Amur forward Oleg Li has voiced his opinion on the number of clubs in the KHL, stating that the league currently suffers from a shortage of teams. With only 22 teams competing at the moment, Li pointed out that the championship was stronger when clubs like Lev, Slovan, Dinamo Riga, and Jokerit were still part of the league.
“Of course, there is a lack of teams in the KHL. I remember when Lev, Slovan, Dinamo Riga, and Jokerit were playing. The championship was definitely stronger. More teams mean more competition and it’s more interesting. When three teams don’t make the playoffs and you’re one of them, you feel like a loser. When five or six teams miss out, it’s still a fight. That’s a different kind of intrigue. It’s a shame that now we’re in this situation,” Li said.
He also expressed regret over the closure of certain clubs, such as Atlant, which he played for and remembers fondly. “We have Novokuznetsk, Mytishchi. I feel very sorry for Atlant. I still recall my time there with warmth. Great location, arena, and fans. It’s not Moscow, but we had everything there. The roster was decent, and the budget was good. I don’t understand when clubs that have loyal fans are shut down. That’s a real loss. Kunlun in Mytishchi drew only 500-1,000 people. That shows the level of interest in the club. How can you play with just 500 fans? It feels like a friendly match,” Li added.
