Igor Grishin: «There is something to think about»
25.08.2025
Neftekhimik head coach Igor Grishin speaks with the media after a following 1–2 shootout loss against Sibir.
– The players have not yet fully understood what the coaching staff requires of them to do on the ice. This process takes time, no matter how much we would like it to be. But this does not mean that everything is bad. There are certain outlines, progress, there are enlightenments in terms of what we want to see. But, I repeat, I would like to see as much as possible of what we are developing in training transformed into the game.We took almost all the players to the tournament. I would not say that all of them met our expectations. Of course, there are some mistakes we made, wishes for some of the hockey players to improve their game.
The start of the tournament was not entirely successful for us. I do not mean the results of the games, but the fact that someone got sick, someone got injured –- and these were solid core players. But we planned to play two games with the main roster at this tournament. But we had to play almost without the first two centers. Maybe because of this the team has not yet shown the picture that we wanted to see. We have made certain conclusions for ourselves: who is better prepared at the moment, who is worse. Now, upon arrival, we will decide on the optimal lineup that will start the regular season. There is something to think about.
We hope that by the game agaisnt Ak Bars everyone will be in action, and there we will see the most combative lineup.
– Alexander Dergachyov did not play a single game in the tournament. What happened to him?
– Unfortunately, he got sick in Nizhnekamsk, arrived here with a cold. Here Alexander had a fever, and throughout the tournament he never fully recovered. Now he is feeling better. Naturally, we could not use him without training practice. We hope that he will soon fully recover, get back into action and help us.
