Ak Bars Kazan forward Artem Galimov will miss between six weeks and two months of hockey action after being placed on the injured list following a facial injury.
The Russian club confirmed the timeline through its press service to sport website Chempionat on Tuesday, ruling the forward out until late November.
Galimov sustained the injury on September 26 during an away match against Metallurg Magnitogorsk, which Ak Bars lost 2-1. The incident occurred in the 35th minute of play when defender Makar Khabarov delivered a body check that knocked Galimov off balance.
The impact sent Galimov headfirst into the boards surrounding the ice rink, leaving him bleeding from the bridge of his nose. Match referees reviewed video footage of the contact but determined that Khabarov did not commit a penalty violation.
Galimov was forced to leave the ice immediately following the hit and was taken to a local hospital for emergency medical evaluation.
Journalist Artur Khayrullin reported that the club has not publicly disclosed specific medical details or a formal diagnosis. However, Ak Bars head coach Anvar Gatiyatulin stated that the player might require surgical intervention to address the injury.
Impact on Ak Bars Kazan season
The absence of Galimov creates a significant hole in the Kazan attack during the early stages of the regular season campaign. Through his first ten appearances of the current Kontinental Hockey League season, the forward recorded six points, scoring four goals and contributing two assists.
Galimov has been a constant presence for Ak Bars since breaking into the senior squad in 2018. Over his eight seasons with the Tatarstan club, he has established himself as a versatile skater and dependable offensive option in high-pressure situations.
Ak Bars currently occupies fourth place in the KHL Eastern Conference standings with 13 points. While the team remains firmly in contention near the top of the table, losing a regular forward forces the coaching staff to restructure line combinations for upcoming league games.
Kontinental Hockey League competition
Ak Bars Kazan is one of the premier ice hockey franchises in Russia, competing in the Kontinental Hockey League. The league operates as the top professional hockey competition in Eurasia, featuring elite teams across Russia and neighboring nations. Founded in 1956, the Kazan team plays its home games at the TatNeft Arena and has won three Gagarin Cup titles since the formation of the KHL in 2008.
Opponents Metallurg Magnitogorsk are based in the Chelyabinsk region and share a long-standing rivalry with Kazan in the Eastern Conference. Magnitogorsk has also captured multiple Gagarin Cup championships, making fixtures between the two clubs among the most closely contested on the Russian ice hockey calendar.
Ak Bars will continue their regular season schedule without Galimov while team doctors monitor his condition and determine whether surgery is necessary. The Kazan club returns home for their next fixture, aiming to maintain momentum near the top of the conference standings while Galimov begins his extended recovery process.
