Applicants
"Ak Bars", "Vanguard"
Probably no one will stop the Kazan club this season. And even a slight decline before the break for the Eurotour matches did not dissuade this. Ak Bars knows when it is possible to loosen the reins. In addition, none of the rivals can boast of such a set of three equivalent links, which Zinetula Bilyaletdinov has.
The head coach of “Vanguard” Valery Belousov knows how to bring teams to the decisive matches. Therefore, Siberians can not be underestimated. And only they, with extreme concentration, are able to take Kazan.
UNMOTIVATED
“Wings of the Soviets”, “Amur”, “Tractor”, “Metallurg” NK, “Neftekhimik”, “Lada”, “Sibir”, HC MVD, “Vityaz”
These teams from the season do not need absolutely nothing.
In principle, “Cupid” can still cling to a safe 17th place, eliminating the gap of a dozen points. But, firstly, the team of Vladimir Marinichev plays terribly. And, secondly, it’s already practically decided that in the next season the Super League will grow to almost 22 clubs. Both Wings and Khabarovsk residents will be left in it. And even add a “Torpedo” from Nizhny Novgorod, where they solved the problems with the capacity of the palace.
We also refer Siberia to the company not interested in anything. She climbed so high for herself that now she can lose as much as she wants. But there is no point in winning. The club has problems with financing: no one expected that it would take so much money for bonuses. Although the leadership posed serious challenges in the summer, it did not seem to believe in itself.
MUCH FOR SURPRISES
Chemist, Salavat Yulaev, Severstal
Mytishchi “Chemist” has hard times. The trainers of Peter Vorobyov can be removed at that second, in which the governor of Moscow Region Boris Gromov will recall this problem.
The situation is quite Russian. Vorobyov has no right to serious errors. And in this position, the team is able to give out several matches at the highest level. But, of course, do not win the championship. However, if the coach lasts until the playoffs, then a couple of rounds, “Chemist” will definitely pass. And then the emotions should run dry.
“Salavat Yulaev”, having waited in the playoffs of an opponent who needs medals, will not lose without pleasure. This has already happened to Sergei Mikhalev. A similar fate has been prepared for Severstal. Cherepovets club scored excellent form for the final segment of the “smooth” championship. But that hardly means anything.
Failure
Metallurg Mg, Lokomotiv, CSKA, Dynamo, SKA
Something unusual is always expected from each of these clubs. But this time, they seem to disappoint fans. The reasons are different.
SKA is simply not strong enough. And Yuri Leonov - experience and talent to compete for serious places. Although he perfectly understands how it depends on the result of his career.
The capital's army club traditionally looks weak in the playoffs and breaks down, barely gets on a serious opponent. There are no cup fighters in CSKA.
In “Dynamo” do not hide that they were waiting for the end of the championship. We must forget about the nightmarish season and focus on the formation of combat-ready personnel by the fall.
The Magnitogorsk “Metallurg” is also not all right. The team has already experienced a heyday, but its head coach Fedor Kanareikin made serious mistakes at all stages of his career, which is why his appointment to such a famous club is still surprising. It is likely, and this time he will lose his breath. And the team, staffed by a very impressive, will not receive even medals.
With the “Locomotive” is not so simple. But we still do not find serious arguments in favor of his ability to compete for medals. The team had some good matches against serious opponents. But at the same time, for example, only in overtime took points from Amur. The fuse that appeared after the change of coach is unlikely to be enough. After all, by and large, the club’s problems were not in the coaches, but in the suddenly started summer restructuring. And you won’t make a champion in a year.
Alexey Shevchenko