Back to the beginning: welcome, Anton Lazarev!

17 December 2020 KHL, Kunlun Red Star, Lazarev, transfer

Our brief rest period flew by, and the Dragons are already back to work and preparing for the upcoming home games against Barys, Avangard and Traktor. But ‘work’ doesn’t just mean practicing on the ice, it also involves some changes to the roster. Soon we will be joined by Anton Lazarev, who will undoubtedly bring experience to the team. The 30-year-old forward has played in the KHL since the very start, and has more than 500 appearances in the league.

In some ways, Anton is coming home. His KHL career began right here in Mytishchi back in 2008/09. Lazarev had two seasons with Atlant before embarking on a tour of Russia’s boundless territory with six different clubs: Metallurg Novokuznetsk, Avtomobilist, Salavat Yulaev, Vityaz, Amur and Traktor.

He began the current season with Traktor, something we remember only too well: his goal on Sep. 6 turned out to be the game winner in our first meeting with our rival from Chelyabinsk. As it happens, Traktor will come to us next week, and Anton will have a chance to balance that account, just as Casey Wellman did against Sochi recently.

Lazarev also scored on us while playing for Amur, but there will be more about that in the New Year. In January we have three scheduled meetings with the Khabarovsk team. But let’s not be hasty and demand immediate goalscoring feats from our new acquisition. At this stage, it’s more important to settle into a new team quickly and find his role. That’s something that can only help both parties.

Welcome to the Dragons’ Den, Anton Lazarev!