Ice hockey: the main stories of 21.09.2026

Ak Bars have lost their new forward after five games: Kevin Hayes is leaving Kazan and retiring. Four outlets confirm it. The former Pittsburgh and New York Rangers forward leaves a squad that Vladimir Plyushchev describes as "in a fever", after it lost Yashkin and Barabanov in the off-season. Kazan played on without him and beat Lada 3:2 in overtime, according to reports, with Sasha Khmelevski getting his first point of the season in his 7th game. On the same day, one outlet ran Hayes's view on how the KHL differs from the NHL.

CSKA needed a shootout in Vladivostok. Admiral pulled their goaltender and equalised on the 59th minute, and CSKA then won 4:3 on penalties. Klim Kostin, back after illness, scored twice and fought Konstantin Luchevnikov. He put the fight down to frustration that had built up while he was out. Sibir, who released Pavel Tkachenko a day earlier, sent Novosibirsk-born Alexei Yakovlev, 31, to Torpedo and got Alexander Yaremchuk, 27, in return.

• According to one outlet, Severstal won 4:1 at Amur, ending a four-game losing run. Amur coach Alexander Andrievsky said the visitors wanted it more.
• Lada coach Pavel Zubov declined to comment on the finances of sponsor Polyplast.
• In a single report, Sergei Konkov said Andrei Razin's dispute with Yegor Yakovlev, Metallurg's captain, will not help the dressing room.
• Avangard GM Alexei Sopin said the club was interested in Kravtsov, who is injured at Traktor, one outlet reports.
• Journalist Alexei Shevchenko says AKM may not finish the VHL season because of financial problems.
• Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse paid tribute to Hayes.
• Sergei Cherkas said fans had stopped following Ovechkin's chase of Gretzky's 1016 goals including play-offs.
• Florida signed Sami Salminen, 23, to a two-year entry-level deal after he spent 4 seasons in the NCAA.
• Michael Russo says Quinn Hughes can name his own terms at Minnesota.
• The Hockey News tips Celebrini for the Hart. NHL Network ranks Vasilevskiy 13th among current players.
• Toronto analyst Sid Seixeiro criticised Dylan Larkin for refusing to discuss his trade request with the media.
• Daniel Brière said Matvei Michkov looks far more confident after working on his game.