in his debut match and was the game’s star with Zhafyarov.
Best game
Probably, Torpedo’s best game in the season was the victory in Balashikha against the future Gagarin Cup champion. The Nemirovsky men were down 0:1 and 1:2 against Avangard but managed to rally back and win. Moreover, Torpedo scored its first and last goal in penalty-killing situations. First, Jordan Szwarz scored after a pass by Anton Shenfeld, then the two swapped roles for the game-winner. In this game, Zhafyarov scored his 200th point in the KHL, and his goal in the third period’s tail was his 50th point in the 2020-2021 season.
Head coach
In each of the three seasons with David Nemirovsky behind the bench, Torpedo showcased pretty much identical results. On the one hand, those results were satisfactory, with their postseason qualifications. But on the other hand, those first-round exits left the fans, and the boards, desire for more. However, the team played an entertaining style and achieved some excellent results, and thus it’s not a surprise that Nemirovsky signed a contract to stay in Nizhny Novgorod for a further year.
“I like Torpedo, I like the city, and I go along with all the people who are working here. We have a great hockey family and fantastic fans. I spent so many years playing in Russia, and now I almost feel like I was born in Nizhny Novgorod. When things don’t go well, I feel for the fans. I know that good things can be done here in Nizhny Novgorod as well; I consider this city almost as my home town, and I want to bring good hockey and good results.”
Offseason moves
It’s never easy to show good results if you aren’t among the wealthiest clubs, and each year, you lose leaders. Chekhovich returned to North America, and so will most likely do Wideman and Zhafyarov. However, there is also good news for the fans. Kenny Agostino, Daniel Zaar, and Marek Hrivik are excellent scorers who should be helpful for the cause. Hrivik is at his second stint in the KHL after playing for Vityaz, and he is moving to Torpedo after being the most valuable player, the best forward, the top scorer, and the most assists in the Swedish SHL. Moreover, Zaar and Agostino may be considered a better signing than him, at least on paper. There are another two free import spots for defensemen, considering that Brady Austin also didn’t accept Torpedo’s qualifying offer. However, considering how Wideman replaced Genoway, there is little doubt that they will be able to find a suitable replacement.
