First coaching casualties, season’s biggest wins

The first week of October saw management at some clubs getting a bit anxious: three head coaches parted company with their teams, and one permanent replacement is already in position. We saw a rush of goals, with two teams setting new marks for the biggest victory of the current season. And last term’s goalie of the year is on the move.

Severstal scores 10

The biggest win of the season to date was updated twice during the week. First, CSKA won 9-1 at home to Vityaz. But five days later, Severstal bettered that with a 10-1 road win at HC Sochi. The scoreline was eye-catching for several reasons. First, Sochi is a much improved team this season and went into the game looking extend a run of nine wins in 10 games. In addition, the Leopards had beaten the Steelmen three times already this season and was out to cement its position in the top four in the west. The home team opened the scoring in a competitive first period, only to fall behind just before the intermission. The middle frame brought two more goals for Severstal and the third was 6-0 in the visitor’s favor. Nikita Korostelyov led the way with a hat-trick.

Goal rush for visiting teams. October 7 round-up

Ryabykin to Vityaz

Dmitry Ryabykin is the new head coach of Vityaz. The Moscow Region club parted ways with Alexander Zavyalov after a 1-9 loss at CSKA last week. Interim head coach Alexei Tertyshny presided over a couple of victories before Ryabykin was appointed. Ryabykin himself began last season as head coach at Avangard, but lost his job after a 0-5 home loss to Kunlun Red Star in the second game at the Hawks’ new arena. He later had a spell as assistant to Ilya Vorobyov at Metallurg. Vityaz is currently bottom of the Western Conference, with four wins from 15 games.

Coaching departures

Zavyalov was the first coach to lose his job this season, but he was quickly followed by two others. Traktor’s Anvar Gatiyatulin left the club after a 0-4 loss at home to Salavat Yulaev on Oct. 4, then Barys parted company with Andrei Skabelka on Oct. 7 Gatiyatulin was in his second spell as head coach of his hometown team. In each previous spell he took the team to an Eastern Conference final, but missed last year’s playoffs and endured an inconsistent start this term. Alexei Zavarukhin replaces him on an interim basis. Skabelka was also in his second spell with his club. He returned from Yaroslavl last summer, but could not reach the playoffs. Things did not approve this term, with Barys second from last in the East after winning just three of its first 15 games. Galym Mambetaliev steps in as interim head coach.

Gatiyatulin leaves Traktor, Loko goes top in the West. October 4 round-up

SKA signs Serebryakov

Last season’s goalie of the year, Nikita Serebryakov, moved from Admiral to SKA. The new deal lasts until the end of the 2026-2027 season. The 27-year-old netminder had 195 KHL games prior to his move, winning 61 and collecting 10 shut-outs. However, his debut for SKA got off to a rocky start when he allowed a goal after 40 seconds before recovering to help secure a 3-2 win at CSKA. Serebryakov’s move was just part of a bigger exchange between the two clubs: Admiral took goalie Sergei Ivanov and forward Dmitry Buchelnikov on loan for this season and secured the permanent signing of former Lada man Nikita Anokhovsky. SKA picked up the KHL rights to two players, Japan’s Shuma Izumi and Korean forward Chong Hyun Lee.

Meloche to Ufa

Canadian defenseman Nicolas Meloche is Salavat Yulaev’s latest recruit. The 26-year-old Quebecois played 57 games in the NHL for St. Louis but has spent the bulk of his pro career in the AHL. He spent last season with Calgary Wranglers, playing 64 regular season games for 21 (4+17) points.