Dmitry Isaev: “You Never Know What to Expect from Datsyuk on the Ice”

In an interview with the official MHL website, Avto`s leading scorer Dmitry Isaev reflects on his breakthrough season, shares insights on Pavel Datsyuk and his KHL call-up, and explains how his background in Sambo benefits him in hockey.

Dmitry Isaev is the first hockey player in his family, but not the only professional athlete. His father, Evgeny Isaev, is a four-time world champion, six-time Russian champion, and two-time European champion in Sambo. Dmitry, however, chose skates and a stick over a belt and wrestling shoes. In early childhood, his family moved from Togliatti to Perm, where he played in the Molot junior school. In 2020, he joined Avtomobilist`s system. In the 2023/2024 MHL season at age 16, he played 19 regular season games, two play-in games, and two playoff games. The 2024/2025 season was a career-best for the forward: 49 points in 49 games, earning him the title of Avto`s top scorer, and three appearances in the KHL. The right-handed forward turned 18 this summer and has set his sights on securing a permanent spot with Avtomobilist.

“Stepped Away from Hockey and Dove into Studies”

– What are you doing now?
– I’ve already completed my medical examination with Avto. The team has traveled to Kamensk-Uralsky for our annual training camp. We are beginning our preparations for the season.

– Did you get a chance to rest from hockey?
– Yes, after the season, I completely switched off from hockey and immersed myself in studying – preparing for exams. I managed to miss the game.

– What exams did you take?
– English, Social Studies, Russian Language, and advanced Mathematics. Despite the busy schedule, I found time to work with tutors. I studied and prepared, and in the end, I did well. Social Studies was the hardest, while Math came easier than the social sciences.

– What will you study at university with these subjects?
– Business Management or State and Municipal Administration. I plan to enroll at the Ural State University of Economics. I understand it won`t be easy balancing studies with hockey during the season, but that will only strengthen me.

– Why did you choose this field?
– I want to get a quality education. Life doesn`t end with hockey; anything can happen. Studying has always been important to me: I finished school without any failing grades.

– Who in hockey do you see as an example of smart financial investment?
– I know that Pavel Valerievich Datsyuk invests a lot, including in the development of Yekaterinburg. He doesn`t waste money. Cale Makar finished his education in the university league before going to the NHL. That also proves that education is never unnecessary.

– Have you discussed financial literacy with Datsyuk?
– No, all conversations with Pavel Valerievich are focused purely on hockey, although frankly, you want to talk about everything with him. It`s great to learn different nuances from someone who reached such heights. You can keep learning from him. His advice always helps improve your performance.

– If not for hockey, what might you have become?
– It`s hard to imagine myself without the pursuit to which I`ve dedicated my whole life, but life doesn`t end after a career. Perhaps I would have become a manager. Management and business fields are close to me, they are in demand and well-paid.

“Used Sambo Skills During Fights This Season”

– What condition were you in coming into camp?
– Thanks to pre-camp training, my physical condition has improved. The season will show how well I worked.

– Did you get a chance to go on vacation anywhere?
– Every summer, my family and I visit relatives in Togliatti, our hometown. There you can relax emotionally, spend time with loved ones, and return to work with renewed energy.

– Can you list the top tourist spots in Togliatti?
– There`s a very beautiful embankment now, and I`d also mention the Zhigulyov Mountains.

– I`ve heard about the local Garibaldi Castle.
– To be honest, I even forgot about that place. I was there, but a very long time ago, in my childhood.

– Did you train with your father in the offseason?
– We only practiced specific Sambo training together in my childhood. Now he is responsible for my physical preparation. After the season, my dad gladly trains with me according to the individual training plan given to players in Avto. Despite his age, he tries to stay in shape.

– Have you retained your Sambo skills from childhood?
– Yes, my hands remember. During fights this season, I used skills from Sambo, which gave me a certain advantage despite the size difference.

– How does the experience from Sambo help during fights on the ice?
– When you wrestle, you need to know how to tense your whole body to be as strong and stable as possible. Thanks to Sambo, I understand how to do that. Fighting skills help me not only maintain balance in scraps but also be less yielding in battles for the puck.

– Do you expect to participate in training camps with Avtomobilist this summer?
– I was told that during the preseason, I and other guys from Avto will go through both VHL and KHL camps. We will wait for our time to come.

– If that happens, will this be your first preseason at the adult level?
– Yes. I understand that to play in the KHL, I`ll have to work many times harder. I`m preparing to do a completely different volume of work in the camps than I am now.

– Compared to the summer of 2024, you`ve returned to Avto this year with a completely different status. Do you feel that yourself?
– Of course. The coaches talked to me and other guys about how we should set an example for the younger players joining us and help them settle into the team.

– Have you already switched from a cage to a visor?
– Not yet, I need to get a mouthguard. I`ll stick with the cage for a little longer, but I want to start the season with a visor.

“Everyone at Avto Reacted Positively to the News About the UGMK Arena Game”

– Why couldn`t you finish in the top 5 of the Golden Division during the regular season?
– We lacked discipline: sometimes we didn`t persevere enough, made unnecessary turnovers, and lost points because of that. In the 2025/2026 season, Avto needs to improve in this area, playing every game to the maximum.

– Will you explain the mistakes to the newcomers and keep an eye on team discipline?
– That`s the coaches` job; I have a different role. I haven`t proven anything yet; one season isn`t an indicator. You have to earn your status.

– If the discipline problem was obvious throughout the championship, why couldn`t you fix it in the playoffs?
– We were let down by a lack of concentration and inability to focus on a specific task. These are important components needed to win in the playoffs.

– Why couldn`t you win a single game in the 1/8 finals?
– We have to give credit to Omskie Yastreby – they had skilled guys on their roster who played at the VHL level all season but joined the junior team for the playoffs. They significantly strengthened the Omsk team and played an important role in the outcome of the series.

– How do opponents with experience playing at the adult level stand out on the ice?
– The speed of making correct decisions is immediately noticeable. Also, these players are usually physically strong because seasoned men play in the VHL and KHL.

– In one interview, you mentioned wanting to meet Belye Medvedi in the playoffs, why?
– In the playoffs, all teams are strong, so you can`t really choose. But Belye Medvedi are closer than other opponents – Chelyabinsk is practically at hand, so no flights are needed.

– Was it particularly important for you personally to play the play-in game in your hometown, Togliatti?
– Of course! It`s always nice to come back to my hometown, because it`s hard to get there during the busy season schedule, and this opportunity arose. My relatives and friends came to the game against Ladya, and I got to see everyone. However, it definitely didn`t give me any advantage; the stands were supporting the opponent, not us.

– In your first full season at the MHL level, you scored 49 points in 49 games. What helped you achieve such numbers at 17?
– After the first season, I got used to the speeds and level of the MHL. And of course, I worked hard; you can`t do anything in sports without that. I set a goal to show good results, raising the bar as high as possible.

– Tell us about the game at the UGMK Arena. Did nerves play a role in that game?
– Personally, I didn`t feel any stress, because by that time I had already played in the KHL at a sold-out Uralets. Everyone at Avto reacted positively to the news about that game. You always want to play in front of full stands and excited fans. It was just a pleasure for me to play at the UGMK Arena. In that game against Tolpar, we lacked finishing and discipline. In the necessary moments, we couldn`t score, so we had to play catch-up.

– Does Pavel Valerievich Datsyuk show his skill on the ice during practices?
– Yes, Pavel Valerievich participated in some drills, and it was hard to take your eyes off his actions on the ice. A person of such a skill level can do anything with the puck. You never know what to expect from him. Pavel Valerievich gave us tips he learned himself in his time. Despite the evolution of hockey, they still work. In my opinion, Datsyuk`s advice will work forever.

“My Priority Goal for the 2025/2026 Season is to Secure a Spot with Avtomobilist”

– How and when did you get called up to the first team?
– I had just returned from the Future Cup, and on the second day of practice with Avto, the head coach announced that I was being called up to the first team. I practiced with Avtomobilist and debuted in the KHL the next day. During my first shift, I was filled with various emotions, but I managed to stay calm. I knew there was no time to ease in; I had to prove from the first second that I was ready for the KHL level. My priority goal for the 2025/2026 season is to solidify my place with Avtomobilist.

– What impressions did the KHL level leave on you?
– The first thing that strikes you is the speed of decision-making. The KHL features elite players; young players need to keep up with their thinking speed and even try to anticipate.

– Did you adapt easily to the new team among experienced teammates?
– At first, I was shy about addressing players of that level casually, but the guys helped me settle in. It was good that there were teammates from my hometown of Perm, Anatoly Golyshev and Evgeny Alikin. I also got along well with Nikita Tryamkin and Stéphane Da Costa; they treated me very warmly.

– Was there a language barrier with Da Costa?
– Sometimes I might ask for help with translation, or I might not fully understand something, but generally, I speak English and understand what`s being said to me. So there weren`t any major problems with that.

– You played three games in the KHL but were listed for six. Was the uncertainty and waiting for your shift difficult?
– Of course, I really wanted to get on the ice and show what I`m capable of. But internally, I understood that everything takes time. I just waited for the coach to call my name and prepared to do my job.

– Did the KHL experience motivate you to push even harder in the MHL?
– Absolutely, it only stimulated me to work even more intensely and give even more effort. I understood that I still have a long way to go, and the first games for Avtomobilist were just the beginning.

“I Can Compensate for Size Disadvantages with Toughness and Character”

– Who introduced you to hockey?
– My dad. At the sports palace where he practiced wrestling, there was also a hockey team. Apparently, that influenced his decision somehow.

– Did you ever seriously consider dedicating your life to Sambo as well?
– I liked hockey immediately, so serious thoughts about Sambo didn`t arise. My parents said I always loved skating – because of this, the coach in the initial training group gave me the nickname “Gust of Wind.” I think if I hadn`t liked this sport, I would have gone into wrestling and tried to achieve results there.

– If you enjoyed skating fast, does that mean KHL speeds weren`t a problem?
– Indeed, I didn`t have problems adapting to the speeds, but I need to continue working on all aspects, whether they are my weak or strong points.

– Did you encounter issues in physical battles at the adult level?
– Yes, there were moments where I was hit hard, but I believe I can compensate for size disadvantages with my toughness and character. I have the example of Anatoly Golyshev before my eyes; he doesn`t have outstanding physical attributes but is a team leader. I need to emulate him and even try to surpass him.

– Why did you move from Togliatti to Perm in childhood?
– My dad was invited to compete for Perm, so we had to move to another city. I started skating there at the age of three.

– You have two sisters; what do they do?
– They are also on skates – they do figure skating. The older sister is already coaching, training the younger generation, and the younger one is just starting her path.

– Did you take any elements from figure skating for yourself?
– Definitely, I even started skating on figure skates, not hockey ones. In childhood, my older sister practiced with me on the ice – her advice influenced my skating development.

– What was the Molot school in Perm like?
– Conditions were like in typical hockey schools. I mostly played with my age group because I didn`t particularly stand out until a certain point. In my conscious years, almost all the guys left Molot for other teams, and that`s how my development in this club ended. My parents told me that I had quite a few offers, but they didn`t tell me about them because they made the final decision themselves. I think they did the right thing: nothing distracted me from the main goal of showing results. I don`t dwell on how my career might have unfolded in other systems. I am very happy with what I have. Yekaterinburg has a complete MHL–VHL–KHL vertical and high competition, which contributes to player development.

– At what point in your career did you start standing out?
– When coaches Alexander Alexandrovich Ageev and Gleb Anatolievich Orekhov came to Molot; they made the main contribution to my development, improving my skating and shot. Thanks to hard work and their help, I was able to progress even more effectively than guys who had raw talent.

– Do you have any hobbies?
– Outside of hockey and school, I have very little time left, maybe just a couple of hours a day that I can spend with family or friends. I try to vary my free time so I don`t waste it.

– Who from your family moved with you to Yekaterinburg?
– My mom and younger sister live with me; my dad and older sister stayed in Perm, as they coach there.

– Who from anyone who has ever lived would you like to meet and what would you ask them?
– Alexander Ovechkin. I would just like to spend time with this great person and talk to him about his emotions, adapting to North American hockey, and other sports moments. Alexander Mikhailovich was my first idol, number one since childhood. I will always root for him. Breaking his goal-scoring record will be incredibly difficult.