Neftekhimik Management Press Conference

Press conference (the FONBET KHL trade deadline 2023/2024).

Igor Larionov: Today I would like to make a brief analysis of the transfers that we have made since the beginning of the KHL Championship.

Our first trade since the beginning of the season was the exchange of forward Mikhail Nazarov for a player of the same role – Nikita Setdikov from Sibir.

Overall, before the so-called deadline of December 27, we made 5 trades: forward Dmitry Sokolov (Avangard) for Gleb Semyonov, goaltender Dmitry Nikolayev (SKA) for Andrey Chivilyov and Amir Nugmanov, German Tochilkin (Spartak) for Dmitry Nikolayev and monetary compensation, Yegor Korbit (Rostov) for monetary compensation, Daniil Skorikov (Salavat Yulaev) for monetary compensation.

We signed contracts with defensemen Ilya Pastukhov and Ivan Kovalev, goalktender Artyom Zagidulin, and forwards Kirill Urakov and Dea Jean-Sebastien.

Goaltender Filipp Dolganov and forward Grigory Selezneyov joined our team from HC Izhstal under an agreement.

Goaltender Yaroslav Ozolin joined Dynamo Moscow on loan, and in return, forward Nikita Buruyanov joined us.

In addition, we re-signed contracts with Bulat Shafigullin (for three years) and team captain Alexander Dergachyov (for two years).

Oleg Leontyev: Scouting is always in process throughout the season. All the guys who joined our team, improved their game. I am happy and really hope that with these new players, we will achieve success. We are moving in the right direction.

– A few days before the deadline, the team made several signings. Were you able to strengthen the positions you wanted?

Igor Larionov: This process is continuous one; you can never be satisfied for 100%. Even when we sign players with certain expectations before the season and during the season, we do not always get the results we expected. Those guys who joined our team as a result of trades and signings made a good impression on us. This makes me happy.

– During the season, Nikita Setdikov and Dmitry Sokolov were traded to Neftekhimik. Both are out of contract at the end of the season. Will the team re–sign them?

Igor Larionov: We have not negotiated with them yet, because we want to wait until the end of the season, the end of the championship, and hopefully, making the playoffs. After all the games are played, it will be clear how the guys played in the championship and playoffs, and we will draw conclusions and make offers.

– Oleg Leontyev, after the game against Dynamo Moscow, at the press conference you said that there are no plans to strengthen the defense. A few days before the deadline, you signed a contract with Ivan Kovalev.

Oleg Leontyev: On our defensive line, Petrishchev and Khokhlov got injuries until the end of the season; we needed defensemen who could fill the gap.

– Grigory Morozov is the second leading scorer–defenseman in the league. Why he did not get a chance to play here in the KHL?

Oleg Leontyev: Because he is a second leading scorer–defenseman in that league. Maybe someday he will get a chance here.

– There was a situation about Zac Leslie during this season. Is there any chance that he will return to the team next summer?

Igor Larionov: We have not signed a contract with him, according to which he would be obliged to return. We signed a transfer of rights with the Kunlun RS team. We did not find common ground on the issues of his stay at our club or his participation in key games. Therefore, until our contract is signed, the rights belong to us. We are working on this issue together with the Hockey federation. I think we will not have him in our lineup.

– Often, Nizhnekamsk players are traded. Is it connected with their level?

Igor Larionov: Unfortunately, the guys who were traded, it was part of the deal. Otherwise, it would not have been possible to do it. We tried to do our best to keep them on our team, we counted on them, we raised them, educated them in hockey, we have no goal of exchanging them somewhere. Extreme case happened and we traded them. Top teams with a great scouting got these players. Of course, it is connected with the level of the players.

– Do you keep in touch with these players?

Igor Larionov: We keep in touch with Nikita Artamonov, Andrey Chivilyov, Amir Nugmanov. Let's see how they develop. There is a certain agreement with their teams on player’s future.

– In an interview, you said that 40% of Neftekhimik are Nizhnekamsk players. According to the lineup, there are not so many of these players. Did you talk about the whole Neftekhimik system?

– Igor Larionov: There are 22 players in lineup for the game. The team's roster for the season includes 35 players. 25 players are part of the main team, 10 are joined affiliated team. I talked about general situation. Someone plays here, someone in Izhstal.

– Dmitry Sokolov and Dmitry Zhukenov play together on the same lime. During their childhood they played together. Did you take into account this fact before put them on the same line?

– Oleg Leontyev: They have been playing together since they were five years old, they know each other well, they are friends, and play well. Their line with Volodya Bryukvin (Vladimir Bryukvin) has a good chemistry. Actually, I do not work according to such principles, it just happened that way. Everything is based on chemistry between players and their level.

– Grigory Seleznyov has already spent more than a month with Neftekhimik. How would you rate his game?

– Oleg Leontyev: Emotionally he is performing well so far, he is in his first KHL season. I am glad that he joined our team. He has the opportunity to show his best game. Now everything depends on his game and his desire to be in the roster.

– At the end of December, Artyom Zagidullin was signed. Is it kind of improvement of the goaltending line?

– Igor Larionov: We have a contract until the end of this year. We will negotiate and draw conclusions at the end of the season. We saw that there was an excellent goaltender on the market, we rate him very highly. We found mutually acceptable terms of cooperation. We hope that he will show his best game.

– German Tochilkin played 18 games and scored one goal. How satisfied are you with his game?

– Oleg Leontyev: I am pleased with his game; in addition to scoring goals, there are many other important things. With his quick plays, German undermines the opponent's defense. It is important not only to score goals, but also to block the shots and force your opponent to make mistakes and etc.