- Vyacheslav Arkadevich, are there any changes in the composition of the team?
- Valentenko, Antipov and Bykov left our camp. All of them will not take part in the World Cup. I hope that the guys will heal the injuries and will be in good shape by the next season.
- Is there any news on Khabibulin?
- Nikolay for family reasons will not be able to take part in the World Cup.
- And Sergey Fedorov?
“He won't come either.” The hockey player's injuries to his elbows were aggravated, so he will not help our team either.
- Today, Alexander Ovechkin arrived in Moscow. When will he start training? And will you meet him soon?
- If Alexander arrives at the team’s camp, we will be happy to talk with him. Now he has a free schedule. And from April 16, all Sasha (Ovechkin, Frolov and Semin - A.Sh. ) plus Andrei Markov will begin training.
- After Khabibulin’s refusal, questions arise regarding goalkeepers. Are you going to call someone else?
- Now we have four goalkeepers - Koshechkin, Varlamov, Barulin and Eremenko. Is it worth waiting for someone from the NHL, we will decide a little later.
“Do you even count on some kind of reinforcement from across the ocean?”
- Yes. But now it’s premature to talk about the candidates. From April 16, we will communicate through the press secretary of our team. And we will continue to meet with journalists regularly.
- So you are going to follow the hockey players playing in the NHL playoffs?
- We are considering those players who will play in the playoffs.
- And what about Alexei Kovalev?
- He is one of the candidates. But the decision on this issue will be a little later.
- In addition to Fedorov and Khabibulin, as well as Viktor Kozlov, did someone else refuse to play for the national team?
- No, everyone else is ready to join the team. Sergey Nemchinov met with candidates. No one refused. This is a big plus. I am grateful to the guys who are eager to play for the national team.
- When will the hockey players of Ak Bars and Metallurg join in?
- It will depend on the duration of the final series. After its completion, players will be given a short vacation so that they recover physically and emotionally. So far I can’t give an exact date.
- What are the challenges facing the team in the test matches with the Swiss national team?
- As in any other - a victory. Regardless of the main goals: checking candidates, building up physical condition.
- Alexander Ovechkin said he was ready to play for the national team in the final of the Eurotour. Will you include it in the composition?
- I am glad that Alexander is burning with desire. Let's look at his physical condition.
Alexey Shevchenko