“If the Dynamo players start having fun, then Torpedo will win, where there is more stupidity.” Tough Predictions for the KHL Playoffs

Kamil Gadzhiev is the founder of the Fight Nights promotion, an international master of the sport and the winner of the Jiu-Jitsu World Cup. Today he is one of the most active and creative officials in Russian sport. And Kamil is a very frank interlocutor, who does not hesitate to make harsh and at the same time well-reasoned assessments. And he knows the KHL inside out. In our hockey, Gadzhiev managed to work as one of the leaders of the Admiral.

Eastern Conference

Ak bars (1) – Neftekhimik (8)

March 1, 3, 9*, 13* – in Kazan, March 5, 7, 11* – in Nizhnekamsk (* – if necessary)

Kamil Hajiyev: Neftekhimik can take away a game from Ak Bars, but no more. In general, Nizhnekamsk strongly clung to the playoffs themselves, having won the race against Traktor and Amur. It’s already a feat. But after a hard struggle, you can mentally exhaust yourself. And you can be on a fierce pruha, although I repeat that it will only win you one game. Because “Ak Bars” with Bilyaletdinov in January-February was the strongest club in the KHL.

But suddenly Nizhnekamsk is 3-3 in the series. I don’t see how it’s possible, but still. Then, all the local leaders will unanimously say to Neftekhimik: stop! It’s 100%. Because Ak Bars has chances for the championship, while Nizhnekamsk has none. It is important for the region to win the Gagarin Cup.

The solution will be clear. And in what form they would say it, who would call whom – this is the second question. Another thing is that such alignment with the current balance of power is simply not going to happen. Kazan will take the series without any problem.

Separately – about the bonus of 90 million rubles from Alexander Radulov. They asked me, “Is that a lot of money for the martial arts world?” I replied that such fees are very rarely paid in America when our guys perform there. But the comparison is not entirely correct, because Radulov earned a bonus for the season, and it lasts for six months. Although not many people can amass 90 million in six months in MMA, to do so you need to be a top athlete. Well, Radulov doesn’t play in the main league of the world anymore. So it’s a lot of money, to the point of absurdity.”

Hajiyev’s prediction: 4-1 in favor of Ak Bars

“Salavat Yulaev” (2) – “Admiral” (7)

March 1, 3, 9*, 13* — in Ufa, March 5, 7, 11* — in Vladivostok

Kamil Hajiyev: “I discussed this couple for a long time with Ildar Mukhometov, we worked together at the Admiral, people who are not indifferent to the club. It is clear that the favorite on paper is Salavat Yulaev, and he will most likely win This series, by the way, the Admiral has reached the playoffs three times in history – and lost in all three series of the first round.

But this year, things could be different. After all, Ufa has age defenders, and flying to Vladivostok is 5500 km. Maybe even twice back and forth. That’s a total of 22,000 km in the air, more than half of the equator. Plus here and there acclimatization. And you have to play right away. It’s not easy, especially if you’re already over 30. It is clear that in our time there are different preparations for the recovery…

But after all, the break between sets is small. That is, Ufa will overtake the mordant admiral, but the first round can just kill Salavat Yulaev in the playoffs.

Hajiyev’s prediction: 4-2 in favor of Salavat Yulaev

Avangard (3) – Sibir (6)

March 2, 4, 10*, 14* — in Omsk, March 6, 8, 12* — in Novosibirsk

Kamil Hajiyev: “When a series is unpredictable, the goalkeepers decide everything. But in general, Avangard has a certain compositional advantage. Although I’m going to talk about something else.

Here they opened a new big arena in Omsk. I guess the Siberian derby will be full, furious support from their fans. On this wave, Avangard should win home games. In this case, you need to make up for an away match.

I know the old stadium in Novosibirsk, there in the LDS Siberia held an MMA tournament. I’ve always liked it, even though this arena is outdated. At the same time, a new palace was built in the city. Why not play the playoffs? There is no disaster here. There is ice, there are boards, there are locker rooms.

I understand that local officials want to start the installation at the most urgent time in order to achieve the maximum effect. In this, I support the Novosibirsk authorities. Everyone must go to each other. Since so much money has been pumped into the new arena, let’s move on to the derby now. Then it will really come in and there will be a full house, Sibir will start playing there from the next KHL championship, and the palace will not be crowded. And now you can collect full houses. And I think all the standards for firefighters and the Ministry of Emergencies are met. Suicides don’t work there.”

Hajiyev’s prediction: 4-3 in favor of Avangard

Avtomobilist (4) — Metallurgist (5)

March 2, 4, 10*, 14* — in Yekaterinburg, March 6, 8, 12* — in Magnitogorsk

Kamil Hajiyev: “If Metallurg started the series at home, I would definitely call them a favourite. This team has a strong cup tradition. I think Magnitogorsk quickly solved the problem of reaching the playoffs and relaxed a bit at the finish line. But even having slowed down, Metallurg finished the championship normally.

How do you shake well-fed cats in the playoffs from a manager’s perspective? First, I’m sure there is a financial motivation. This is what you can offer Yegor Yakovlev, when he already had everything? Olympics, cups… Secondly, Magnitogorsk have an unfinished gestalt last season, when they were 3-1 in the final against CSKA and failed to win the Gagarin Cup. One step was not enough.

From then on, in the locker room, you can make a fiery speech: “Boys, you didn’t make it last year. Do it now! Well, and most importantly – bonuses, money. We all know how it works. By skill, we understand that Magnitogorsk could well become a champion.

Hajiyev’s prediction: 4-3 in favor of Metallurg

Western Conference

SKA (1) – Dynamo Mn (8)

March 1, 3, 9*, 13* — in St. Petersburg, March 5, 7, 11* — in Minsk

Kamil Hajiyev: “At first, emotionally, I thought this series could be a rout. But I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the inhabitants of Minsk do not have a limit of legionnaires. There are quite clever foreigners. And the playoffs for them is a special story.

And imagine if Dynamo won one of the two matches in St. Petersburg. And then SKA comes to Minsk, gets there and the series score becomes 2-1. So what will start? It’s true, in SKA they start to get very nervous. We all know there is a very ambitious coach, Roman Rotenberg. He’s unlikely to accept a single SKA defeat with absolute calm. This is where psychology can play a role. It’s Tampa’s syndrome of 2019, when it broke all regular season records but met Columbus in the first round.

Although this is only one of the scenarios. And in the end, I am definitely betting on the passage of SKA. But I think there will be no direct withdrawal from Dynamo Minsk here.

Hajiyev’s prediction: 4-2 in favor of SKA

CSKA (2) – Severstal (7)

March 2, 4, 10*, 14* — in Moscow, March 6, 8, 12* — in Cherepovets

Kamil Hajiyev: “I will be very surprised if Severstal wins more than one game in the series. Everything is obvious here. CSKA is a stable cup team that regularly reaches the playoff finals. I think the army team will pass Cherepovets without any problems.Maybe even take the series dry.

Sergei Fedorov last season for the first time in his life became the head coach – and immediately won the Gagarin Cup. Fedorov belongs to the category of people who bear the seal of God. Whatever they do, everything works out. Remember how Sergei played hockey, how smart he was on the ice. He knows this sport, has unconditional authority, guys watch him and believe him 100%.

At the same time, Fedorov is not only strict, but also creative. Remember how he introduced the moment the goalie is taken out in overtime into a wide broadcast. I love watching these moves. Fedorov is a great champion and a decent person. So he succeeds. God gives him.

Gadzhiev prediction: 4-1 in favor of CSKA

Lokomotiv (3) – Vityaz (6)

March 1, 3, 9*, 13* — in Yaroslavl, March 5, 7, 11* — in Balashikha

Kamil Hajiyev: “The most annoying couple of the first round of the playoffs. I think Lokomotiv will go further, it’s the most skilful. It’s not that it smacks of rout. But here everything is predictable.

Vityaz is a team whose ultimate dream is simply to make the playoffs. And with the guarantee of flying on the first lap. There’s not even anything to talk about. And I wonder how the stadium will be assembled in such a series.

By the way, the collected former combat “Vityaz” is holding up better. But we understand that it is impossible to go far in the fights. Sooner or later, law enforcement would get involved. Although you can dream of how Vityaz enters the playoffs on the ice and starts to fight.

In the regular season, you can twist your finger to your temple: “What are you idiots? Why are you hurting people?” And in the playoffs, those fights look good.

Hajiyev’s prediction: 4-1 in favor of Lokomotiv

Torpedo (4) – Dynamo M (5)

March 2, 4, 10*, 14* — in Nizhny Novgorod, March 6, 8, 12* — in Moscow

Kamil Hajiyev: “I have conflicting feelings here. On the one hand, I don’t want to lose Dynamo, I support this club. Rarely goes in the regular season, but regularly in the playoffs. And for me, Dynamo in the spring is an opportunity to go to the Gagarin Cup matches. The more the team advances, the more interesting it is for me.

On the other hand, I don’t want to lose a team like Torpedo. Very cool, more Larionov. I’m not glad that’s how the couple turned out.

But what can you say? If Dynamo will show the most pragmatic hockey, he can beat Torpedo. Dynamo has a young and ambitious team.

And if the Dynamo players start having fun, then Torpedo has more stupidity and he will win. I’m fine when they play non-standard hockey. But I think pragmatism will still prevail in the playoffs.

Hajiyev’s prediction: 4-3 in favor of Dynamo M

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Watch live broadcasts of the matches of the Gagarin Cup on the federal channel , thematic channels of the holding, as well as on the sites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.