Russian national team coach nominees announced, with Kovalchuk as the list's figurehead
In an intriguing development, famous Russian hockey player Ilya Kovalchuk has expressed his opinion regarding potential head coaches for the Russian national team. The team, currently suspended from international competition, may return to the ice under the leadership of one of three talented specialists.
According to Kovalchuk, Igor Nikitin, Alexei Zhammnov, and Sergei Fedorov are contenders for the coveted head coach position. These candidates are known and remembered by the youth, adding a fresh perspective to the coaching pool.
Kovalchuk believes that these potential head coaches are progressing well and are eager to compete for the position. He further stated that they could set a good example personally and promote the right things for the Russian national team.
The suspension of the Russian national team was extended to the 2023/24 season in March 2023, and in spring 2022, the IIHF barred Russian players from participating in international tournaments, even in a neutral status, and stripped Russia of the right to host the 2023 World Junior Championship.
Recently, on February 4, 2025, the IIHF extended the suspension further, preventing the Russian national team from participating in the World Championships in 2025 and 2026, as well as the 2026 World Junior Championship.
It is worth noting that Alexander Ovechkin, another renowned Russian hockey player, earned more money than anyone else in NHL history.
As the search results do not provide information about these three potential candidates for the head coach position of the suspended Russian national ice hockey team, further research may be necessary to gather more details about their qualifications and coaching styles.
Despite the extension of the suspension of the Russian national team until the 2026 World Junior Championship, Igor Nikitin, Alexei Zhammnov, and Sergei Fedorov are still contenders for the head coach position, as noted by Ilya Kovalchuk. Given their notable careers in the NHL, these coaches could bring a unique blend of experience and fresh perspective to the team.
