Ice hockey: the main stories of 06.09.2026

Magnitogorsk have lost the man whose name is on most of the club's records: Sergei Mozyakin has left his post as Metallurg's development director. The Olympic champion and the KHL's all-time leading scorer had held the role since retiring, and the announcement came from the club rather than from him. Metallurg framed it as a parting on good terms — "we are not saying goodbye", the statement read, with an open invitation to matches. The post is now vacant on the opening weekend of the season, and the club has said nothing about a successor.

The same club opened its campaign with a 4:2 win over Amur at home, and neither bench was pleased. Andrei Razin called the performance muddled and said he disliked the first period, adding that the result was the only part he was taking from it. Across the corridor, Alexander Andrievsky was asked once more about a power play that has yet to click, and said he would fix it on the spot if he knew what was wrong. Metallurg may add to that forward group before long: Sport-Express reports a preliminary agreement with Spartak over a trade for Ivan Morozov, a restricted free agent after three seasons in Moscow — one outlet only, and neither club has confirmed it.

• Sergei Tolchinsky on a possible line with Vladimir Tkachev: sharing the puck would be no problem, but two scoring lines would serve the side better.
• Shanghai went 0:3 down at Neftekhimik and found a way back into it, winning 5:4 in overtime; Mitch Love praised the recovery.
• Sibir lost 3:4 in a shootout at Ak Bars, with Taylor Beck calling it a good start and a poor finish.
• Nikita Soshnikov, signed by Traktor for a year on 3 September after a trial deal, said his relationship with Admiral ended just before pre-season camp.
• SKA extended Igor Larionov junior by one season, to 31 May 2027, according to a single report.
• Ak Bars are said to be close to acquiring forward Yegor Sokolov from Torpedo, per journalist Mikhail Zislis.
• Emil Galimov, 34, with 643 KHL matches and 247 points, has agreed a one-year deal with Novokuznetsk in the VHL.
• Loko beat Avto 3:1 in the MHL opener at Arena-2000 in front of 1,890 spectators.
• Luka Profaca denied spitting at an opponent during the Moscow Mayor's Cup, saying he only shouted at him.
• Roman Rotenberg said the Channel One Cup will be played at VTB Arena in December.
• Elliotte Friedman said the gap between Adam Fantilli and Columbus widened after Leo Carlsson's deal.
• The PWHL's 16 kg silver championship trophy has gone missing in transit for the second time this off-season; by all accounts the first search took four days.
• Carolina named Jorge Alves, 47, their equipment manager and an emergency goaltender in 2016, as emergency backup again.
• Xavier Houle has completed his rehabilitation and expects to play for Dinamo Minsk at Torpedo on 7 September.