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What to expect from the new KHL season |
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Just a little over 24 hours before the 2017/2018 KHL season begins - and this one will be different from others for many different reasons. Let's take a look at three main things that are worth following this time around.
1.) SKA title defense against CSKA
It was no secret this time last year that whatever would happen SKA would be the Gagarin Cup champions, and if there was a team to stop them it was CSKA, this time, things have switched and CSKA is the clear winner this season unless they get a flat tire, and have no clue how to pump it back up.
SKA lost its leaders in likes of Vadim Shipachyov (VGK) and Evgeni Dadonov (FLA), in a league where two players could mean a lot, despite having Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk, this likely isn't the year for them.
CSKA, on the other hand, went for it making quite a few notable additions - Max Shalunov, Mikhail Grigorenko (COL) Roman Lyubimov (PHI) as well as Kirill Kaprizov who is a promising prospect for the Wild. Marchenko went from Toronto to Moscow, and Nikita Nesterov has found himself a new home, making that core very entertaining and giving them the favorites tittle straight away. It's obvious that we know which two teams will be in the conference final playing each other, the question is - Can SKA's money beat CSKA's money on the ice?
2.) Olympic break
Yes, Olympic break, KHL will have a full month of this to give teams time to have training camps and go to Olympics and stuff. Why is it important to watch Olympic break? Because of Olympics of course. No NHL players mean a brand new tournament, and even that will be exciting. Although Russia will have all the edge on everyone else, anyone can pretty much win the competition here. Deep in the darkest place of the hockey world, there are still many who believe that NHL has a backup schedule and could still go to the great hockey tournament if not isn't Alex Ovechkin worth watching?
3.) Mozyakin's scoring
Sergei is 36 and will be 37 once the Gagarin Playoffs begin, can he keep it up? When does he drop off? After scoring career-high 85 points (48G&37A) it doesn't look like he intends to stop. KHL all-time leader in points lost his long-time linemate Danis Zaripov, first to the AkBars, then to IIHF and its suspension, but Metallurg was quick to reach adding Matt Elisson who will now attempt to be the playmaker Zaripov was. Unfortunately for Mozyakin, his team hasn't yet found a replacement for Viktor Antipin who signed with Buffalo Sabres, and Chris Lee who still to the date is a free agent.
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