Traditional match with "Neftekhimik": "Ak Bars" without the departed leaders

      The first lessons of the preseason: most players are not performing, the second special team looks more promising

      Without Barabanov, Yashkin, and Todd: what has changed in the attack

      The lineup that took to the ice against Neftekhimik was far from optimal. Alexander Stolpechenkov played in goal instead of Timur Bilyalov; Maxim Arefyev missed the match due to illness and was just returning to the main group; Alexander Khmelevsky sustained an injury during the match, and Semyon Terekhov was hit by the puck—both were checked by doctors. In this situation, it was important for the coaching staff to give a chance to the youth and players on trial contracts to see how they perform at the KHL level. Additionally, the team was undergoing preseason training with serious physical loads—the players had not yet reached peak form, which affected their movement and stability during the match. The friendly match against Neftekhimik (1:2, loss in a shootout) became the first test of how Anvar Gatiyatulin's new system copes with the personnel collapse. The numbers and game episodes paint a worrying picture, but with important caveats about the preseason context.

      Statistics from last season illustrate the scale of the losses. The best scorer of the "regular season," Alexander Barabanov (21 goals), one of the leaders of the attack, Dmitry Yashkin (19 goals, 65.6% faceoffs), and the architect of the power play, Nathan Todd (6+6 in the playoffs), have left the team. Their departure deprived Ak Bars of sharp passing, wrist shots, and variability in attack.

      In the match against Neftekhimik, this was evident across the board. Ak Bars dominated territorially, took many shots, but most of the shots were either from unfavorable positions or blocked. The defenders of the guests read the attacks of the Kazan team—wraparounds and passes to the crease—and simply lay down in front of the puck. As noted after the match by Alexey Byvaltsov, "we played well, created many moments, but the execution let us down." Kirill Semyonov's goal was an exception—it was born not from a systematic combination but from a rebound after a pass from Mitchell Miller.

      At the same time, it is important to consider the factor of preseason loads. The players were under serious physical pressure, and there was a catastrophic lack of freshness in the finishing stage. This explains why many moments were not converted, and Ak Bars players often made decisions too late.

      How Ak Bars is restructuring the power play

      The most telling failure was in the power play. The first special team consisting of Alexander Khmelevsky, Semyonov, and Artem Galimov turned out to be static and predictable. Khmelevsky on the flank tried to perform the role of a playmaker, but Neftekhimik's defenders easily pressured the receiver, forcing him either to dump the puck to the blue line or to shoot from under a block. This trio did not create a single sharp moment in the power play. However, it is premature to fully evaluate this unit—Khmelevsky did not finish the match. As head coach Gatiyatulin reported after the game, Alexander sustained an injury, and his condition was to be assessed by doctors.

      The second unit consisting of Grigory Denisov, Dmitry Katalevsky, Terekhov, Alexey Pustozerov, and Nikita Lyamkin looked more lively. Katalevsky moved, searched for zones, Denisov carried the puck to the faceoff circle, held the pause, and looked for partners. This unit created two sharp moments—a hit by Denisov on the crossbar and a dangerous shot by Terekhov. However, Semyon Terekhov also ended the match early—he was hit by the puck and went for an X-ray. So it is also too early to talk about a full assessment of the special teams: both key flank players of the power play could not finish the match. The second unit looks more promising precisely due to its movement and creativity. But final conclusions about the power play can only be made when Khmelevsky and Terekhov return to the lineup, and the team emerges from the preseason loads.

      The coaching staff shuffled combinations in even strength situations, and so far the new chemistry has not formed—this is compounded by the fact that the team is under serious physical loads during training. Semyonov's goal after Miller's pass is their best episode. But in positional attacks, they lack a delicate pass: Galimov is a power center, not a playmaker. Without Yashkin and Barabanov, the line becomes predictable.

      And again, Khmelevsky's injury did not allow for a complete assessment of the effectiveness of this combination. The second line of Denisov – Katalevsky – Terekhov with the involvement of Pustozerov is currently the most promising experiment—this combination created the two sharpest moments in the match (a hit on the crossbar and a dangerous shot by Terekhov). Katalevsky connects the play, while Denisov and Terekhov create threats from the flanks. However, there is still no stability: they often play on the perimeter, and when entering the zone, they run into a dense defense.

      Neftekhimik's defenders met them aggressively at the blue line, not allowing them to shift to the center and blocking shots from the awkward side. But this line shows the movement and creativity that the new attacking model of Ak Bars needs. Byvaltsov and Alistrov tried hard, created moments, but did not convert. There was not enough depth in the attack to compete with Neftekhimik's dense defense. The focus in this match was on the youth from the VHL and players on trial contracts. As Gatiyatulin explained, "it is important for us to look at the guys and give them a chance to feel themselves at the KHL level."

      Malek Saberzyanov and Maxim Bykov (the latter on a trial contract) performed well. Saberzyanov moved actively, created sharpness, and tried to get behind the net. Andrey Dulnev did well in an episode when Neftekhimik broke away 2 on 0. This is a good sign: there is depth in the roster, and the youth is ready to take responsibility.

      Ak Bars without departed leaders: the framework is there, but no goals

      Against the backdrop of problems in attack, the goaltending line remains the main asset. Alexander Stolpechenkov had a confident match, and in overtime made a save after a shot from Damir Zhafyarov.

      In defense, Lyamkin acted ambiguously: he joined the attack, shot from the blue line, but in defense, his zone became a place for the opponent's scoring chances. Miller, on the contrary, was more reliable—his pass led to Semyonov's goal. However, overall, the defense looked less tenacious than that of the guests, and the two conceded goals were a result of a loss of concentration in the crease. The physical loads are also taking their toll—against the backdrop of fatigue, the defenders were unable to close the rebound zone.

      Overtime became a logical continuation. Denisov's moment with the crossbar is yet another episode where Ak Bars was close but not precise. A penalty against Neftekhimik in overtime did not help—the guests skillfully disrupted all combinations. Physical fatigue was evident: the players acted with noticeable delay, unable to keep up with the opponent's quick counterattacks.

      In the shootout, Vladimir Alistrov, Denisov, Saberzyanov, and Galimov did not convert their attempts. Only Miller was accurate with the fifth shootout, but that was not enough. The outcome of the shootout was 1:2 in favor of Neftekhimik.

      Ak Bars maintained its physicality and pressure but lost creativity. The team is still trying to play the same hockey but with different performers—and it is not working. As Pustozerov summarized, "so far the game is far from ideal, but preseason matches exist for this."

      The main task of the coaching staff in the preseason is not the result, but the assessment of reserves: to look at the youth and players on trial contracts, to give them a chance to show themselves at the KHL level. Ak Bars has a goaltender, has youth, has a framework. But to return to the top level, time and a new tactical model are needed. While this search continues, the team continues to work despite all the personnel and physical difficulties.

      Photo: ak-bars.ru