Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings Russian Five Dominate News Feed
Larionov fired; Fedorov may be rehired
It was a big day of news involving members of the Detroit Red Wings Russian Five and KHL coaching positions.
Out is Igor Larionov. Torpedo was issuing Larionov his walking papers. Lokomotiv was sweeping Torpedo in the opening round of the KHL playoffs.
“The decision to end our cooperation was balanced and difficult,” Torpedo general director Alexander Kharlamov said in a statement. “It was mutual.
What's next for The Professor? pic.twitter.com/tVkZWbvJfz
— KHL (@khl_eng) April 5, 2025
“We have deep respect for the path that the team has taken together with Igor Larionov, and we highly appreciate everything that has been done over the years. At the same time, following the results of the season that has ended, we failed to achieve our sporting goals, and this became the reason for making a joint decision.”
Larionov, 64, was coach of Torpedo for the past three seasons. The three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Red Wings pulled no punches on his way out the door. He was suggesting that there was a difference of opinion about the free-flowing style of hockey he preferred to coach.
“There was a lack of creativity,” Larionov told Russian website Sport Express. “I don’t want to offend anyone or make loud statements, but if we had the trio of my convocation – (Vladimir) Krutov – Larionov – (Sergei) Makarov – we would have beaten the opponent without any problems.
“We have good technical guys, but they did not go through the daily work.”
Former Red Wings Star Fedorov Returning To CSKA?
Meanwhile, expectations were that CSKA Moscow would also be firing coach Ilya Vorobyov. The traditional Russian powerhouse was the victim of elimination at the hands of Dinamo Minsk in a six-game first-round series.
“It’s sad when a team with such resources is relegated,” Viacheslav Fetisov, another member of Detroit’s Russian Five, told Sport Express. He’s a former CSKA player.
Sergei Fedorov is back-to-back KHL Coach of the Year!#KHLAwards pic.twitter.com/z1VScAgukX
— KHL (@khl_eng) May 18, 2023
Immediately, Sport Express was reporting that sources were indicating that Vorobyov would be out. The new coach of CSKA Moscow would be the old coach – Sergei Fedorov.
Like Larionov, Fedorov was a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Red Wings. Fedorov coached CSKA Moscow to back-to-back Gagarin Cup titles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. The club was dropping him after an early playoff exit last spring.
Fedorov said earlier this year that the only way he’d return to coaching would be with CSKA Moscow.
