Season preview: CSKA. Can Nikitin win the Gagarin Cup in his second season?

KHL.ru continues its club-by-club previews of the 2026/2027 season. CSKA has recruited carefully over the summer as head coach Igor Nikitin continues to rebuild the team in his own image.

Last season

Taking over his “new” team, Igor Nikitin had build from scratch and it took time for the players to adjust to their boss’s system. At the start of the regular season, CSKA spent some time outside of the playoff places and some were writing the Muscovites off. But the slump ended as fall turned into winter. Nikitin’s team steadily climbed the table and finished in the top four. In Round One it took five games to see off SKA. In the second round, CSKA faced Avangard – a team with a similar style – and Guy Boucher’s team prevailed.

Recruitment

Arrivals:

Defensemen: Artyom Grushinko (Calgary, AHL, try-out),  Yegor Zamula (Columbus, NHL),  Alex Cotton (Lada), Robert Hamilton (Dinamo Minsk). Forwards: Derek Barach (Metallurg), Maxim Mamin (Dynamo Moscow), Marat Khairullin (SKA). 

Departures:

Defensemen: Vladislav Yeryomenko (Neftekhimik), Vladislav Provolnev (Metallurg), Matvei Shuravin (Florida, NHL), Nick Ebert. Forwards: Vitaly Abramov (Amur), Rhett Gardner (Dinamo Minsk), Sergei Kalinin (Dinamo Minsk), Daniil Lazutin (Sibir), Takhir Mingachyov (Dragons), Danila Moiseyev (Admiral), Ilya Pautov (Philadelphia, NHL), Yegor Solovyov (Dragons, loan). 

Top 3 signings

Marat Khairullin

Without doubt, Marat Khairullin was CSKA’s main acquisition of the summer. Igor Nikitin is getting a forward who is capable of leading the team in scoring, as he did for SKA last season. Moreover, Khairullin is also strong on the check and plays well on both sides of the puck – just the kind of player the head coach values.

Yegor Zamula

Back from North America, the defenseman has already found a place at the heart of the D-core. Zamula is an offense-minded D-man who can take care of the puck as he patrols the opposition’s blue line. It’s likely we’ll see a lot of him on the power play.

Derek Barach

Barach isn’t the biggest player and, at first glance, may not seem a good fit for Nikitin’s system. But the American is already well adapted to the KHL, shoots right and can play at center as well as his more familiar role on the wing. In addition, he earlier enjoyed a productive partnership with Dmitry Buchelnikov, something that Nikitin himself is interested in reviving here at CSKA.

Coaching

Igor Nikitin is beginning his second season as head coach following his return from Lokomotiv. In his first campaign, the two-time Gagarin Cup winner made a lot of progress with the team and arguably exceeded the expectations of many. This year he’ll continue to adapt CSKA to his rigorous style of play.

Goaltending

CSKA continues with last season’s pairing of Dmitry Gamzin and Alexander Samonov. Based on last season, Gamzin will likely be first choice with the no less experienced Samoilov as his back-up.

Defense

The Muscovites’ defensive options were enhanced in the off season with the arrivals of Artyom Grushinkov and Yegor Zamula, both new to the KHL. Imports Rob Hamilton and Alex Cotton are already familiar with the league. Much of last year’s defense will return, and the roster looks well balanced ahead of the coming campaign.

Offense

Marat Khairullin, Derek Barach and Maxim Mamin promise to strengthen the attack. Mamin won’t need much time to adapt to Nikitin’s style, having played under him before. Khairullin and Barach offer variety on offense.

Youngsters

There’s excitement around a possible KHL debut for 16-year-old forward Nazar Privalov, regarded as one of the brightest talents of his age group. It’s likely that Nikitin will continue to give defenseman Ivan Patrikhayev and forward Oleg Maistrenko experience. Both had chances in the KHL last season.

Expectations

The club’s ambitions are known to all, which is why Nikitin was invited back after winning the cup here before. He will continue to shape the team to his system and there’s every likelihood that CSKA will be among this season’s leading contenders.