“I charge my heart not to turn into a vegetable.” Candid interview with Dynamo head coach

Correspondents of “” visited the collection of “white-blue” in Nizhny Novgorod Bor. And, of course, the first thing we spoke to was Dynamo head coach Alexei Kudashov. And on a variety of topics.

“Until the Hand Rises to Cut Someone”

Rumor has it that you run marathons. It’s true?

– Not. I run, I do it regularly. But so far I have only run a half marathon. Yes, it’s not official. Just for me. We thought about going to the triathlon, but it doesn’t work. I don’t have enough time and I don’t have the strength, but I keep myself in shape.

– How long have you liked crosses?

– I started running right after finishing my playing career. You understand what becomes of the heart if you play until 41 years old. It already becomes this size (Koudashov shows with his hands a volume the size of a melon). It must be constantly charged so as not to turn into a vegetable. Otherwise, not only the body, but also the head will malfunction. For me, sport is essential.

– Is that why the entire Dynamo coaching staff stays on the ice after practice and plays 3v3?

“Unfortunately, this opportunity is very rare. But today it worked. Why are we aiming for the crossbar? Well, we’re playing without goalies. And you have to get somewhere.

— Are you satisfied with the first stage of fundraising?

– The fillers were great. As a result, there are microtraumas and even a fracture. But the guys did all the work. They plowed with mad dedication, not a single person gave reason for reproach. Everyone understands that a new team is being created, and everyone wants to get a foothold in it.

– But the composition will still have to be reduced.

– I say. However, until the hand comes up to cut someone. And there were no games yet. We will look further, while we trust the young. That these words sound like populism. First, of course, we have to prepare the guys well. And they take what is theirs.

O’Dell took a big risk last season

– Dynamo are waiting for Canadian centre-forward O’Dell, who performed well last season. Is a place in the shock link guaranteed to him?

– In the center – guaranteed. But in what link Eric will play, I do not know. While the other guys in training also delight the soul and the eyes. O’Dell hasn’t even arrived yet. And Rashevsky, Efremov and Kudryavtsev already go well together. Everything depends on the state in which Eric will be. We control it now, but remotely, across the ocean. It may take time for O’Dell to get back into shape. We’re not going to destroy a good three because of him.

– Fans are puzzled – O’Dell left the team midway through the playoffs and his salary was doubled. Can you explain why there is such an attitude towards the legionnaire?

– Let’s really understand, because we talk about it a lot. Last year, Eric had a small contract, because he was injured, and nobody needed him in the KHL. Moreover, we had an official agreement that the club could terminate this contract at any time. O’Dell accepted everything, including some money. He took a big risk coming to us after shoulder surgery and he had a great season. After that, many teams made him a generous offer. Thirty percent more than Dynamo. But he still chose us. Yes, Eric has more than last year. But his current contract is much smaller than the one he had before, for example at Magnitogorsk.

– There’s nothing wrong with O’Dell’s game. But he left the team before the series with CSKA. This fact is hard to ignore.

— The pressure on the legionnaires from their homeland began even before the series with Cherepovets. But they stayed. And besides, the team at that time also had financial problems. So understand the situation – both here it is alarming and here it is not good. Don’t blame the players. They were poured with mud at home. And Eric also had something like that with his parents. Therefore, the club turned to foreigners. Eric went home, understood, realized that there was no particular danger and immediately contacted us. He apologized and said he was ready to come back.

“Are you 100% sure now that O’Dell will be back?” »

– The only question is when he will receive a visa. I hope to see him no later than August 7, but now no one can guarantee anything. Vaughn Zherenko did not receive an American visa, he is not allowed to leave Finland.

– Dynamo have a clear overabundance of centre-forwards. How are you going to solve this problem?

“Unfortunately, we can’t leave everyone. We will start from the principle of the quality/price ratio. Now you have to live within your means, such work. At the same time, I will say that all guys are about equal in strength.

Why not appoint a captain? After all, the choice is obvious.

The team must choose him. Although it is predictable that it is probably Andrey Mironov. But I don’t want to get ahead of myself, let the guys decide for themselves.

“I envy the coaches of the NHL”

– Vladislav Tretyak, in an interview with , said that Alexei Zhamnov remains head coach of the Russian national team for at least another year. And what about his headquarters, which included you at the Olympics?

– First you need to understand – in which competitions the team will participate. So far you can only vouch for the Channel One Cup. But personally, I would like to continue working in the national team.

– Did you watch the World Cup without the Russian team?

– I watch all the hockey tournaments, everything interests me. And the all-ages world championships, and the Stanley Cup.

Where is modern hockey headed?

“He’s going faster and faster. But it’s not just leg speed, but the whole game, first of all – decision making. At such speeds, nobody gets rid of the puck like that.

Are you jealous of NHL coaches?

“Many would like to work there, try. Or are you talking about the quality of the players?

– No, I’m talking about the current Stanley Cup finalists. About the fact that Jared Berdnar coached Colorado for six years before winning. And John Cooper has been with Tampa for nine straight years.

“To be honest, I envy you. Because now we have six fives here. And there are good guys at Dynamo St. Petersburg, in the youth team there are also players on the way. With them , you can build a very good strategy. Preparing young people and gradually bringing them to the main structure. Moreover, it is in line with Dynamo.

I would be even bolder on this path, entrusting young people with key roles in the team. Because I see attacking potential in them. Now young people are being introduced in secondary roles. Because you have to get results. And it would be nice to take a step back, let the young people grow stronger, and then move forward with them. Next, we will launch a large number of players into orbit. But this requires a thoughtful long-term strategy.

“Without ice, Fedotov will not stay in Severodvinsk”

– At the Olympics, you worked with goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov. What can you say about him as a person?

– A calm and reasonable guy, a wonderful person in the team. I can’t say anything bad about him. Good keeper.

– If Ivan has to miss a year, can he then return to the previous level?

– As far as I know, in Severodvinsk there is a hockey team in this part. So even in the worst case, it won’t go without ice. There is an ice rink nearby. Fedotov has a reliable level of skill, he won’t lose it in a year.

– How was the issue of military service resolved when you were a player?

– All army teams had the opportunity to serve without breaking with hockey, being in sports enterprises. And I chose Wings of the Soviets. Therefore, I was immediately offered to enter an institute with a military department. The club contributed to it. I graduated from it, went to boot camp and received the rank of lieutenant.

– Is it difficult to be head coach of a KHL club, knowing that your son plays in his system?

“It’s hard for my son because he is under a prism. And he still has a promising year. Of these, more than ten people joined the Dynamo youth team this summer. Almost everyone plays in the Russian national team according to their year. Let’s clear this up once and for all.

– Lets go.

– My son was offered to go to the Dynamo system when I had no more work. And only a year later I followed my son to the club, and not the other way around. It just happened, a coincidence. A year ago, there was a funny incident. The meeting of parents of Dynamo graduates was like in the office, I was there. And literally half an hour after the end, I was announced head coach of the Blue and Whites. Now I don’t go into the job of coaching the youth team at all. There weren’t even any clues. Although Romanov and other fathers of well-known hockey players tell me that it is useless. The conversations will continue. But I won’t prove anything to anyone. You just have to understand that the son is a national team player, that he has already signed his first contract. Artem is not my property, his own career has begun. Yes, we both ended up in the Dynamo system. Well, I also have a seven-year-old son – also a Dynamo player. Therefore, all conversations at home are only about hockey!