Ak Bars season preview: Znarok’s Kazan All-Stars

Ak Bars was the big newsmaker throughout the summer. Oleg Znarok took over as head coach in Kazan, Zinetula Bilyaletdinov returned to the club and the management assembled a veritable dream team of proven talent. KHL.ru checks out Tatarstan’s new look.

Last season

A year ago, after losing in game seven of the Western Conference final, Ak Bars extensively rebuilt its team. Seven imports departed, including Stephane Da Costa and Nigel Dawes, both of whom disappointed in the playoffs). The team also parted company with Albert Yarullin, Andrei Pedan, Stanislav Galiyev, Viktor Tikhonov and Mikhail Fisenko. The management never completely replaced them all, although there were decent returns from newcomers Dmitry Kagarlitsky, Kirill Panyukov and Steven Kampfer.

Things did not go well at the start. Despite a confident opening win over Jokerit (4-0), Ak Bars blew a 3-0 lead in a disappointing 3-4 loss at home to Kunlun Red Star. Dmitry Kvartlanov’s team managed just one victory in its next four games, and even that came in overtime. That was the only significant skid during the season, but the team continued to drop points unexpectedly, suffering losses against Sibir (0-2), Barys (1-2) and Admiral (2-4). In the end, Ak Bars finished fourth in the East and faced Avangard in the first round of the playoffs. Down 0-3, Kazan almost saved itself. Back-to-back victories put the contest back on the boil, but in game six Omsk came out on top to progress to the second round.

Roster

Arrivals

Goalie: Amir Miftakhov (Orlando, ECHL)

Defense: Danila Arefyev (Krasnoyarsk, JHL-B, try-out), Slava Voynov (Dynamo Moscow), Vasily Tokranov (SKA), Kamil Fazylzyanov (Admiral, returning from loan), Maxim Chundinov (try-out), Dinar Khafizullin (Salavat Yulaev)

Forwards: Alexei Andreyev (Severstal), Stanislav Galiyev (Dynamo Moscow), Danil Makarov (Buran, VHL), Bulat Minnekhanov (Sakhalin, JHL, try-out), Alexander Radulov (Dallas, NHL), Kirill Semyonov (Avangard), Alexander Khovanov (Iowa, AHL), Vadim Shipachyov (Dynamo Moscow)

Remaining

Goalies: Artur Akhtyamov, Timur Bilyalov, Vyacheslav Peksa

Defense: Nikolai Averin, Kirill Adamchuk, Alexander Lyubchich, Nikita Lyamkin, Kristian Khenkel, Dmitry Yudin, Mark Yanchevsky

Forwards: Artur Brovkin, Alexander Burmistrov, Dmitry Voronkov, Artyom Galimov, Mikhail Glukhov, Nikita Dynyak, Danis Zaripov, Artyom Lukoyanov, Kirill Petrov, Ilya Safonov, Daniil Tarasov

Departures

Goalie: Igor Bobkov (Avtomobilist)

Defense: Mark Barberio (Dinamo Minsk), Jason Demers, Daniil Zhuravlyov (Colorado, NHL), Steven Kampfer (Detroit, NHL), Roman Rukavishnikov (SKA)

Forwards: Nikolai Kovalenko (Torpedo), Maxim Pestushko, Jordan Weal (Dynamo Moscow), Eric Fehr

Ak Bars’ stellar signings made it the talk of pre-season. The club brought Alexander Radulov back to Russia, acquired Vadim Shipachyov, Slava Voynov and Stanislav Galiyev from Dynamo Moscow and brought home Amir Miftyakhov, Dinar Khafizullin and Vasily Tokranov. Kirill Semyonov’s arrival from Avangard gives more depth at center. On paper, this looks like a powerful team. Ak Bars was immediately installed as the favorite to win the Gagarin Cup.

Only three departing players look like significant losses: Steven Kampfer, Daniil Zhuravlyov and Roman Rukavishnikov were all consistently effective last season. Elsewhere, Nikolai Kovalenko never really settled at the club, Igor Bobkov rarely played and Jordan Weal only shone intermittently. Canadian trio Mark Barberio, Jason Demers and Eric Fehr, signed on the deadline, did not play enough to make a big contribution.

Coaching

Incoming head coach Oleg Znarok needs no introduction. His list of honors speaks for itself. With a locker room full of stars, it’s vital that the head coach has great authority in the hockey world. Moreover, Znarok should be recharged after a one-year break and ready to go after a fourth Gagarin Cup for himself and the club. Znarok’s three previous wins are matched only by Zinetula Bilyaletdinov and Kazan’s cult hero will be working with the new head coach in a new role a sporting director of the entire Ak Bars hockey structure from youth to first team.

Znarok welcomed his illustrious colleague: “When you can learn something for somebody else, why wouldn’t you want to learn?” he said. “He’s experienced, he’s won so many trophies. That’s one. Two, he’s a legendary defenseman. He has a lot that’s worth hearing. Even before we signed up, we were in contact. We understood how the structure would be. Maybe somewhere down the line, I even initiated the idea.”

Goalies

There’s a feeling that this could be the weakest spot on the Ak Bars roster. Yes, there’s the impressive Timur Bilyalov, who will surely be the undisputed first choice. However, if injuries play a part, there’s not much cover. Amir Miftyakhov, 22, has just nine KHL appearances, Artur Akhtyamov played four times and Vyacheslav Peksa is still awaiting his debut at this level. Of course, it’s possible we will see a new arrival, not least because GM Marat Valiullin says that the team still has some spare cap space.

Defense

Compared with last year, the blue line only got stronger. See for yourself. Voynov should easily compensate for the loss of Kampfer; Tokranov and Khafizullin add experience at the back. Maxim Chudinov is on a try-out, and would bring ample experience of playing and winning at this level. Those four are strong two-way options, while quality stay-at-home d-men like Kristian Khenkel, Nikita Lyamkin and Dmitry Yudin will bring the all-importance balance.

Offense

This year’s forward line has the potential to be awesome – Radulov, Shipachyov, Galiyev, Semyonov, Kagarlitsky, Dmitry Voronkov, Artyom Galimov and more. Plus, the club secured extensions with Danis Zaripov, Mikhail Glukhov and Artyom Lukoyanov, popular figures with the fans and leaders in the locker room. With such riches available, the coaching staff’s biggest challenge is to find the right combinations and ensure everyone is happy with his ice time.

Youngsters

Although the likes of Voronkov, Galimov and Ilya Safonov fall under the age limit, none of them really count as prospects on this team. All three have established themselves on the first team. Behind them, there are several players pushing for a KHL debut this term, or looking to cement their role. Among those who have already played we have Artur Brovkin and Dmitry Katelevsky. Both scored their first KHL goals last season, the latter in the playoffs against Avangard. It’s likely that at least one of the young goalies Akhtyamov and Peksa will get a chance, since it’s hard to imagine playing 68 regular season games with just two goalies. Young D-man Nikita Yevseyev featured in pre-season and we may see him play in some official games this term.

Expectations

Win the cup. With this roster, anything else would be seen as a disappointment – if not an outright failure. That said, it’s worth remembering that hockey history is full examples of All-Star teams that did not deliver for various reasons, often internal conflicts or a poor atmosphere in the locker room. Ak Bars appears to have everything required to win the Gagarin Cup. However, the coaching staff still has plenty of work to do to unite a galaxy of individual stars under a single team aim. If they can do this, it’s hard to see Kazan failing to at least reach the final.