President of the Continental Hockey League (KHL) Alexei Morozov did not rule out that the Chinese “Kunlun Red Star” in the next season the league will host home rivals and also discussed the situation with the Latvian goalkeeper “Amur” Janis Kalninsh and shared his opinion about Kazan’s “Ak Bars”.
“Kunlun” will again play home games in Mytishchi. In the 2021/22 season, the club closed the KHL Eastern Conference roster. The team will play in the Western Conference next season.
– Is Kunlun a problem for the KHL?
– They prepare, they have their own policy. The coach, for example, was appointed late. But they have time. As far as I know, the training camp starts on August 1 and the training will already be there at that time. We will continue to watch and see what happens.
– Will they play all season in Mytishchi? There were rumors that by the end of the year they could go to China.
– It’s impossible to say where they will play throughout the season. Yes, there is an option for them to return to China once everything opens up. We will monitor the situation. But right now they are preparing their Mytishchi arena.
– How does the league see the situation, like with the goalkeeper of Amour, who was banned from playing in the KHL in Latvia?
– The permission to play is given by the IIHF at the moment, so I don’t understand how the Latvian federation can ban. We see no problem if the IIHF allows play. So far I haven’t seen such a ban neither for him nor for other players, so he can play for Amur.
– How do you like Ak Bars? Still, not a foreign club for you.
– The composition is interesting. I accidentally met Radulov on vacation, we talked. With Danis [Зариповым] I’m still in touch too. It will be interesting to follow this team. Bilyaletdinov also returned, it will be interesting to chat with him in the first game against Dynamo.
– Someone is comparing this “Ak Bars” with lockdown times. In vain?
– I do not think so. Here, all the guys are ready to play. You can see the desire, including Radulov. The same Danis took a pay cut in order to end his career on a high note. There is a team that wants to win. Then there was a lockout, no one knew when the NHL hiatus would end, for some Ak Bars was just a transit point. And here the guys came together in one whole. And Znarok wants to prove to everyone after a long break. I hope they will succeed,” Morozov told reporters.
Source : MatchTV
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