Season review: Salavat Yulaev. Advancement to the second round, Rempal’s return, and Zharovsky’s progress
KHL.ru continues its review of the 2025-2026 season. Salavat Yulaev had a rocky start of the season after a long summer, but managed to fix the situation and advance to the Gagarin Cup playoffs’ second round.
The summer of 2025 brought plenty of unwelcome news for Ufa. The club set out to improve its financial situation and parted ways with several key players: Sheldon Rempal left for North America, while Joshua Leivo joined Traktor. To make matters worse, Alexander Chmelevski was traded to Ak Bars during the season. Despite the difficult circumstances, head coach Viktor Kozlov remained behind the bench — a decision that ultimately proved crucial to Salavat Yulaev’s success.
The start of the season was far from encouraging. Ufa finished September at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with just one win in eight games. Things gradually improved, however, and Salavat Yulaev began 2026 in impressive fashion, winning 11 of 13 games. By then, Rempal had already returned to the team after spending a couple of months away, and in early January Ufa claimed Evgeny Kuznetsov off waivers. The team’s on-ice play had already started trending upward in the fall, but during the winter months it fully embraced a fast-paced style built around the strengths of its top players. Salavat Yulaev ultimately finished fifth in the East, ahead of Traktor, which had reached the Gagarin Cup Final the previous season. Considering everything the club had gone through, the result was nothing short of a remarkable achievement.
In the first round of the playoffs, Ufa faced Avtomobilist, with many observers viewing Kozlov’s team as the underdog. The series opened in Yekaterinburg, where Salavat Yulaev split the first two road games before winning both contests on home ice. Game Four was particularly memorable, featuring a spectacular between-the-legs goal by Maxim Kuznetsov, two players recording braces, and a convincing 5:2 victory for Ufa.
Avtomobilist responded by taking Game Five at home, setting the stage for a dramatic sixth game. With just 33 seconds remaining in regulation, Roman Gorbunov put the visitors ahead and appeared to force a decisive Game Seven. Ufa’s leaders had other ideas. With four seconds left on the clock, Evgeny Kuznetsov converted a pass from Rempal to tie the game, and Rempal himself scored the winner in the second OT period to send Salavat Yulaev into the second round.
There, Ufa ran into defending champions Lokomotiv — who would later go on to retain the Gagarin Cup. Kozlov’s team played competitive hockey throughout the series, but injuries took their toll. With a depleted lineup, Salavat Yulaev was unable to match the depth and consistency of the powerful Yaroslavl side.
Best players
48 games, 54 (18+36) points
Rempal’s return to Ufa provided a major psychological boost for the team. Once again, he proved his value as one of the League’s elite forwards, finishing as Salavat Yulaev’s leading scorer and playmaker despite appearing in only 48 games. No matter who his linemates were throughout the season, Rempal consistently produced at a high level. His double-OT winner against Avtomobilist in Game Six of the first round has already become one of the defining moments of Salavat Yulaev’s season.
69 games, 44 (16+28) points
The 19-year-old forward made the biggest leap of any player on the roster. Zharovsky finished third in team scoring and was named the KHL Rookie of the Year. Playing alongside Evgeny Kuznetsov accelerated his development, with the veteran center helping bring out the best in his younger linemates. It was Zharovsky’s first full KHL season, and he immediately established himself as one of the League’s brightest young stars.
62 games, 31 wins, 93.0 SV%, 2.17 GAA
At just 23 years old, Vyazovoi handled one of the heaviest workloads in the League, appearing in 62 games during the season. He entered the year without extensive experience as a full-time starter, but quickly proved capable of carrying the responsibility. The young netminder finished among the KHL’s top five goaltenders in both save percentage and goals-against average, while ranking fourth in games played.
Head coach
Viktor Kozlov can undoubtedly consider the season a success. Beyond his decision to remain with the club during a difficult period, he demonstrated an ability to get the most out of the roster at his disposal. One of Kozlov’s biggest achievements was the development of young players — and not just Alexander Zharovsky. Maxim Kuznetsov, Yegor Suchkov, and several others also took important steps forward under his guidance.
Kozlov’s faith in Evgeny Kuznetsov paid dividends as well. The veteran forward produced several memorable performances, including the dramatic game-tying goal with four seconds remaining in Game Six against Avtomobilist. Kozlov also played a significant role in Sheldon Rempal’s return to Ufa. Unsurprisingly, he was named a finalist for the KHL Coach of the Year award, narrowly finishing behind Ak Bars head coach Anvar Gatiyatulin in the clubs’ vote.
Best Game
Salavat Yulaev delivered no shortage of memorable performances during the regular season. There was a 7:4 win over Barys, victories against Avangard (4:3) and Metallurg (4:3 SO), and several other impressive results against opponents widely considered stronger on paper.
Still, one game stands above the rest: a 6:0 road victory over Traktor on Feb 18. Everything seemed to click for Kozlov’s team that night. Salavat Yulaev built a two-goal lead in the opening period, added another goal in the second, and scored three more in the third. Devin Brosseau led the way with a double, while Yegor Suchkov, Sheldon Rempal, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Jack Rodewald also found the back of the net. In goal, Semyon Vyazovoi stopped all 24 shots he faced to record the shutout.
Young Players
The club’s challenging offseason forced the coaching staff to give more opportunities to young players, although working with prospects has long been one of Kozlov’s strengths. As a result, a large group of under-23 players made their KHL debuts during the season.
Leaving aside Semyon Vyazovoi and Alexander Zharovsky, as well as Yaroslav Tsulygin, who has already established himself as a regular top-four defenseman, forwards Artur Faizov and Artyom Nabiyev deserve special mention among those who played at least 10 games. Several other young players saw more limited action but could earn larger roles during the upcoming season.
Offseason Moves
So far, Salavat Yulaev have made only one addition, but it is a major one. The club signed Vadim Shipachyov, the KHL’s all-time scoring leader and the first player in League history to reach 1,000 career points. His arrival provides an immediate boost down the middle and should offer valuable mentorship for the club’s young forwards.
Among the key contract extensions, Sheldon Rempal and Grigory Panin both signed new one-year deals. For Panin, the upcoming season will be his 10th with Salavat Yulaev, and he is likely to play his 1,000th KHL game wearing the club’s colors.
