NHL Free Agency: KHL Stars Signing in North America
NHL free agency starts on July 1, but that hasn’t stopped teams from looking overseas to pick-up some NHL-calibre talent. Some players from the KHL have already signed with NHL teams for the 2015-16 season. In fact there have been more than usual overseas signings this year. The price of the Russian ruble, growing popularity of the NHL, and maybe even the upcoming World Cup of Hockey have something to do with it.
Let’s take a look at some KHL players who have signed with or are likely going to sign with NHL teams this offseason.
D. Philadelphia Flyers. Yevgeni Medvedev. 1. player. 68. Medvedev is a veteran Russian defenceman who played eight straight seasons with Ak Bars Kazan before signing with the Flyers a week ago. The 32-year-old has an impressive resume that includes three KHL all-star games and being a member of the 2014 Russian Olympic team. Unless the Flyers sign another defenceman, Medvedev has a spot waiting for him as the fifth of sixth defenceman.
151. The 25-year-old Massachusetts native led the KHL with 36 goals with Jokerit, but his five-foot-nine-inch frame scared NHL teams from taking a chance on him before. After his breakout season, a few NHL teams pursued Moses. The predators ultimately signed him to a low-risk one-year contract.. Forward. Nashville Predators. Steve Moses. 2. player
94. Panarin, who picked up more than a point a game in the KHL this season, probably has the biggest upside on this list because he is only 23. His youthfulness, however, doesn’t mean he needs time to develop still. He has already played a remarkable 263 games in his career in the KHL (by contrast, 23-year-old <strong><a href=. LW. Chicago Blackhawks. Artemy Panarin. 3. player
player. 148. Slephyshev was drafted in the third round in 2013, but decided to play with Salavaet Ufa in the KHL. The Oilers finally signed him to an entry-level contract, and he has a good chance on making the team.. LW. Edmonton Oilers. Anton Slepyshev. 9
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