2008–09 KHL season

2008–09 KHL season
League Kontinental Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Duration September 2, 2008 – April 12, 2009
Number of teams 24
Regular season
Regular-season winner Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Season MVP Russia Danis Zaripov
Ak Bars Kazan
Top scorer Russia Sergei Mozyakin
Atlant Moscow Oblast
Playoffs
Playoffs MVP Russia Alexei Morozov
Ak Bars Kazan
Gagarin Cup
Champions Russia Ak Bars Kazan
  Runners-up Russia Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

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.

League business

NHL player transfer

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

Dispute

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

Ownership

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

Salary cap

The league has implemented a salary cap.

Economic trouble

Metallurg Novokuznetsk has so far experienced difficulty financing its operations, largely due to the global financial crisis of 2008. Team sponsor Evraz Group is rumored 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

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

Death of Alexei Cherepanov

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

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
League standings GP W OTW SOW SOL OTL L GF GA Pts
Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa 563841328203116129
Russia Ak Bars Kazan 5636133310189123122
Russia Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 5632224313175111111
Russia CSKA Moscow 5627437411176141106
Russia Atlant Moscow Oblast 5635342111189111122
Russia Metallurg Magnitogorsk 56252112115174148104
Russia Dynamo Moscow 5627433217184143100
Russia SKA Saint Petersburg 5626274017143105100
Russia Spartak Moscow 562615212117315893
Latvia Dinamo Riga 562432312313215686
Russia Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 562422312416216284
Russia Traktor Chelyabinsk 562402532214216684
Russia Lada Togliatti 562135232212011684
Russia Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 562221522414614079
Kazakhstan Barys Astana 562034222517419178
Russia Avangard Omsk 561926142416116478
Russia Severstal Cherepovets 561917222514217177
Russia HC MVD 562024102914215973
Russia Sibir Novosibirsk 561515252814617264
Russia Amur Khabarovsk 561522613011115860
Russia Metallurg Novokuznetsk 561232523112715754
Belarus Dinamo Minsk 561212523412419749
Russia Vityaz Chekhov 56623753313422540
Russia Khimik Voskresensk 56830723610818739

Divisional standing


Bobrov Division GP W OTW SOW SOL OTL L GF GA Pts
Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa 563841328203116129
Russia Atlant Moscow Oblast 5635342111189111122
Russia Spartak Moscow 562615212117315893
Russia Severstal Cherepovets 561917222514217177
Russia Metallurg Novokuznetsk 561232523112715754
Belarus Dinamo Minsk 561212523412419749
Tarasov Division GP W OTW SOW SOL OTL L GF GA Pts
Russia CSKA Moscow 5627437411176141106
Russia Metallurg Magnitogorsk 56252112115174148104
Russia SKA Saint Petersburg 5626274017143105100
Russia Traktor Chelyabinsk 562402532214216684
Russia HC MVD 562024102914215973
Russia Khimik Voskresensk 56830723610818739
Kharlamov Division GP W OTW SOW SOL OTL L GF GA Pts
Russia Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 5632224313175111111
Latvia Dinamo Riga 562432312313215686
Russia Lada Togliatti 562135232212011684
Russia Avangard Omsk 561926142416116478
Russia Sibir Novosibirsk 561515252814617264
Russia Amur Khabarovsk 56152261301115860
Chernyshev Division GP W OTW SOW SOL OTL L GF GA Pts
Russia Ak Bars Kazan 5636133310189123122
Russia Dynamo Moscow 5627433217184143100
Russia Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 562422312416216284
Russia Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 562221522414614079
Kazakhstan Barys Astana 562034222517419178
Russia Vityaz Chekhov 56623753313422540

League leaders

GoalsCzech Republic Jan Marek (Magnitogorsk)35
AssistsRussia Sergei Mozyakin (Atlant)42
PointsRussia Sergei Mozyakin (Atlant)76
ShotsCanada Kevin Dallman (Astana)218
Plus/minusRussia Alexei Tereschenko (Ufa)+41
Penalty minutesCanada Chris Simon (Chekhov)263
Wins (Goaltenders)Russia Georgi Gelashvili (Yaroslavl)30
Goals against averageRussia Dmitri Yachanov (SKA)1.47
Save percentageKazakhstan Vitaly Kolesnik (Atlant).945

Goaltenders: minimum 15 games played

Scoring leaders

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

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Russia Sergei MozyakinAtlant Moscow Oblast56344276+3414
Czech Republic Jan MarekMetallurg Magnitogorsk53353772+2662
Russia Aleksey MorozovAk Bars Kazan49323971+2222
Russia Danis ZaripovAk Bars Kazan56343165+2626
Canada Kevin DallmanBarys Astana53283058+6137
Russia Alexei TereschenkoSalavat Yulaev Ufa55283058+4122
Czech Republic Jaromír JágrAvangard Omsk55252853−162
Russia Alexander KorolyukAtlant Moscow Oblast56213253+2132
Kazakhstan Alexander PerezhoginSalavat Yulaev Ufa55282452+3432
Russia Konstantin GlazachevBarys Astana56282452−730

Playoffs

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 Russia Ak Bars 3
15 Kazakhstan Barys Astana 0
2 Russia Ak Bars 3
16 Russia Avangard 2
1 Russia Salavat Yulaev 1
16 Russia Avangard 3
2 Russia Ak Bars 4
7 Russia Dynamo Msk 2
4 Russia CSKA 3
13 Russia Lada 2
4 Russia CSKA 0
7 Russia Dynamo Msk 3
7 Russia Dynamo Msk 3
10 Latvia Dinamo Rg 0
2 Russia Ak Bars 4
3 Russia Lokomotiv 3
3 Russia Lokomotiv 3
14 Russia Neftekhimik 1
3 Russia Lokomotiv 3
9 Russia Spartak 0
8 Russia SKA 0
9 Russia Spartak 3
3 Russia Lokomotiv 4
6 Russia Metallurg Mg 1
5 Russia Atlant 3
12 Russia Traktor 0
5 Russia Atlant 1
6 Russia Metallurg Mg 3
6 Russia Metallurg Mg 3
11 Russia Torpedo 0

Playoff leaders

Source: khl.ru[12][13]

GoalsFinland Jukka Hentunen (Kazan)9
AssistsRussia Alexei Morozov (Kazan)
Russia Alexei Yashin (Yaroslavl)
11
PointsRussia Alexei Morozov (Kazan)19
ShotsRussia Danis Zaripov (Kazan) 71
Plus/minusRussia Ilya Nikulin (Kazan)
+13
Penalty minutesRussia Grigori Panin (Kazan)69
Wins (Goaltenders)Russia Georgi Gelashvili (Yaroslavl)
13
Goals against averageKazakhstan Vitali Yeremeyev (Dynamo M)
1.63
Save percentageRussia Alexander Pimankin (Nizhny Novgorod)
94.4
ShutoutsRussia Georgi Gelashvili (Yaroslavl)
5

Goaltenders: minimum 5 games played

Scoring leaders

Source: khl.ru[14]

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

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Russia Alexei MorozovAk Bars Kazan 2181119+812
Russia Alexei YashinLokomotiv Yaroslavl 1971118+310
Sweden Tony MårtenssonAk Bars Kazan 217916+102
Sweden Mattias WeinhandlDynamo Moscow 1261016+84
Russia Danis ZaripovAk Bars Kazan 2161016+98

Leading goaltenders

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
Kazakhstan Vitali YeremeyevDynamo Moscow12700:0184191.9271.63
Russia Stanislav GalimovAk Bars Kazan7396:0532111.9261.67
Finland Jussi MarkkanenCSKA Moscow7379:1633112.9341.74
Russia Georgi GelashviliLokomotiv Yaroslavl191,129:56136335.9331.75
Canada Ray EmeryAtlant Moscow Oblast7418:5643131.9411.86

Awards

Players of the Month

Best KHL players of each month.[16]

Month Goaltender Defense Forward Rookie
SeptemberRussia Alexander Eremenko (Ufa) Sweden Magnus Johansson (Atlant) Russia Sergei Mozyakin (Atlant) Russia Maxim Kitsyn (Novokuznetsk)
OctoberKazakhstan Vitaly Kolesnik (Atlant) Russia Ilya Nikulin (Kazan) Czech Republic Jan Marek (Magnitogorsk) Russia Andrei Kolesnikov (Chekhov)
NovemberUnited States Robert Esche (St. Petersburg) Russia Konstantin Korneyev (CSKA) Russia Alexei Tereshchenko (Ufa) Russia Stanislav Galimov (Kazan)
DecemberCzech Republic Martin Prusek (Riga) Czech Republic Karel Rachůnek (Dynamo M) Russia Danis Zaripov (Kazan) Russia Alexandr Vasiliev (Chekhov)
JanuaryKazakhstan Vitaliy Yeremeyev (Dynamo M) Russia Vitali Proshkin (Ufa) Russia Alexander Korolyuk (Atlant) Russia Alexandr Vasiliev (Chekhov)
FebruaryGermany Dimitrij Kotschnew (Spartak) Slovakia Peter Podhradský (Torpedo) Russia Danis Zaripov (Kazan) Russia Stepan Zakharchuk (Togliatti)
MarchRussia Georgi Gelashvili (Yaroslavl) Russia Ilya Nikulin (Kazan) Sweden Mattias Weinhandl (Dynamo M)

KHL Awards

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)Russia Danis Zaripov (Kazan)
Play-off Master Award (play-off MVP)Russia Alexei Morozov (Kazan)
Alexei Cherepanov Award (best rookie)Russia Ilya Proskuryakov (Magnitogorsk)

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". 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
  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
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  7. 1 2 "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. 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.
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