Sports director “Admiral” Pavel Zhitkov explained why the club signed 10 contracts with new hockey players during the offseason.
— The Admiral signed a record 10 trial contracts. Why so many?
“A lot of work has been done during this off-season. “The Admiral” was active on the transfer market, since last season’s result did not suit anyone.
— Why did you choose these guys?
— Every player is currently at our club, whether it is a full contract, a trial or a loan. They were signed because, in our opinion, each of them suits us and can benefit the team.
—Where will you see them?
— From July 20 to 30 in Raubichi (Belarus — ed.) we are holding ten-day training camps for guys with trial and bilateral contracts. The experience of other KHL clubs shows that the VHL has players ready to play at this level. “Admiral” gives the guys a chance to prove themselves. I want to clarify that the selection will be strictly based on sporting principles. This season we want to create a team so that everyone looks in the same direction and moves towards a common goal. A competitive environment, in our opinion, is now present in all lines, which will allow both the players and the team as a whole to progress.
— It was said that few people want to go to the Far East and join Leonid Tambiev’s team. What have you managed to change?
— As Vadim Pokotilo, a colleague from Amur, said: it is necessary to change stereotypes, and we fully support this point of view. I think that this season the situation has already begun to change radically with a positive sign. Time, like hockey, does not stand still. The Far East is developing, including in terms of hockey. This season, our financial conditions have improved thanks to the work done by the management. For this, a special thank you to them. We were able to recruit players who did not come to finish the match, but on the contrary are ready to develop and help the club solve its problems.
As for the question of why they don’t want to go to Leonid Grigorievich, I think it was asked incorrectly. Who doesn’t want to ?! Probably someone who doesn’t want to devote himself entirely to the game and training! Who came to spend the winter, and then what will happen. I have known Tambiev for many years, and players have problems with him only when he sees that the hockey player does not meet his requirements, does not work to the maximum, does not live for the team, drags it down – then yes, problems are guaranteed. So let’s stop labeling things. We now have a completely different story when it comes to stereotypes. There are a lot of new guys who have come to the Far East to play and progress under the leadership of Leonid Grigorievich, “Metaratings.ru quotes Zhitkov.
In the 2023/24 season, Admiral took the penultimate and 11th place in the KHL Eastern Conference standings and did not reach the playoffs.
Metaratings.ru
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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.
