Isakov on Artamonov's loan: "We couldn't find a way to get it off the ground."

      21 November 2025 08:05 Sports

      On November 20 the hockey club Torpedo officially confirmed on its social networks that forward of the Nizhny Novgorod system Nikita Artamonov will finish the season on loan at Nizhnekamsk's Neftekhimik. The decision regarding the young forward came as no surprise to many fans.

      Nizhny Novgorod's head coach Alexey Isakov commented on the decision to let the player go. According to him, it was not an easy choice and was the result of lengthy discussions within the staff.

      "To be honest, it was a tough decision. It was earned through certain doubts and reflections. The decision was made, first and foremost, in the player's interests. For the last six months we've been trying to figure something out with him, but we couldn't, so we decided he should go to a team where the coach develops young players well and the team's style of play might suit him," Alexey Isakov said at a press conference after the victory over Spartak.

      Last season Artamonov was Torpedo's top scorer — 39 points (22+17) in 63 games. However, in the current championship the player has struggled: just one point in 16 games and regular trips to the farm club. There he played 8 games and recorded 4 points (2+2).

      "There are many reasons that led to this decision. No season is the same. Every season a player faces a new challenge, and it's not easy to maintain the level you showed the previous year. We tried different approaches, worked through various aspects, but we couldn't find a way to move things forward. It just didn't click, so the decision is to change the environment, find some new emotions," the coach added.

      Before Nikita's departure to Nizhnekamsk, Isakov spoke with him personally.

      "I spoke with him today, before he left. On the one hand, it's quite banal, on the other hand, simple and clear: we wished him luck so that he can return to the level he was at last year. The only thing—we didn't want him to play brilliantly against us," the coach joked.

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