Sergei Fedorov: ‘We have to make sure that Fedotov calmly continues his career in Russia’

From this interview with Sergei Fedorov, you will learn:

– how he restarted this summer during his vacation;

– what chances would CSKA have against Vegas;

– why foreign hockey players began to apply for Russian citizenship;

Does Fedorov need a coaching license?

– finally, the position of the head coach in the “Fedotov affair”.

“Holidays spent at home in the Pskov region”

‘Minsk is not a foreign city for you. You played for local Dynamo in the 1985/86 season.

— Yes, it was one of the most serious stages of my life. When I came to Minsk I was only 13 years old, here I continued my junior career. The partners and coaches were wonderful. For an entire year, I was able to train at least twice a day on the ice. I remember those moments with warmth, it helped me a lot. I consider this my second home.

– “Tampa” won two Stanley Cups in a row, then reached the final, but the next season was eliminated in the first round – the players ate. Is he waiting for CSKA?

We didn’t think so globally. But our preparations are going well. You can see that the guys rested for three months, recovered and even missed hockey. The dedication is high every day and we’re not afraid to praise the guys for it. Simply put, we are reset, nothing pulls us back, nothing stops us. We enter the season with new energy and new challenges. And some conclusions can be drawn after the first game, and even that is not a fact.

– How did you spend your summer? Where did they bring the Gagarin cup for the day?

– I had a bowl at home, in a close family circle, they sat down, reminisced, took pictures. He went on vacation to his native country in the Pskov region. We always go to Pushkin holidays. And like everyone else, they flew to Turkey with their family. There is a beautiful place where everything suits us. 10-12 days spent at the resort. The rest are in the capital and the Moscow region.

– Have you watched individual CSKA games this summer?

– I watched the NHL playoffs carefully, but not our games. I didn’t think I was ready to digest such information during my vacation. Every three months discharged the head. But in the past two weeks there was a desire to remember what and how. No precise breakdown. But I have now watched some moments that have stuck in my memory since the Gagarin Cup final.

– If Vegas played against CSKA, would your team have a chance? They tore up Florida in the last game (9-3).

— I understand why such a score. Nobody stopped playing. But Florida did everything it could. From the first round, some injuries dragged on among the leaders, and goalkeeper Bobrovsky was not iron either. He was really left alone in this game, but those are the Panthers’ problems.

As for CSKA, let’s play and see. It’s interesting to imagine. I remember how Soviet CSKA went to America for friendly matches. And we didn’t give up much. Why, we actually won every game. But the NHL clubs opposed us with the main teams. After 25-30 years, I don’t know how it would have been. We can only guess.

“The IIHF has no jurisdiction over our hockey league”

– Alexander Sharychenkov started the last playoffs, but during the series with Severstal he was benched. Is he ready to be CSKA’s first goalkeeper?

– Perhaps from the outside it seemed so to you – on whom we bet. But we had a plan, and we decided in December. Well done guys, face our decisions. Who plays when, how many games he gets. In general, the playoffs are a different dish, with special ingredients. Something went wrong for someone, we fixed it. Sasha played well. But there are times when a responsible person – the head coach – can notice the goalkeeper. Adam Reideborn came out and did his job.

Now the guys are preparing as usual and we understand the roadmap. Everyone is healthy, we are working hard. The goalkeeper is half of the team. And it’s important for us that the guys start the season in good shape.

– A big game of chess has been played around goalkeeper Fedotov for several months now. In order not to make an extra move when legal proceedings are pending, tell me – does Ivan feel dizzy about this story?

– I think Fedotov is inspired now, he missed that vibe. We have never seen such a Vanya! He trains very well. The current situation does not put pressure on him.

He clearly knows, and I can also tell you that there is no game of chess. Here we see the same sanctions that the West has imposed on our country. From a legal point of view, everything is clear and precise. I can say one thing: the legal truth is on our side. But everyone has seen the decision of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), everyone knows how to read. It is. Let’s wait and see what happens next.

And so with Vanya everything is fine. He trains, God bless him, to get back in shape and maybe even improve. I hope this will happen in the next few months, and we will try to help him in all aspects. The work is intense. Ivan and I are closely involved in all areas.

– Don’t you regret that CSKA hastened to separate you from Reideborn, with whom you won the Gagarin Cup-2023?

We didn’t want to give Adam. But as part of some information about Ivan, we took into account that Reideborn is a foreigner, and the limit in the KHL is reduced from five foreign players to three. In the end, we made the difficult and delicate decision that a foreign goalkeeper should not take the place of a defender or a striker. After all, you can always change the composition by December, strengthening it.

The decision on Reideborn was interpreted by the tasks and the necessity of the club. I’m so grateful to Adam and I’m glad he found the strength in himself to show such play. He really helped us win another title. It’s great that he has now found a new job that suits him. Well, CSKA is going its own way.

– They will take Fedotov away from you and won’t let you sign a foreign defender. What to do then?

– In my amateur opinion, for this they have no jurisdiction over our hockey league. This was once again proven in the IIHF by their biased decision. I don’t know how events will develop, but it is clear to me that we must ensure that Ivan continues his career in Russia calmly. For as many years as you want. In this case, there are two seasons. And then he will choose his own way.

– Don’t you think the time has come for the KHL to become independent from the IIHF?

– I will not talk about this topic – not because I have no idea, but because the situation is difficult now. We have to think about the future. There are responsible people who fully assess the conditions in which we currently find ourselves. We have been suspended from all international competitions for an indefinite period. I don’t want to be baseless. But I understand that our league, the KHL, has to be independent, commercial, think about development and have its own rules. I think that makes sense.

“Foreigners take a Russian passport because they want to be protected”

– Foreign hockey players began to massively apply for Russian citizenship. Does this trend surprise you?

“There are many factors that cannot be ignored. But I think foreigners who come to us just want to be protected. In the simple human sense of the word. Citizenship offers such protection. Perhaps Russia will become their second homeland. It is clear that they love their first homeland, but they want to be full citizens of our country. I understand it that way. Everything else is poetry.

– CSKA legionnaires do not ask for a Russian passport?

— If possible, here without comment.

– Latest news: after five years, active CSKA fans have decided to return to hockey. What’s your reaction ?

– I am extremely happy. The fans have helped us a lot on the road, and in all corners of the country. And I am happy that they have finally found a home where they will come to support their team with great desire.

– You have been working as a hockey coach for two years – you have won two Gagarin Cups. But you don’t have a trainer’s license yet. Isn’t it necessary?

– Coach education does not hurt, live a century – learn a century.

– And what should Sergei Fedorov learn if he knows everything?

“That’s what you think. I’ll be honest, I don’t know everything. But for now we have interesting seasons at CSKA. I manage to get along with hard-working guys. Of course , the experience of my playing and coaching career helps.

You know, I’m not against the HSE model of the Soviet Union. I had the opportunity to communicate with our greats – this is Viktor Tikhonov, even a little Anatoly Tarasov …

– How did you and Tarasov meet?

– We did not speak to the extent that I was preparing for the job of coach. Just conversations, memories, interesting stories. I didn’t want to be a coach at all. But fate, life decided so. The management gave instructions, and for me that is a definite challenge. I don’t relax for a minute, I don’t swim in rainbow clouds. It is intense, very complex and difficult work – both for me and for my family. I will never talk about what has been achieved. I’m thinking about something else – how to improve our game by repeating the result of the last two years. We kept the composition of the team, and we have no other way.

– Name three modern coaches whose experience interests you.

I would pause for two or three days to reflect. It is necessary to cover all the amount of information, having decided on the names. I don’t want to call. But there are some interesting numbers.

-Mike Babcock?

– I worked with Mike, I fully understand his routine. What he wants and how he wants, with what age he likes to work and with whom he does not. I have lots of information about him. His experience with the Canadian national teams is successful, there are no questions. At club level, I am aware of what he is pushing. He is now resuming his career at Columbus, where I spent almost two years. It will be interesting to watch it.

– A coach in the modern world can only be a badass?

– Constantly – I don’t think anymore. But there are times when you can show absolutely all the qualities. Kindness and tenacity, and sometimes you even have to persuade. And somewhere in general, be quiet. You convey the idea to the player not with words, but with actions. Coaching is a multifaceted profession.