Ak Bars defenseman Ilya Karpukhin shared his thoughts on Lokomotiv’s playing style under Bob Hartley ahead of the Gagarin Cup final series. When asked about the team based in Yaroslavl, Karpukhin emphasized that they are a disciplined, system-oriented squad built over many years. With an international coach at the helm, the team leans toward a more Western approach. He noted that Lokomotiv’s style is quite clear to Ak Bars, leaving no major surprises or hidden secrets.
Regarding changes under Hartley compared to the era of Igor Nikitin, Karpukhin said he wouldn’t describe the transformation as drastic. A new coach always brings a fresh perspective, new details, and adjustments to the game based on his own hockey philosophy, but Lokomotiv remains largely the same team at its core.
When asked if Hartley added Western innovations that made the team more versatile and attack-minded, Karpukhin agreed, suggesting that this is a noticeable aspect of the current Lokomotiv.
