The start of the new KHL season was marred by the tragedy in Yaroslavl, which claimed the lives of 43 players and staff of the local club, Lokomotiv. In its preview of the new season RT expresses its condolences to the families of the dead.

Fifteen out of 24 teams have changed coaches during the midseason, which means the league will definitely get a huge boost in terms of new methodology and more competitiveness. For six foreign specialists, half of them Finns, 2011-12 will be the first season in KHL.

Elsewhere, Zinetula Bilyaletdinov, who led his Ak Bars to two back-to-back wins in the Gagarin Cup, was promoted to the Russian national team, while another former team Russia head coach, Vladimir Krikunov, replaced him in Kazan.

Controversial Czech Milos Riha, who led Moscow region’s Atlant to last year’s Gagarin Cup final, takes up Western Conference fat cats SKA St. Petersburg, many times beaten by his Spartak Moscow and Atlant.

Meanwhile, last year’s runners-up signed one of the best possible foreigners – Olympic and World Cup winner, Bengt-Ake Gustafsson, and the Swede is believed to be right man to help the club win the Gagarin Cup.

As for the former team Russia and Salavat Yulaev head coach, Vyacheslav Bykov remains unemployed, which makes him the biggest plum on the market.

Stars

The league has lost its two biggest stars of the recent years – Jaromir Jagr and Aleksey Yashin. Both eye a return to the NHL. While another master, 47-year-old Czech all-time star Dominic Hasek, has decided to take a one-year break in his almost 30-year professional career. However, the former Spartak Moscow goalie says he has not said goodbye to the KHL as he plans to return back to action next year.

The league will not feel a lack of big names though, as three Russian stars – Aleksey Kovalev (Atlant), Nikolay Zherdev (Atlant) and Aleksandr Frolov (Avangard) have left the NHL to play in Russia.

As for foreign stars, the league will be joined by the Swedish league best sniper Mikko Lehtonen (Severstal), Czech elite league MVP Martin Ruzickaand Finnish top goalie Teemu Lassila, to name a few.

Favorites

Traditionally, four Eastern Conference heavyweights – Salavat Yulaev, Ak Bars, Metallurg Magnitogosk and Avangard – are regarded as the main contenders for the Gagarin Cup. However, at least threee Western Conference leaders – SKA St Petersburg, Dynamo Moscow and Atlant will not bear with the eastern dominance.

Meanwhile, underdogs Vityaz are expected to add a more fighting flavor as the already tough team has got another boost from the NHL, namely Jon Mirasty, Jeremy Yablonski and Nick Tarnasky.

And finally, starting from 2011, the KHL becomes the real international league as Slovak side Lev will join the teams from the near-abroad countries – Dynamo Riga, Dynamo Minsk and Kazakh Barys, to become the first truly foreign outfit in the league.