Babaev: Criticism of Tkachev at Metallurg is unfair

Shumi Babaev, the agent representing Vladimir Tkachev, has dismissed as unfair the running friction between the forward and Metallurg head coach Andrei Razin, who has repeatedly criticised the winger in public.

"Nobody benefits when this kind of fuss starts, and it's not even clear why it began or what it's for. We haven't reacted to what's going on, so we've stepped aside. I think that was the right decision. I see no sense in getting into any kind of arguments," Babaev said.

He pointed to an episode from last season to make his case. Metallurg's management had cleared Tkachev to play the final game of the previous championship, in Yaroslavl, a match that would have earned him a point and third place in the scoring standings, along with the bonus attached to it. He sat out instead, at the coach's request, to avoid any risk to his teammates.

"If he didn't care about the team, he would have gone to Yaroslavl for the last game of last season, as the management had allowed him to. He would have gone, picked up a point, finished third among the scorers, and quietly taken his money. But he did what the coach wanted, what was better for the team, so as not to let his teammates down or risk an injury. That's why it grates a little when things like this are unfair," Babaev said.

He described the conflict as old news rather than a fresh flashpoint. "So there's nothing new, it's all been going on since last year. The best thing is just not to pay attention to it, nothing will change before the end of the season. Getting into confrontations, scandals, trying to prove something to someone — that doesn't work. Especially with the season under way, it would only hurt the whole team," Babaev said.

He added that Tkachev tries to stay above the noise. "It's unpleasant when he keeps hearing things like that, but Vladimir still tries to distance himself from it, and I try to explain to him that he shouldn't pay attention. Hockey will sort everything out. He knows how to play, and he doesn't need to prove anything to anyone — you just have to get through situations like this," Babaev said.