Season 9: Progress is Evident but Insufficient

5 April 2025

The Dragons’ head coach, Mikhail Kravets, and the club’s Executive Vice President, Nikolai Feoktistov, shared their impressions of the KHL 2024/2025 season.

Mikhail Kravets, Head Coach:

“Before the season started, we evaluated a large number of players. We analyzed their performances in American and other hockey leagues, and in general, they seemed to fit our requirements.

“We had a decent start in September, winning games, but then our performance declined. I believe our goaltending let us down to some extent. For example, Smith played significantly better than Volkov. But, of course, the team’s struggles were not solely due to the goalie. Many players were still adjusting to this league, trying to understand their roles, how to play, and how to conduct themselves. I think there was a lack of the right mindset—hockey wasn’t the top priority for everyone. Some players approached it as just an opportunity to play and have fun rather than focusing on results. Over time, with the general manager’s help, we managed to change that attitude.

“We selected a new captain and brought in players like Sharov and Likhachyov. This not only strengthened our roster but also helped change the team’s philosophy. As a result, October, November, December, and January were strong months for us: out of 28 games, we won 15. That was a solid result. Of course, three months of good performance weren’t enough to secure a playoff spot, but by January, we were only two points away from a playoff position. So, we definitely had a chance to qualify.

“Unfortunately, at a crucial moment, we lost two key players—Parker Foo and Tomas Jurco—to injuries. Perhaps their presence could have made the difference in decisive games. But overall, I can say that we expected more from the players we signed this season.

“We lacked enough goals and assists. I believe some players performed below their potential. One might ask: Did we misuse them? However, take Chartier and Merkley as examples—they moved to strong teams like CSKA and Avangard but didn’t stand out there either.

“Essentially, the players we relied on did not meet expectations. But in terms of statistics and performance, the team had its best season in the last three years.

“We had impressive victories, including a seven-game winning streak. We played some strong games, showing character as a team. Many players improved their individual stats, contributing more goals and assists. I hope that by keeping the core we built in the middle of the season and adding a few more players, we will achieve even better results next season.

“Of course, we are disappointed that we didn’t make the playoffs. That was our primary goal. We need to find new solutions and achieve the results expected from us by the club’s management.”

Nikolai Feoktistov, Executive Vice President / General Manager:

“I believe that the team we had by the end of the season was strong enough to make the playoffs. From November onward, we were earning more than one point per game—a pace better than Torpedo’s. Our downfall happened in September and October, and we need to analyze why. The most obvious reasons: it was a new team with many new players and a new coaching staff. The adjustment period took too long, and we made some mistakes in player selection.

“We clearly misjudged Chris Wilkie and, unfortunately, Konstantin Volkov. Perhaps Rourke Chartier as well—though I wouldn’t say it was a huge mistake, he just wasn’t the type of player we needed. We expected him to be more offensive-minded, but he turned out to be similar to players we already had.

“However, we eventually found our rhythm, and the roster improved. Over the course of the season, we changed eight players—a record for us. And I believe all the changes were positive; the players we brought in strengthened the team. That led to our seven-game winning streak and brought us close to a playoff spot. By the end of the season, we were playing at the level we had aimed for.

“To make up for our early-season struggles, we needed to play even better, but realistically, we lacked the resources. The type of roster required for that was beyond our financial capabilities. Still, I’m convinced that if we had played at our late-season level from the start, we would have made the playoffs. In fact, I think we were playing better than Torpedo by the end, and the statistics support that—we were earning points at a higher rate.

“Perhaps we lacked the right mentality. Many of our players hadn’t experienced much winning in recent years. That became evident during our winning streak—by the seventh game, the team started to doubt themselves. At first, they believed in their success, but then they began questioning it: “Are we really this good? Can we really win like this?” That’s a sign of a team still maturing. Over time, I think the players will gain confidence.

“Unfortunately, we failed to achieve the goal we’ve been pursuing for two years now. We have solid depth players—those who “carry the piano,” playing key roles in penalty killing. As a result, our penalty kill is much better than our power play. But every year, we struggle to find a productive first power-play unit.

“Typically, a team’s top line, featuring its leaders, scores about 50% of its points on the power play. That didn’t happen for us, mainly due to financial constraints and our team-building strategy. Our four lines are financially balanced, meaning we don’t have a high-paid, dominant first line.

“We always hope that our leaders will exceed expectations and play above their level, but this season, no one did. They played at their expected level, which, unfortunately, wasn’t quite enough. We need to rethink our approach. To have true leaders, we may need to adjust our budget and allocate more resources to top players. It’s clear that a true top line was missing.

“That said, the team’s core is forming. While we’re not completely satisfied with every player, we have key pieces in place, and we know who we can rely on.

“Our roster is evolving again—veterans from the Olympic generation are gradually leaving, and younger, ambitious players are taking their place. That’s why we look to the future with optimism.

“One of the most encouraging signs: our attendance increased 2.5 times. Previously, we averaged around 800 fans per game; this year, it was between 2,500 and 3,000. That tells us that the team’s performance has improved—fans vote with their feet. No matter what promotions or events you run, the real indicator of success is when more people come to watch.

“If next season continues in the same direction and we remain in Mytishchi for another year, we’d like to introduce initiatives to retain and grow our audience. This could include structured merchandising and improving the game-day experience at the arena.

“Additionally, if we stay in Mytishchi, we’d like to adjust the rink dimensions. The entire Western Conference plays on 26-meter-wide rinks, while we are the only team playing on a 28-meter rink. Moving to league-standard dimensions would help our performance.”