Season preview: Amur. Is a roster rebuilding enough for a return to the postseason?

KHL.ru looks at the state of the League’s clubs as they prepare for the new season. In Khabarovsk, the team has undergone a major overhaul, with half the roster revamped in the hope of making the playoffs for the first time in three years.

Last Season

In their first game of the 2025-2026 regular season, Amur faced Sibir, and, ironically, it was Novosibirsk that the Tigers would battle for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference down the stretch. It didn’t quite work out: Khabarovsk finished ninth in the conference and missed out on the postseason. One of the main reasons for the result was a disastrous January, when Amur suffered nine consecutive defeats. Still, the Tigers remained in contention for a top-eight finish until the very end and generally improved on the previous season’s results. Amur had finished 11th in 2024-2025, while also improving their totals in points (60 vs. 44) and wins (26 vs. 18). And they did so despite going through a coaching change during the season: Alexander Galchenyuk started the campaign behind the bench, but was replaced by Alexander Andriyevsky in November.

Recruitement

Arrivals:
Goalie: Alexander Trushkov (Lada). Defensemen: Alexei Vasilevsky (Salavat Yulaev), Vyacheslav Voinov (Avangard), Danila Galenyuk (SKA, trade), Dmitry Kostenko (HK Nitra, Slovakia), Vasily Machulin (HC Sochi, trade), Danil Mokrushov (HC Sochi, tryout), Nikolai Timashov (Magnitka, VHL, tryout). Forwards: Vitaly Abramov (CSKA, trade), Semyon Demidov (SKA, trade), Alexander Dergachyov (Neftekhimik), Ivan Klimovich (Sibir, trade), Maxim Krovyakov (Spartak, loan), Yaroslav Likhachyov (Lokomotiv, trade), Konstantin Lukin (Spartak, trade), Kirill Pilipenko (Avangard), Fyodor Khrapov (Spartak, trade).

Departures:
Goalie: Damir Shaimardanov (HC Sochi, trade). Defensemen: Roman Abrosimov, Viktor Antipin, Viktor Baldayev (HC Sochi), Yaroslav Dyblenko, Nikita Yevseyev (Ak Bars, returned from loan), Ivan Mishchenko (Sibir). Forwards: Alex Broadhurst, Ivan Vorobyov (Sibir, trade), Alexander Galchenyuk (Spartak), Artur Gizatullin (HC Sochi), Evgeny Grachyov (retired), Yegor Klimovich (Yugra, VHL, trade), Evgeny Svechnikov (Spartak), Kirill Slepets (HC Sochi, trade).

Top 3 Signings

Vitaly Abramov

A two-time Gagarin Cup winner with CSKA, Abramov should become a leader of Amur’s new-look offense. His strengths are well known: above all, his speed, puck skills and excellent shot. In Khabarovsk, Abramov will likely slot into the top six, which should give him more ice time. That said, Vitaly has shown more than once that he can make an impact even without a heavy workload, including during his time with CSKA. Bringing in a player of this caliber is an obvious boost for the Tigers.

Kirill Pilipenko

A former Severstal leader and a quality scorer by KHL standards, despite a disappointing season last term. During his time in Cherepovets, he twice recorded 50 or more points in the regular season and scored more than 30 goals. Last season got off to a poor start, while his move to Avangard cost Kirill his status as a regular in the lineup. That status should return in Khabarovsk, giving him an excellent opportunity to get back to his prime numbers.

Alexander Dergachyov

An experienced center who has played for several top clubs, Dergachyov is an excellent addition for Amur. He won the Gagarin Cup with SKA and also had a solid spell with Avangard. Alexander spent the last three seasons with Neftekhimik, serving as the team's captain, which says a lot about his leadership qualities. He doesn’t put up eye-catching offensive numbers, but that’s not where his main value lies: physical play, faceoffs, and leadership are his strengths. His position is also important: quality centers are not easy to find these days, but Amur’s management managed to address that need.

Coaching

Alexander Andriyevsky will lead the Tigers into the new season. He made a positive impact after taking over last season, while Amur’s overall improvement in results has already been mentioned above. The roster has been significantly revamped this summer, and much will depend on Andriyevsky and his coaching staff: what style of hockey will Amur play with this group of players? Will they find the right combinations to bring out the best in each player? And will they manage to build a true team? If all the pieces fall into place, Amur looks like one of the favorites to compete for a playoff spot – at least on paper.

Goaltenders

The situation in Amur’s crease is straightforward: there is Maxim Dorozhko, and then there is everyone else. Last season, however, it seemed that Dorozhko was overworked, while there was no backup capable of matching his level. Alexander Trushkov should now fill that role. Given his experience over the past few seasons with Lada, he should be capable of spelling Dorozhko for short stretches without a significant drop-off in quality. The third goalie will be young Viktor Kobozev, who has already made KHL appearances for Amur.

Defense

A major overhaul is coming on defense, with former leaders Viktor Baldayev, Ivan Mishchenko, and Yaroslav Dyblenko leaving the team. The reinforcements are substantial, with Alexei Vasilevsky and Vyacheslav Voinov being the most prominent names. The former is known for his commitment in the defensive zone and ability to block shots, while the latter is effective at both ends of the ice. Other new additions include Danila Galenyuk, Vasily Machulin, and Danil Mokrushov.

Forwards

There have been major changes here as well, with eight forwards leaving and nine arriving. In addition to Abramov, Pilipenko and Dergachyov, the return of Yaroslav Likhachyov is worth noting. He previously played for Amur on loan, and the club has now acquired him from Lokomotiv. Likhachyov has been the leader of Amur’s offense over the past two seasons, and all signs point to him continuing to play a key role up front. The arrivals of Ivan Klimovich and Maxim Krovyakov are also promising, and both forwards could get more opportunities under Andriyevsky.

Youngsters

Perhaps Amur’s biggest young talent is Andrei Krutov, who is on loan from Torpedo and also played in Khabarovsk last season. He could take another step forward in the upcoming campaign. The same happened with Nikita Grebyonkin, Sergei Dubakin, and Likhachyov, who all played for Amur on loan at different stages of their careers. The same could be said of Alexander Filatyev, who received more ice time after moving to Khabarovsk. There is also a large group of young players who have yet to make their KHL debuts; everything will depend on how they perform during the preseason.

Expectations

Given their work in the transfer market, Amur already looks like a contender for a top-eight finish. The only question is how quickly the newcomers will gel and adapt to their new club and city. It will also be important to see what kind of hockey Andriyevsky’s team will play. Most likely, the minimum goal for Khabarovsk will be to reach the playoffs. Can the Tigers make the Gagarin Cup playoffs for only the fourth time in franchise history?