Ak Bars coach Gatiyatulin: Galimov likely needs hand surgery

Ak Bars forward Artyom Galimov is likely to need surgery on a hand injury, head coach Anvar Gatiyatulin said. Earlier reports suggested Galimov could be out for six to eight weeks.

"He is going to see the surgeon again today. It looks like an operation will have to be done – the damaged area in the hand has poor blood supply, and it keeps getting pinched for a long time. Now we will look at reshuffling, at internal reserves among our own lads, and we will also consider transfers. We will see if anything turns up," Gatiyatulin said.

Galimov has played 10 games this season and scored 6 points (4+2), with a plus-4 rating and an average of 17:52 on the ice.

Gatiyatulin named no replacement and no target for a signing. If the surgery goes ahead, the length of the absence would depend on the surgeon's verdict, and Ak Bars may have to manage without one of their regular forwards for a good part of the autumn.