2 September 2024
Dragons face a tough trip to start new season
The new season is with us at last. Summer 2024 has been a bit different from previous years. Kunlun’s management was quick to secure the head coach it wanted, and GM Ivan Feoktistov quickly provided Mikhail Kravets with a roster that enjoys greater depth than in previous seasons.
And that recruitment process continues. Just this weekend, the Dragons agreed the signing of Semyon Sinyatkin, a 20-year-old forward from SKA’s system. He was part of the Russian national team that won the 2021 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, one of the most prestigious U18 tournaments, and was perhaps unfortunate not to figure in the 2022 NHL draft. Since then, he’s made his KHL debut for SKA and had a goal and an assist last season in 12 games in the big league. He’s regarded as a creative winger and even when handed a bottom-six role at the Hlinka, Sinyatkin contributed a point a game on a Russian team that defeated Slovakia – Slafkovsky, Nemec and a record-breaking Dalibor Dvorsky to boot – in the final.
Whether we’ll see Sinyatkin in our opening three games is unclear: he’s a young player and will need time to adapt to new surroundings. But we can certainly look forward to watching his talents develop over the coming months.
Meanwhile, our first week of action promises a tough road game followed by two home encounters with teams who are likely to be in the battle to secure a playoff place.
Dynamo Moscow (A), Sep. 4. 1930 Moscow Time
Last season: Brandon McMillan’s overtime goal on Nov. 8 secured the Dragons’ first ever victory over Dynamo. In doing so, the club snapped a five-game skid and completed the set with a win over every team it has played in the KHL. Red Star also pushed Dynamo hard in our first meeting last term before losing 2-3. However, later in the campaign the regular season champion showed its class with a couple of big wins.
Familiar faces: Goalie Konstantin Volkov came to the Dragons from Dynamo over the season. Last season he was restricted to just 10 appearances for the Muscovites, but he saw more action in 2022/23 and backstopped two wins against Red Star in that campaign.
Setting the scene: Dynamo powered through last year’s regular season to finish top of the pile. A potent offense led by KHL top scorer Nikita Gusev proved hard to stop until it all went wrong in the playoffs. Gusev is back this year to continue his productive…
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