Lokomotiv's Gennady Chaly: Stopping Radulov on the crease is nearly impossible

Lokomotiv academy graduate Gennady Chaly says that stopping Radulov in front of the net in training is close to impossible.

"On the crease it is practically impossible. You have to be able to move him out from there, but he is ready to release a shot from any position and dig the puck out."

Chaly was describing his pre-season with the KHL side. It began with a 2-week camp for young prospects. Kuzin, Zilev, Ulyev, Lutsev, Dudorov, Pustovoy and Kotkov were there with him. A few players were cut before the main camp, and Chaly stayed. He trained and played with Lokomotiv through August.

He expected heavier loads and says he was ready. He fell ill on the first day of camp and came back after a couple of days. That was the hard part.

The dressing room took some getting used to. "There are legends sitting there, two-time KHL champions, and Alexei Bereglazov already has 4 Gagarin Cups." He spent 2 or 3 days holding back before he started joking with the others. He knew Tesanov and Berezkin from the MHL, and he named Falkovsky as the biggest joker among his new team-mates.

Chaly then played on the first pair alongside Stepan in the pre-season game against Severstal. He was surprised, but did not read much into it. The other two pairs are already set, and he has to earn his spot.

He says he has not yet felt the full level of the KHL. The opponents in the friendlies had many young players, and pre-season fitness is always ragged. Even so, he found it hard against experienced men. Much depends on the size of the opponent.