The 2008–09 KHL season was the inaugural season of the Kontinental Hockey League. It started on September 2, 2008, and finished on April 12, 2009.[1] 24 teams each played 56 games.

2008–09 KHL season
LeagueKontinental Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationSeptember 2, 2008 – April 12, 2009
Number of teams24
Regular season
Regular-season winnerRussia Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Season MVPRussia Danis Zaripov
Ak Bars Kazan
Top scorerRussia Sergei Mozyakin
Atlant Moscow Oblast
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPRussia Alexei Morozov
Ak Bars Kazan
Gagarin Cup
ChampionsRussia Ak Bars Kazan
  Runners-upRussia Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
KHL seasons

League business edit

NHL player transfer edit

KHL teams signed several players from the NHL, including Jaromír Jágr, Alexander Radulov, Ray Emery,[2] Sergei Brylin, Ladislav Nagy, Jozef Stümpel, Marcel Hossa, Ben Clymer, Alexei Zhitnik, Bryan Berard and Chris Simon.

Dispute edit

A dispute between the two leagues over some of these signings was supposed to have been resolved by an agreement signed on July 10, whereby each league would honor the contracts of the other, but the signing of Alexander Radulov was made public one day after the agreement (though it was actually signed two days prior to the agreement taking effect),[3] leading to an investigation by the International Ice Hockey Federation.[4]

Finances edit

Ownership edit

On a deal dated October 30, Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works bought 11.76% of the KHL.[5]

Salary cap edit

The league has implemented a salary cap.

Economic trouble edit

Metallurg Novokuznetsk has so far experienced difficulty financing its operations, largely due to the global financial crisis of 2008. Team sponsor Evraz Group is rumoured to be cutting funding. There is a possibility the team will cease operations by New Years.[6]

HC MVD has experienced delays in paying players, while Khimik Voskresensk has run itself into debt. Metallurg Magnitogorsk has been forced to cut staff expenditures by 30%. Avangard Omsk owner Roman Abramovich has promised to continue financial support so long as the team maintains good results. Other teams experiencing financial limitations are Vityaz Chekhov, Atlant Moscow Oblast, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, HC CSKA Moscow.

As far as the league is concerned it has devised a "crisis package" for dealing with the economic turmoil. Cuts will be made to non-salary expenditures, such as pre-game activity, training camps, and elimination of pre-season tournaments. Mid-level player salaries may also be rolled back. Divisional re-alignment will also take place for the 2009–10 season to cut down on travel costs.

Inaugural All-Star Game edit

The inaugural KHL All-Star Game took place on January 10, 2009. Each team consisted of ten forwards, five defensemen, and two goaltenders. The starting rosters were voted upon on the KHL.ru website and decided by December 22. The secondary lines and goaltenders were to be voted upon by the media, and announced December 26, with the following players and reserves announced by January 8. The game took place in Moscow's Red Square, with Team Jágr (International All-Stars) defeating Team Yashin (Russian All-Stars) 7–6.

Regular season edit

Death of Alexei Cherepanov edit

On October 13, 2008 during a match between Avangard Omsk and Vityaz Chekhov, forward Alexei Cherepanov died due to a heart condition.

On December 29, 2008, Russian investigators revealed that he suffered from myocarditis, a condition where not enough blood gets to the heart, and that he should not have been playing professional hockey. The federal Investigative Committee also announced that a chemical analysis of Cherepanov's blood and urine samples allowed experts to conclude "that for several months Alexei Cherepanov engaged in doping".[7] Official sources have stated the banned substance taken was nikethamide, a stimulant, and that it had been taken 3 hours prior to the game in which he died.[8]

Omsk club director Mikhail Denisov has since been fired,[7] whereas the league Disciplinary Committee has since removed Omsk's doctors from that role with the club, and has suspended Avangard general manager Anatoly Bardin and team president Konstantin Potapov. The KHL Disciplinary Committee met on this matter on January 5,[9] and also suspended Chekhov's team president.[10]

League standings edit

Final standings.[11]

Points have been awarded as follows:

  • 3 Points for a win in regulation ("W")
  • 2 Points for a win in overtime ("OTW") or penalty shootout ("SOW")
  • 1 Point for a loss in a penalty shootout ("SOL") or overtime ("OTL")
  • 0 Points for a loss in regulation ("L")
     Division winner
     Qualified for playoffs
Rank Team GP W OTW SOW SOL OTL L GF GA Pts
1   Salavat Yulaev Ufa 56 38 4 1 3 2 8 203 116 129
2   Ak Bars Kazan 56 36 1 3 3 3 10 189 123 122
3   Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 56 32 2 2 4 3 13 175 111 111
4   CSKA Moscow 56 27 4 3 7 4 11 176 141 106
5   Atlant Moscow Oblast 56 35 3 4 2 1 11 189 111 122
6   Metallurg Magnitogorsk 56 25 2 11 2 1 15 174 148 104
7   Dynamo Moscow 56 27 4 3 3 2 17 184 143 100
8   SKA Saint Petersburg 56 26 2 7 4 0 17 143 105 100
9   Spartak Moscow 56 26 1 5 2 1 21 173 158 93
10   Dinamo Riga 56 24 3 2 3 1 23 132 156 86
11   Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 56 24 2 2 3 1 24 162 162 84
12   Traktor Chelyabinsk 56 24 0 2 5 3 22 142 166 84
13   Lada Togliatti 56 21 3 5 2 3 22 120 116 84
14   Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 56 22 2 1 5 2 24 146 140 79
15   Barys Astana 56 20 3 4 2 2 25 174 191 78
16   Avangard Omsk 56 19 2 6 1 4 24 161 164 78
17   Severstal Cherepovets 56 19 1 7 2 2 25 142 171 77
18   HC MVD 56 20 2 4 1 0 29 142 159 73
19   Sibir Novosibirsk 56 15 1 5 2 5 28 146 172 64
20   Amur Khabarovsk 56 15 2 2 6 1 30 111 158 60
21   Metallurg Novokuznetsk 56 12 3 2 5 2 31 127 157 54
22   Dinamo Minsk 56 12 1 2 5 2 34 124 197 49
23   Vityaz Chekhov 56 6 2 3 7 5 33 134 225 40
24   Khimik Voskresensk 56 8 3 0 7 2 36 108 187 39

Divisional standing edit

DR LR Bobrov Division GP W OTW SOW SOL OTL L GF GA Pts
1 1   Salavat Yulaev Ufa 56 38 4 1 3 2 8 203 116 129
2 5   Atlant Moscow Oblast 56 35 3 4 2 1 11 189 111 122
3 9   Spartak Moscow 56 26 1 5 2 1 21 173 158 93
4 17   Severstal Cherepovets 56 19 1 7 2 2 25 142 171 77
5 21   Metallurg Novokuznetsk 56 12 3 2 5 2 31 127 157 54
6 22   Dinamo Minsk 56 12 1 2 5 2 34 124 197 49
DR LR Tarasov Division GP W OTW SOW SOL OTL L GF GA Pts
1 4   CSKA Moscow 56 27 4 3 7 4 11 176 141 106
2 6   Metallurg Magnitogorsk 56 25 2 11 2 1 15 174 148 104
3 8   SKA Saint Petersburg 56 26 2 7 4 0 17 143 105 100
4 12   Traktor Chelyabinsk 56 24 0 2 5 3 22 142 166 84
5 18   HC MVD 56 20 2 4 1 0 29 142 159 73
6 24   Khimik Voskresensk 56 8 3 0 7 2 36 108 187 39
DR LR Kharlamov Division GP W OTW SOW SOL OTL L GF GA Pts
1 3   Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 56 32 2 2 4 3 13 175 111 111
2 10   Dinamo Riga 56 24 3 2 3 1 23 132 156 86
3 13   Lada Togliatti 56 21 3 5 2 3 22 120 116 84
4 16   Avangard Omsk 56 19 2 6 1 4 24 161 164 78
5 19   Sibir Novosibirsk 56 15 1 5 2 5 28 146 172 64
6 20   Amur Khabarovsk 56 15 2 2 6 1 30 11 158 60
DR LR Chernyshev Division GP W OTW SOW SOL OTL L GF GA Pts
1 2   Ak Bars Kazan 56 36 1 3 3 3 10 189 123 122
2 7   Dynamo Moscow 56 27 4 3 3 2 17 184 143 100
3 11   Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 56 24 2 2 3 1 24 162 162 84
4 14   Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 56 22 2 1 5 2 24 146 140 79
5 15   Barys Astana 56 20 3 4 2 2 25 174 191 78
6 23   Vityaz Chekhov 56 6 2 3 7 5 33 134 225 40

League leaders edit

Goals   Jan Marek (Magnitogorsk) 35
Assists   Sergei Mozyakin (Atlant) 42
Points   Sergei Mozyakin (Atlant) 76
Shots   Kevin Dallman (Astana) 218
Plus–minus   Alexei Tereschenko (Ufa) +41
Penalty minutes   Chris Simon (Chekhov) 263
Wins (Goaltenders)   Georgi Gelashvili (Yaroslavl) 30
Goals against average   Dmitri Yachanov (SKA) 1.47
Save percentage   Vitaly Kolesnik (Atlant) .945

Goaltenders: minimum 15 games played

Scoring leaders edit

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
  Sergei Mozyakin Atlant Moscow Oblast 56 34 42 76 +34 14
  Jan Marek Metallurg Magnitogorsk 53 35 37 72 +26 62
  Aleksey Morozov Ak Bars Kazan 49 32 39 71 +22 22
  Danis Zaripov Ak Bars Kazan 56 34 31 65 +26 26
  Kevin Dallman Barys Astana 53 28 30 58 +6 137
  Alexei Tereschenko Salavat Yulaev Ufa 55 28 30 58 +41 22
  Jaromír Jágr Avangard Omsk 55 25 28 53 −1 62
  Alexander Korolyuk Atlant Moscow Oblast 56 21 32 53 +21 32
  Alexander Perezhogin Salavat Yulaev Ufa 55 28 24 52 +34 32
  Konstantin Glazachev Barys Astana 56 28 24 52 −7 30

Playoffs edit

 
The Gagarin Cup
Preliminary Round
(best of 5)
Quarter-finals
(best of 5)
Semi-finals
(best of 7)
Gagarin Cup Finals
(best of 7)
            
2   Ak Bars 3
15   Barys Astana 0
2   Ak Bars 3
16   Avangard 2
1   Salavat Yulaev 1
16   Avangard 3
2   Ak Bars 4
7   Dynamo Msk 2
4   CSKA 3
13   Lada 2
4   CSKA 0
7   Dynamo Msk 3
7   Dynamo Msk 3
10   Dinamo Rg 0
2   Ak Bars 4
3   Lokomotiv 3
3   Lokomotiv 3
14   Neftekhimik 1
3   Lokomotiv 3
9   Spartak 0
8   SKA 0
9   Spartak 3
3   Lokomotiv 4
6   Metallurg Mg 1
5   Atlant 3
12   Traktor 0
5   Atlant 1
6   Metallurg Mg 3
6   Metallurg Mg 3
11   Torpedo 0

Playoff leaders edit

Source: khl.ru[12][13]

Goals   Jukka Hentunen (Kazan) 9
Assists   Alexei Morozov (Kazan)
  Alexei Yashin (Yaroslavl)
11
Points   Alexei Morozov (Kazan) 19
Shots   Danis Zaripov (Kazan) 71
Plus–minus   Ilya Nikulin (Kazan)
+13
Penalty minutes   Grigori Panin (Kazan) 69
Wins (Goaltenders)   Georgi Gelashvili (Yaroslavl)
13
Goals against average   Vitali Yeremeyev (Dynamo M)
1.63
Save percentage   Alexander Pimankin (Nizhny Novgorod)
94.4
Shutouts   Georgi Gelashvili (Yaroslavl)
5

Goaltenders: minimum 5 games played

Scoring leaders edit

Source: khl.ru[14]

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
  Alexei Morozov Ak Bars Kazan 21 8 11 19 +8 12
  Alexei Yashin Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 19 7 11 18 +3 10
  Tony Mårtensson Ak Bars Kazan 21 7 9 16 +10 2
  Mattias Weinhandl Dynamo Moscow 12 6 10 16 +8 4
  Danis Zaripov Ak Bars Kazan 21 6 10 16 +9 8

Leading goaltenders edit

Source: khl.ru[15]

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player Team GP Min W L GA SO SV% GAA
  Vitali Yeremeyev Dynamo Moscow 12 700:01 8 4 19 1 .927 1.63
  Stanislav Galimov Ak Bars Kazan 7 396:05 3 2 11 1 .926 1.67
  Jussi Markkanen CSKA Moscow 7 379:16 3 3 11 2 .934 1.74
  Georgi Gelashvili Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 19 1,129:56 13 6 33 5 .933 1.75
  Ray Emery Atlant Moscow Oblast 7 418:56 4 3 13 1 .941 1.86

Awards edit

Players of the Month edit

Best KHL players of each month.[16]

Month Goaltender Defense Forward Rookie
September   Alexander Eremenko (Ufa)   Magnus Johansson (Atlant)   Sergei Mozyakin (Atlant)   Maxim Kitsyn (Novokuznetsk)
October   Vitaly Kolesnik (Atlant)   Ilya Nikulin (Kazan)   Jan Marek (Magnitogorsk)   Andrei Kolesnikov (Chekhov)
November   Robert Esche (St. Petersburg)   Konstantin Korneyev (CSKA)   Alexei Tereshchenko (Ufa)   Stanislav Galimov (Kazan)
December   Martin Prusek (Riga)   Karel Rachůnek (Dynamo M)   Danis Zaripov (Kazan)   Alexandr Vasiliev (Chekhov)
January   Vitaliy Yeremeyev (Dynamo M)   Vitali Proshkin (Ufa)   Alexander Korolyuk (Atlant)   Alexandr Vasiliev (Chekhov)
February   Dimitrij Kotschnew (Spartak)   Peter Podhradský (Torpedo)   Danis Zaripov (Kazan)   Stepan Zakharchuk (Togliatti)
March   Georgi Gelashvili (Yaroslavl)   Ilya Nikulin (Kazan)   Mattias Weinhandl (Dynamo M)

KHL Awards edit

On 15 May 2009, the KHL held their first award ceremony. A total of 23 different awards were handed out to teams, players, officials and media.[17] The most important trophies are listed in the table below.

Golden Hockey Stick Trophy (regular-season MVP)   Danis Zaripov (Kazan)
Play-off Master Award (play-off MVP)   Alexei Morozov (Kazan)
Alexei Cherepanov Award (best rookie)   Ilya Proskuryakov (Magnitogorsk)

References edit

  1. ^ "Russian Ice Hockey Federation". Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  2. ^ "Emery signs one-year deal with Russian team – tsn.ca". Archived from the original on 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
  3. ^ "Radulov on His Return to Russia – NHL FanHouse". Archived from the original on 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
  4. ^ Predator inks debatable deal – iihf.com Archived 2008-12-16 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works bought 11.76% of the authorized capital of KHL – sovsport.ru". Archived from the original on 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
  6. ^ "»  »". Archived from the original on 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  7. ^ a b "Russian investigators say Cherepanov was 'doping'". The Sports Network. 2008-12-29. Archived from the original on 31 December 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  8. ^ "Заявление Континентальной хоккейной лиги по итогам расследования обстоятельств смерти хоккеиста Алексея Черепанова". KHL.ru. 2008-12-30. Archived from the original on 13 January 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  9. ^ "KHLfires Omsk doctors". The Sports Network. 2008-12-31. Archived from the original on 12 January 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  10. ^ "Officials suspended". The Sports Network. 2008-01-15. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  11. ^ "KHL Official Statistics for season 2008/2009". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  12. ^ "KHL Playoff Statistics: Skaters". KHL.ru. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  13. ^ "KHL Playoff Statistics: Goalies". KHL.ru. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  14. ^ "Player Stats: 2008–2009 Playoffs: All Skaters – Total Points". Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  15. ^ "Player Stats: 2009–2010 Playoff: Goalie – Goals Against Average". Kontinental Hockey League. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  16. ^ KHL Best players (in Russian)
  17. ^ Kontinental Hockey League Awarded Laureates Of 2008/2009 Season khl.ru, 2009-05-15. Accessed 2009-06-20. Archived 2009-06-22.