Viktor Kozlov: the most talented junior player and Pavel Bure’s linemate
KHL.ru continues its series of articles about players and coaches who have become legends of the League. Today’s hero is Viktor Kozlov, who won the Gagarin Cup both as a player and as a coach.
Togliatti’s gem
Already in his youth, Viktor Kozlov was considered an exceptional talent. He wasn’t just predicted to have a bright future – more like an extraordinary one. Specialists and journalists showered him with all sorts of accolades, even acclaiming him as “the best junior player in the world.” Kozlov indeed had an abundance of strengths: excellent skating, nimble hands, sharp mind, and impressive size. Interestingly, until the age of 15, Kozlov didn’t stand out in height among his peers. However, during two summer months spent at his grandmother’s village, he grew a remarkable 7 cm.
Many clubs, including the Moscow powerhouses CSKA and Dynamo, were eager to acquire such a gem. In 1992, CSKA’s scout Boris Shagas even traveled to Togliatti to recruit Kozlov, but he ended up joining another departmental club.
Viktor Kozlov
224 games, 114 (47+67) points.
Gagarin Cup winner (2011).
Silver medal at the World Championships (2010).
Bronze medal at the World Championships (2005).
International Hockey League champion (1993).
June 9, 2009 Returns to the KHL from North America signing a deal with Salavat Yulaev.
May 23, 2010 Takes part in the World Championship’s finals with Team Russia.
April 16, 2011 Leads Salavat Yulaev to Gagarin Cup triumph as the team’s captain.
“In my case, my parents made all the decisions. I'm not sure why, but my father felt something. At that time, Dynamo was gaining momentum and giving young players a chance to play.”
The forward never regret his choice. In 1992, CSKA and Dynamo faced in the final of the national championship, but by the end of the next season, Kozlov’s first with the Blue-and-Whites, the teams were worlds apart. Dynamo had won its fourth consecutive title, while CSKA finished last in the West and second-to-last in the entire league — only Avtomobilist from Karaganda performed worse.
Ironically, in 1993, Dynamo faced Kozlov’s hometown team, Lada, in the playoff finals and won the series 3-0. However, the following year, Togliatti’s team took double revenge. First, they defeated the Blue-and-Whites in the regular season, becoming the first non-Moscow team to win the national championship’s gold medals. Then, they also defeated Dynamo in the IHL Cup final.
Kozlov inked a contract with the San Jose Sharks, who had selected him sixth overall, in 1994. However, the NHL lockout began, and Viktor continued to play for Dynamo. Unfortunately, in his third game, he suffered a serious injury — a broken leg. The recovery involved surgery with nine screws and a long rehabilitation process. Kozlov returned to the ice near the end of the season, but by then, he was already playing overseas.
Teammates with Makarov, Larionov, Bure, and Ovechkin
In Kozlov’s childhood apartment, a poster featuring the first line of the USSR national team from the 1980s was hanged, with Vyacheslav Fetisov, Alexei Kasatonov, Sergei Makarov, Igor Larionov, and Vladimir Krutov. In his debut season with the San Jose Sharks, Viktor played alongside two members of that legendary lineup—Makarov and Larionov. Upon seeing Makarov, Kozlov addressed him formally, but the two-time Olympic champion interrupted him, saying, “Come on, Vitik, no need for that.”
Kozlov was eagerly awaited overseas; everyone wanted to see the rising star in person.
"It was very flattering to arrive in America and find that the local stars knew all about you. But it was also a lot of pressure. You realize people expect a miracle from you. The newspapers called me the ‘New Mario Lemieux.’ But try becoming Lemieux. There will never be another like him.”
Kozlov struggled to score in the NHL at first. After finally netting a goal, he jokingly told reporters that he was thinking about San Jose assistant coach Vasily Tikhonov and dedicated the goal to him. However, Sharks head coach Kevin Constantine didn’t appreciate the joke and sent the young Russian to the farm team, not recalling him even for the playoffs.
Oct. 19, 2015 Hired as an assistant coach for Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
Apr. 19, 2016 Gagarin Cup win as a coach.
Dec. 25, 2017 Hired as Metallurg’s head coach.
2020 Returns to Ufa as one of Salavat Yulaev’s assistant coaches.
May 1, 2022 Hired as Salavat Yulaev’s head coach, where he keeps on working.
Dec. 10, 2022 Named one of the coaches for the KHL All-Star Game.
Things didn’t go well for Kozlov in San Jose. The player didn’t feel trusted, and General Manager Dean Lombardi and Head Coach Darryl Sutter publicly accused him of being lazy. This led to a trade in November 1997, when Kozlov was sent to the Florida Panthers. There, coach Bryan Murray immediately placed him on the top line. Kozlov played on both the power play and penalty kill, and his performance improved significantly. By the end of the following season, his linemate became Pavel Bure, who was traded to the Panthers after a long holdout. In the summer of 2001, Valery Bure also joined the Panthers, creating a Russian unit on the team. However, the Bure brothers and Kozlov played together very little. First, Valery got injured, then Pavel, followed by Kozlov. Eventually, Pavel Bure was traded to the Rangers at the end of the season.
Towards the end of his NHL career, Kozlov played on another Russian line with Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Seminin Washington. However, this trio didn’t become a stable combination and played only a few games together.
From player to coach
Kozlov played with Syomin even before their time in Washington. This happened during the 2004-2005 season when the NHL was in a lockout. Viktor returned to his hometown of Togliatti, where he played on a line with Alexander and Dainius Zubrus. That line played impressive hockey and helped Lada reach the finals, where, just like in the early 1990s, the team faced off against Dynamo (0-3).
Kozlov mentioned that he enjoyed playing in Russia, and it was after that lockout season that he decided he would return eventually. The time came in 2009 when his contract with the Capitals ended. Kozlov joined Salavat Yulaev, which was coached by the Russian national team’s head coach, Vyacheslav Bykov, that offseason. In his first season in Ufa, Kozlov won bronze. In the second season, he won the Gagarin Cup and the gold medal. However, in 2012, Salavat was eliminated in the first round of the elimination stage, prompting the club’s management to make significant roster changes. About a dozen and a half players, including captain Kozlov, left the team. Kozlov accepted an offer to join the newly revived Lokomotiv, which had re-entered the KHL.
Kozlov retired from playing in 2015 and almost immediately received an offer from Ilya Vorobyov to join Metallurg’s staff. In his first season in his new role, he lifted the Gagarin Cup once again.
“I was lucky to be there. It’s a legendary club with a lot of tradition. They played quality hockey and won a lot. When I was still a player, I saw hockey differently. Now, I see it much more broadly and deeply. As a player, you think you know everything. Now, I remember those moments with a smile.”
Kozlov worked at Magnitka for five years. In November 2017, he replaced the dismissed Vorobyov, initially as the interim coach. In late December, he became the full-time head coach. However, Metallurg was eliminated in the second round of the Gagarin Cup, and during the offseason, Josef Jandac was appointed as the team’s new head coach, with Kozlov returning to his assistant role.
In 2020, Kozlov moved to Salavat Yulaev. In 2022, he got a chance to work independently. In the regular season, the Ufa franchise finished second in the East, but they suffered from a sensational first-round exit, losing to Admiral. Immediately after, there were rumors that the club wouldn’t offer the coach a new contract. However, the management in Ufa decided to look beyond the results and give the rookie coach another chance.
“If we consider the objectives we set—building the team and developing the game—we believe the team performed well. In this regard, we are satisfied with the work of the coaching staff.”
Rinat Bashkirov, Salavat Yulaev’s GM
Perhaps the most crucial aspect for a young coach is the trust from the management. And judging that he keeps on leading Salavat Yulaev from behind the bench, Kozlov has justified that trust.
KHL.ru dossier
Viktor Kozlov
Born Feb. 14, 1975 in Togliatti, Russia.
Playing career: 1990-1992, 2004-2005 – Lada, 1992-1994 – Dynamo Moscow, 1994-1997 – San Jose Sharks, 1997-2004 – Florida Panthers, 2004-2006 – New Jersey Devils, 2006-2007 – New York Islanders, 2007-2009 – Washington Capitals, 2009-2012 – Salavat Yulaev, 2012-2013 – Lokomotiv, 2013-2014 – CSKA, 2014-2015 – Avtomobilist.
Player achievements: silver (2010) and bronze medal7t (2005) at World Championships, Gagarin Cup winner (2011), Russian champion (1993, 2011), silver (2005) and bronze (2010) medal in national championships, silver (1993) and bronze (1992) medal in European Junior Championships.
Coaching career: 2015-2017, 2018-2020 – Metallurg Magnitogorsk, assistant coach; 2017-2018 – Metallurg Magnitogorsk, head coach; 2020-2022 – Salavat Yulaev, assistant coach; 2022-present – Salavat Yulaev, head coach.
Coach achievements: Gagarin Cup winner (2016).
