Former Red Wings Fedorov, Larionov Out of KHL Playoffs

At various times this season, KHL officials were touting former Detroit Red Wings stars Sergei Fedorov and Igor Larionov as the leading candidates to be the first Russian head coach in the NHL.

Currently, though, neither is coaching in the KHL Gagarin Cup playoffs. Both of their teams won the opening match of their best-of-seven series and then were eliminated 4-1.

Sergei Fedorov's perfect playoff run has ended. He is 8-1 in playoffs series. With two Cups during 3-season span.#GagarinCup pic.twitter.com/qtTmSxes2H

— KHL (@khl_eng) March 9, 2024

Fedorov’s CSKA Moscow were two-time defending champions of Russia’s top hockey league. However, they went down meekly in the openng round of this year’s Gagarin Cup contest. CSKA fell to Lokomotiv.

There’s even some speculation in the Russian media that Fedorov’s job could be in jeopardy.

“Was CSKA not ready for the pressure?,” Fedorov told KHL.ru. “I won’t comment on this. For a simple reason. In our opinion, the opponent was superior to us in speed

“Not everything worked out this season. They played in waves. The first game here gave some hope here. But it was difficult for us to show the level that the playoffs and Lokomotiv require. The result is natural.”

All Red Wings Connections Out Of KHL Playoffs

Larionov’s Torpedo also were winners in their series bow against SKA St. Petersburg. Then, like CSKA, they dropped the next four games.

“There was thirst and dedication on our part, but we lacked freshness,” Larionov told KHL.ru about his young team. “We have six people who didn’t even play in the VHL and immediately got into the KHL. We’re inferior in experience, age, and size, but I wouldn’t say anything about physics. We were one hundred percent ready.

Igor Larionov and Sergei Zubov in a handshake line after the series.#GagarinCup pic.twitter.com/ObI8lrgUWq

— KHL (@khl_eng) March 9, 2024

“There will be a lot of work in the off-season to make the guys stronger. Men’s hockey requires men’s health. When the intensity of the fight is high, you need confidence and great gaming experience.”

Going forward, the KHL playoffs will be bereft of Red Wings connection. Ak Bars Kazan, the team of former Detroit and Grand Rapids Griffins forward Riley Barber, suffered elimination at the hands of Avtomobilist. Admiral, whose roster includes 2022 Red Wings draftee Dmitri Buchelnikov, didn’t qualify for postseason play.