Igor Larionov : "Everything is good in its season"
30.03.2020
- The task set for the club was completed. Maybe not everyone expected this from our club. Nevertheless, we are proud that the team and we, as leaders, showed the character, wisdom, spirit and made this comeback.
We had more strength, more desire, strongest motivation - that’s why we did it. I will give to this season B mark. We need to set more complicated tasks, and therefore our main achievements should be ahead. It goes without saying that we should be in playoffs every season.
- Could you comment on the rumors about extra money?
- They talked about million and 800 thousand - all this numbers are nonsense. We have a Regulation on Payment of Bonuses. It is all about carrot and stick. We motivated our players in games against special rivals.
- Evgeni Ryasensky scored his first goal since 2015. It was the most important goal because of rivalry with «Amur» for making playoffs.
- Yes, probably, everything is good in its season. Probably everyone is waiting for a moment of glory that will fall on him. Evgeni is a very good player. He did exactly what was needed at that moment. This is his most importrant goal for the entire season.
- At the press conference, you said that the budget has already been accepted. Does it include only pre-season preparation or the entire future season?
- Our budget is formed for the calendar year. It includes the end of this season, training camps, two tournaments - in Ufa and Chelyabinsk, three exhibition games with neighbors. In other words, the budget accepted from the beginning of the next season until January 1 of next year. I would like to stop any rumors and make you sure that we will play in the KHL and that the level of the budget is not less that in the last season.
- What about Poryadin and Shiksatdarov? Will the conditions of their contracts be changed because of offers from another clubs?
- I can’t talk about conditions of contracts, because this is a trade secret. Poryadin was signed until 2021. We have already re-signed Shiksatdarov for 2 years.
- What if «SKA» or «CSKA» will offer to «Neftekhimik»…
We will not trade Poryadin anyway. He is a talented hockey player. We believe that he will help to the team.
- «Neftekhimik» last year had Finnish players in the roster. This year we had Canadian-American players. Is there any desire to keep a pair of foreigners for the sake of stability and best chemistry between players?
- It is up to decide to coaching staff to set tasks for foreign players and to say what was complete or not. According to conditions of their contracts we had to terminate these contracts. We thanked them for the good season, wished them a good rest and said that we would be in touch.
- Could you tell in what way will the club find foreign players?
- Unfortunately, I cannot say it right now. Anyway, each foreign player will have a special task. We are now forming the core our team – we have Poryadin and Bryntsev we re-signed Shiksatdarov, Volgin and Golubovich. We will see.
- What about Padakin?
- He is on the list of those who we want to negotiate. Unfortunately, he is in the injured list. But you know, we did everything in order to treat him very efficiently. He had a good operation in Germany. It was not cheap, but high quality. Sure, we want him to be in our team.
- «Neftekhimik» always had a good average budget. Was there any desire to reduce expenses somewhere, to invite famous player to attract fans and media promotion of the team?
- As I said, our philosophy (which is supported by our heads) is based on our players. They are ambitious, successful and devoted to the city.
Stars… there was no desire to sign a star. Just pretend that this star was injured. We spent half of the salary cap and failed with our season task. It is possible to get physical or mental injury. We had an experience with such stories. It takes a team anyway. We will focus on three or four players of a good level who will be able to take the lead during the season.
- The club extended the contract with Vyacheslav Butsayev for another one season. Some fans said that it was not right , other fans agreed that it was a right decision. We remember 10 wins in a row and series of loses. Why this decison was made?
- Indeed, the season may have been unstable, but it did not depend on the coaching staff. The main point is that he is a good coach. Have a look at coaching staff’ work, including Vyacheslav Butsayev, Boris Mironov, Pavel Kostichkin , Valery Balabanov (physical training coach), Valery Ivannikov (goaltending coach) ... They analyzed every moment from each game. It is amazing!
Our coaching staff do not have blue eyed boys. We have 17 players who came from «Reaktor» (young team in the MHL) - coaches found strengths of this players, motivated them, and got the result.
Vyacheslav Butsayev is Olympic champion and world champion. He also played in the NHL. We have a young team, but there were Atyushov, who is 40 years old, Zakharchuk and Barulin , who played everywhere, including in the national team.
- In January there was an unpleasant story with Stepan Zakharchuk, who made a hit-and-run accident. «Neftekhimik» terminated the contract after considering information about road accident immediately. Did you take into account the reputation of the defenseman while making the decision?
- I would not want to return to this again, nevertheless, I will answer. Only after considering the information about road accident, we terminated the contract with Stepan Zakharchuk.
We think there are no excuses. It is does not matter was it a captain or a leading hockey player. Moreover, it happened before the most crucial stage of the season. We believe that there should be no place in the team for players with these actions. We did it despite the fact that we had problems with depth of the roster.
- In the next KHL season there will be a salary cap 900 million rubles. Will it help to clubs like «Neftekhimik» to fight for higher places?
- I think so. Actually, that was a reason for this decision. It’s very difficult to increase the competitiveness, entertainment of games in the KHL championship, when there are two categories of teams: the so-called rich clubs and other clubs. In each season, one of the representatives of this rich clubs becomes the owner of the Gagarin Cup. The salary cap will make it possible to some extent equalize the capabilities of teams in building a team. First of all, it will be good for clubs like «Neftekhimik». The salary cap will not allow rich clubs to have a large number of players. If a decision about lease of players will be made, it should be only welcomed.
League management is now actively working on solving these problems. I think that the question about junior draft will also be on the agenda. How many hockey schools do we have on the map of Russia that do not have relations with the KHL teams? There are growing talents. Unfortunately, they disappear due to lack of demand.
- Does the KHL need a salary floor?
I think that is inevitable.
- «Reaktor» did not get into playoffs…
- There are some reasons. We have a number of players who play both in «Reaktor» and in the first team - Shafigullin, Sharifyanov, Groshev and others. We took them to play in «Neftekhimik». «Reaktor» had to adjust to this situation.
On the other hand, our ultimate goal is to educate and prepare players to play in «Neftekhimik». In this way, its is okay.
- As we mentioned before, «Neftekhimik» is going to bet on its own pupils. Do you regret that after players from Niznhekamsk like Galimov and Fazylzyanov were signed in “Ak Bars” and other clubs?
- You did not mention Timur Bilyalov. For various of reasons they are players of «Ak Bars». It is all about money. Unfortunately, we could not offer the level of contracts that would satisfy them.
- The most successful of the current pupils of «Neftekhimik» is Mikhail Sergachev. He constantly supports his native club, even from across the ocean. Do you keep in touch with him? Is there any idea to organize some event for fans with him?
- To be honest, we were preparing events for fans at the end of the season. We planned a meeting with fans, and exhibition games in Naberezhnye Chelny and Yelabuga. We planned master classes in Mendeleevsk, Chistopol, Zainsk and Mamadysh. Unfortunately, as you know, the world faced a coronavirus.
I was one of the initiators of the games dedicated to victory in the 1941–1945 Great Patriotic War. Two teams consist of employees of «Nizhnekamskneftekhim», and 3 players of «Neftekhimik» and 3 players «Reaktor» in those 2 teams. Nail Yakupov and Emil Galimov played not so a long time ago.
We are very grateful to Mikhail Sergachev for the fact that he always supports us. We really hope that it will be possible that Mikhail Sergachev take part in events for fans, especially for young hockey players in Nizhnekamsk.
- You mentioned Naberezhnye Chelny and Yelabuga cities. Are these the cities that you will focus on promoting the brand and increasing a fan base?
-Both these cities are geographically equally distant from us — 50-100 kilometers. These cities bought quite a huge number of online tickets this year. We rely on our young players. We are also preparing social programs to attract difficult teenagers, cancer patients and a cadet school.
When I arrived, I outlined the thesis that we should form such an interest to the club so that, regardless of the results of the game, people would come and support the team. A fan should love the club just like the parents loves their children. It is important for us that hockey players also understand that they play for the fans. They should do their best on the ice.
Yeah, we lost 4 games to «Ak Bars» in the first round. Nevertheless, the whole stadium stood and applauded, because they saw that the guys were fighting to the very end they blocked shots and played with injuries.
- What do you think about decision of the KHL to cancel the season due to COVID-19?
- The KHL made absolutely right decision. The league talked with clubs. Maybe it took some time to make this decision, but they made a right decision.
