KHL Head Coach Mikhail Kravets Fired in the Middle of a Playoff Series After Blowout Loss
The KHL is well-known for operating under very different circumstances and guidelines than the NHL. The league has once again shown just how unique it is with a puzzling decision made on a head coach in the second round of the league's playoffs.
KHL Coach Mikhail Kravets Shown the Door after Big Playoff Loss
Following a 7-0 loss to Yaroslavl Lokomotiv in game two of a seven game series, Avangard Omsk said head coach Mikhail Kravets was asked to tender his resignation. The big loss came after a 4-0 defeat in game one. Perhaps even more surprising than the mid-series firing is who is replacing Kravets. The team has named Sergei Zvyagin Omsk's new interim head coach. He has been their goaltending coach since 2018.
Sergei Zvyagin appointed acting head coach. #KHL"
KHL Team Fires Head Coach after Game Two of Seven Game Playoff Series
Kravets is well respected in the Russian hockey world. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 1991, but only played two games for the team. Those are the only games he ever played in the NHL. However, Kravets had a long career in pro hockey that saw him suit up for teams in the now defunct International Hockey League (IHL), and the ECHL. After a decade in North America, he returned to Russia to finish out his career with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. Kravets told reporters he has no hard feelings, despite the way things happened.
I believe that we didn't fail anything, we made it through the first round, and the first game with Lokomotiv was decent. In yesterday's match, we didn't let the opponent do a lot of things; they only had six chances - and they converted them all. This is hockey, everything can be different here."
Personally, I think I'd be far less inclined to speak well of my experiences with a team that asked me to resign in the middle of the playoffs. But, it seems Kravets is taking it in stride, at least in public.
Source: BladeOfSteel.com
| POLL | ||
MARS 19 | 48 ANSWERS KHL Head Coach Mikhail Kravets Fired in the Middle of a Playoff Series After Blowout Loss Do you think more teams should fire their coaches during rough patches? | ||
| Yes | 18 | 37.5 % |
| No | 30 | 62.5 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Conor Garland | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Dylan Guenther | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Nick Schmaltz | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Jake Debrusk | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jack McBain | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Alex Newhook | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Mikhail Sergachev | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jayden Struble | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cole Caufield | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Logan Cooley | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Christian Dvorak | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Barrett Hayton | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Quinn Hughes | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Clayton Keller | - | 1 | 1 | |
| David Savard | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Pius Suter | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Arber Xhekaj | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Joel Armia | - | - | - | |
| Arshdeep Bains | - | - | - | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 22 | 18 | 4 | - | 36 | |
Devils | 24 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 32 | |
Hurricanes | 21 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 31 | |
Wild | 21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 30 | |
Golden Knights | 22 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 30 | |
Capitals | 21 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 29 | |
Maple Leafs | 21 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 28 | |
Flames | 22 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 27 | |
Stars | 20 | 13 | 7 | - | 26 | |
Rangers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||