CSKA's primary coach conducted a single session of discussion or instructions.
Unleashing the Army Men's Fury Again:
Ding-dong! The unpredictable saga of CSKA Hockey, the muscle of the KHL's "Fonbet" Championship, continues as they cut ties with their head coach for a second consecutive season. End of the line for Ilya Vorobyov, a fate that seems rather inevitable given the rollercoaster season both he and the squad encountered-loaded with inconsistency, lousy decisions, and controversies culminating in a premature playoff exit against Dynamo Minsk in the first round.
CSKA Hockey announced the severance of ties with their coaching staff after falling short of achieving the season's objectives. The vigilant Army Men shared no details about replacements, hinting at an impending announcement soon. Just like the previous year, CSKA bid goodbye to Sergei Fedorov in 2024, and now, Vorobyov follows him out the door.
Vorobyov took over after an unusual incident in 2022, when CSKA wore the Gagarin Cup crown and in 2023, rode the victory wave once more, making a rare spectacle of dominance in the highly competitive KHL.
But the next season turned out to be a disappointment, despite retaining key players. Despite a dominating roster, featuring stars like Ivan Prosvetov and Denis Gurianov, coupled with a hefty budget that put them at the top in the "Sport-Express" ranking, CSKA stumbled in the regular season and suffered an embarrassing elimination in the first playoff round against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.
Searching for a way back to its former glory, CSKA recruited a seasoned coach with a polarizing career, boasting Gagarin Cup wins with Metallurg and Russian national team blunders. Vorobyov's command of the Army Men, however, underwhelmed, leaving much to be desired given the caliber of the team he inherited.
Before the season commenced, CSKA underwent a minor renovation, letting go of a galaxy of recognizable players – Ivan Fedotov, Sergei Plotnikov, Anton Slepyshev, Darren Dietz, and Andrei Svetlakov. The team, sporting a notable lineup, set ambitious goals. Yet, the squad's performance didn't match its capabilities or ambitions.
The season was a stirring mix of mediocrity and controversy. Some newcomers, such as North American imports Prosvetov and Gurianov, failed to impress, while rival teams like Avangard executed brilliant trades. In March, CSKA found itself in a scandalous predicament involving leading forward Vladislav Kamenev, who was disqualified due to a positive doping test, and the team crumbled in the end, losing a marathon five out of the final six matches of the regular season.
Facing off against Dinamo Minsk in the playoffs, the underdogs turned the tables on the perpetual KHL powerhouse. In the sensational series, Minsk outplayed CSKA 4-2, and even wound up mashing the Army Men 7-0 in the fifth game. The6th encounter was no better for CSKA, resulting in yet another victory for Minsk. They proceeded to pulverize Traktor with a 2-6 win in the quarterfinals.
Now, CSKA is grappling with the consequences of yet another premature playoff exit. The rumor mill is churning with the possibility of a familiar face returning to lead the team- Sergio Fedorov, the three-time Stanley Cup winner and former coach of CSKA (2021-2023), is said to be the frontrunner for the job once again. Fedorov's return could signal a renewed pursuit of excellence in the upcoming 2025/26 KHL season.
Keep your eyes peeled for more updates on the CSKA coaching situation as development unfolds!
- CSKA Hockey, following a disappointing season, has let go of their head coach, Ilya Vorobyov, for the second consecutive year.
- Sergei Fedorov, a former CSKA coach known for his Gagarin Cup wins, is rumored to return to lead the team in the 2025/26 KHL season.
- In 2023, Vorobyov took over CSKA Hockey after a successful season, but failed to maintain the team's performance in the following year.
- Andrei Svetlakov was among the recognizable players who left CSKA Hockey during a minor renovation before the 2024 season.
