— You introduced many reforms before this season, including cross-playoffs. Are you happy that it happened this way?
– Of course, we are happy. Because we can see it from the traffic on our social networks, from the attendance at arenas, from watching matches: the public is attracted, is growing, the popularity of hockey is increasing. This means that people are even more interested in our league.
Of course, we are now receiving a lot of positive feedback on this innovation – second round crossover qualifiers. This format has disappeared, there are new intrigues. You will remember the interesting series that Magnitka had with the same Spartak. In the future, this will lead to additional matchups between these teams. After all, they have never crossed paths in the KHL playoffs before!
— For how many years will the cross-playoffs continue?
— Next season, it will certainly be there. We will play with him and see what it brings to the league. We are always trying to improve something for our fans and championship participants.
— The victory of Magnitogorsk is also a great compliment from the VHL and MHL, from where many interesting players entered the Ural team. Do you agree?
– Of course, we understand that perfectly. The vertical works, and it’s good. Russian hockey is developing and there is a lot of talent in our country. They just need to be educated, brought to the highest level. Look, Ilya Nabokov became the youngest playoff MVP in KHL history. We congratulate him. You saw how wonderfully he performed in the Gagarin Cup, which was the final. But last season he was still playing in the MHL.
– But now you have brought five foreign players instead of three, and it will be more difficult to find a place for such Nabokovs.
– We have such arguments that no coach – ask Andrei Razin – will give preference to a foreigner if the young Russian is head and shoulders stronger or shows himself better, thereby bringing benefit to the team.
The guys who deserve it will get their place. The KHL is the pinnacle of Russian hockey. Yes, ready-made players should already arrive here. And to test them, prepare them for something – we have VHL and MHL for that. There the guys can gain additional experience so that they can play the most mature and serious hockey in the KHL.
— The order of the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation is already circulating on Telegram. When will you announce that there will once again be five foreign players per club in the KHL?
– It takes time. As soon as the change made is approved by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, we will be able to announce it immediately.
— When will you announce the end of the next KHL season? Just May 31?
— I think we’ll say in June. We have the opportunity to continue the championship until May 31. But it is not a fact that we use the term in full. We will now review all interested parties to determine when to complete this. We could end the season on May 24 or 26. Here we need to work out how it will suit the fans so that these matches coincide with the correct dates. We also have the May holidays, when people rest. They will have more opportunities to come and watch KHL games to enjoy hockey.
— What should the players of the Kazakhstan national team, who are scheduled to participate in the World Cup in May, do? What if Barys reached the Gagarin Cup final?
— Listen, if we take the situation as before, when Kazakhstan played in the second division of the World Cup, then their tournament started in mid-April. And on April 30, we were just finishing the KHL season. No one asked the question: what if Barys had reached the playoff final?
We are in contact with the leaders of hockey in Kazakhstan. We know their plans, we have everything under control. We spoke to them and explained why the KHL was doing this. We will try to do everything to combine common plans and create a convenient schedule for everyone. But if Barys does indeed reach the Gagarin Cup final, then yes, the players will then be faced with the choice of continuing to fight for the cup or going to the World Championship.
In addition, we will follow this world championship which will take place in the Czech Republic. How will the Kazakhstan national team perform there?
— The salary cap in the KHL will not change?
– No, we approved it. Only the salary floor is 50 percent of the ceiling and will amount to 450 million rubles.
— Can new teams join the league next season?
— We held a meeting of the KHL Board of Directors, where they approved the list of participants for the next season. It’s the same as this year. There will be 23 clubs.
— They say that Vityaz might cease to exist.
— Everyone, including Vityaz, sent all financial guarantees. The Vityaz guarantees were signed by Alexander Ivanovich Medvedev. All clubs will participate next season.
— Will the number of jobs in the KHL increase? The Lada made a wonderful return from the “tower”. Would you like to promote anyone else from the VHL?
– We don’t raise anyone. We are happy to accept new teams into the league. As soon as someone has a desire, let them contact the KHL office. We will resolve everything as best we can. And you gave Lada a good example!
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Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
