Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings Legends Compete For Coveted Coaching Position
Larionov, Fedorov in contention for CSKA Moscow coaching position
They were both members of the Detroit Red Wings iconic Russian Five and were helping the club win a trio of Stanley Cups as teammates. Today, however, Igor Larionov and Sergei Fedorov find themselves competing for the same job.
Earlier this week, prominent KHL club CSKA Moscow was dismissing coach Ilya Vorobyov and his staff. It didn’t take long for a list of contenders for this coveted job to emerge. At the top of the list are Fedorov and Larionov.
Fedorov already has a terrific history with the franchise. Along with playing for the club and having his No. 18 retired by the team, he was coaching CSKA Moscow to back-to-back KHL Gagarin Cup titles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. However, when the club was ousted from the first round of the playoffs in the spring of 2024, Fedorov was issued his walking papers.
With two Gagarin Cups in three seasons, the Sergei Fedorov's era in CSKA has ended. pic.twitter.com/MfSG0F3Nox
— KHL (@khl_eng) March 28, 2024
Fedorov has previously stated that the only coaching position he would consider assuming would be a return behind the CSKA bench.
“In my understanding, I have finished my coaching career,” Fedorov said at the time. “After I left CSKA, I did not receive any new offers. I did not pick up the phone.”
Russian Hockey Icon Backing Red Wings Legend
Listed as honorary president of CSKA Moscow, Boris Mikhailov is a Russian hockey icon. He was a star of the 1972 Summit Series and served as captain of the national team for many years.
Mikhailov still swings some very powerful clout within the CSKA Moscow hierarchy, and Russian website Sport-Express is reporting that Mikhailov is lobbying hard for one of the Red Wings legends to be the next coach of the club. And it’s not the one you might think.
This matchup. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GmCY2puKhg
— KHL (@khl_eng) January 21, 2024
He’s stumping for Larionov.
This desire appears to be a two-way street. Published reports are that Larionov would very much covet the CSKA Moscow coaching position. He was recently deposed as coach of Torpedo following the club’s first-round exit from the KHL playoffs.
