Two-time Gagarin Cup winner Alexei Potapov admitted he is confident the striker Artem Lukoyanov will extend the contract with Kazan “Ak Barsom” .
Since 2011, Lukoyanov has been playing for Ak Bars. Last season, the 35-year-old forward scored 16 points (9+7) in 64 Fonbet KHL Championship games, going unscored in five playoff games. During the offseason, the hockey player became an unrestricted free agent.
— This offseason, many famous players are still without a club. Is this due to an increase in the limit imposed on foreign players or other reasons?
— The league is getting a lot younger. I attribute this to both the salary cap and foreign players. But first and foremost, players need to ask themselves why they aren’t signed. Maybe a not very successful season or some kind of story. The same Plotnikov and Andronov easily found a job in a big club.
— Without a contract, even experienced hockey players who played with you like Sergei Kalinin, Nikita Soshnikov, Artem Lukoyanov…
— Lukoyanov is the person who personifies Ak Bars. I went to Kazan before the playoffs and was sure the contract would be signed. But so far, Artem and the management have not found a common language. Apparently it has something to do with the conditions. Sergei Kalinin was the captain of the Traktor. But North American coach Benoit Groux has joined the team and will likely lean toward speed. Sergei is not entirely suitable for such a game, ”quotes RB Sport Potapov.
“RB Sport”
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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.
