In a trade announced Tuesday between KHL Eastern Conference teams Salavat Yulaev Ufa and Ak Bars Kazan, two ex-NHL players are changing addresses. American center Alexander Chmelevski, 26, is heading to Kazan and Canadian defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk, 28, is heading the other way.

Chmelevski is in his fourth KHL season while it’s Kalynuk’s first.

“Chmelevski is one of the best centers in the KHL, possessing a unique set of qualities,” Kazan GM Marat Valiullin said about his team’s newest acquisition. “He can play on the power play, win faceoffs, lead rushes and finish plays himself. He's fully adapted to the league, speaks excellent Russian, and will quickly fit into any system.”

Born in Huntington Beach, Cal., Chmelevski played junior hockey for the Sarnia Sting and Ottawa 67’s of the OHL. He was chosen in the sixth round, 185th overall, by the San Jose Sharks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, and recorded 10 points in 26 NHL games with the Sharks before heading overseas in 2022.

Internationally, Chmelevski has represented the USA at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship and at the 2021 World Championship.

Former Shark, Canuck Claimed Off Waivers In KHL Russian winger Nikolai Goldobin, 29, has been claimed off KHL waivers by SKA St. Petersburg, the KHL website announced on Monday. He had been waived by Spartak Moscow, the club for which he’d played the past two seasons.

“We wish Wyatt Kalynuk the best of luck,” Valiullin said about the player he traded away. “He’s a good player that we were interested in, but the market dictates its own terms.”

Kalynuk was born in Brandon, Man. and played three seasons at the University of Wisconsin, captaining the team his last season. In that same 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Kalynuk was taken in the seventh round, 196th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Kalynuk was a member of several NHL organizations but only played in the show with the Chicago Blackhawks, recording nine points in 26 games over two seasons.

Alexander Barabanov returns to the KHL Russian winger Alexander Barabanov has signed a two-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan, the KHL club announced on Thursday.

The KHL season has already begun and both players played some games with their previous clubs before the trade. Chmelevski had three points in six games for Ufa, while Kalynuk had no points in two games for Kazan.

Kazan’s roster includes ex-NHLers Dmitrij Jaškin, Alexander Barabanov (a former San Jose teammate of Chmelevski), Alexei Marchenko and Grigori Denisenko, as well as Mitchell Miller, the one-time Arizona Coyotes draft pick who was convicted of assaulting and bullying a classmate.

Other than Kalynuk, the only ex-NHLer on Ufa’s roster is Canadian Jack Rodewald. Ufa had reigning KHL MVP and scoring champion Josh Leivo under contract long-term before terminating the deal in August.

OFFICIAL: KHL MVP Josh Leivo Signs With New Team Canadian winger Josh Leivo, 32, has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL website announced on Monday.

SC Bern has signed two ex-NHL players to contract extensions, the National League club announced on its website on Wednesday.

Finnish right winger Waltteri Merelä, 29, has signed for two more years, while Swedish defenseman Anton Lindholm, 30, has signed for one.

For both players, the 2024-25 season was their first in Bern. Merelä had 51 points in 59 regular-season and playoff games. Injuries limited Lindholm to 20 games, in which he recorded five points and 10 penalty minutes. Through the team’s first four games this season, they each have three points.

“Waltteri is an absolute leader of our team,” Bern GM Diego Piceci said about Merelä. “With his goal-scoring ability and his commitment, he is of great importance to us.”

About Lindholm, Piceci said, “We are very pleased with Anton’s commitment. With his skills and leadership, he is a very important part of our team.” 

Merelä played in Finland until he was 24, developing into a good-sized, reasonably productive winger first with the Lahti Pelicans, then with Tappara Tampere. After never representing Finland in any youth age category, he made the national team for the 2023 IIHF World Championship, held at home in Tampere, and scored a goal in his only game.

Finn Waltteri Merelä moves from Tampa Bay to BernAfter one season in North America, split between the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning and the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, 25-year-old right winger Waltteri Merelä has signed a one-year contract with National League club SC Bern. Merelä is yet another name to the list of Finns who have chosen to play in Switzerland over other European options.

In the 2023-24 season, Merelä had one goal in 19 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning and 34 points in 55 regular-season games with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. He also scored three goals in eight AHL playoff games.

Lindholm, who is a product of Skelleftea AIK, was chosen in the fifth round, 144th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Between 2016 and 2021, he recorded five points and 16 penalty minutes in 55 NHL games for the Avalanche, and 28 points in 84 AHL games for the Colorado Eagles.

Since that time, Lindholm has played in the KHL for Dinamo Minsk and back in Sweden for Leksands IF before joining Bern. Internationally, he has represented Sweden at three World Championships.

Bern’s roster also includes ex-NHLers Emil Bemström, Joël Vermin and Simon Moser.

Emil Bemström Signs In Switzerland Swedish forward Emil Bemström, 26, has signed a one-year contract with SC Bern, the National League club announced on Friday.

Canadian defenseman Brad Hunt, 37, has signed a one-year contract with Vaasan Sport, the Finnish Liiga club announced on Friday.

After playing his entire career to this point in North America, including parts of 10 NHL seasons, this is Hunt’s first contract to play in Europe.

“Brining Brad to Vaasa is fanstastic,” said club sports diractor Ari-Pekka Pajuluoma, who was told that Hunt is “an experienced and seasoned team player” by Joel Kiviranta, a former Sport forward who was Hunt’s teammate in the Colorado Avalanche organization.

“He has been a very popular person in every team he has played for, but we expect, above all, good play on the ice from Brad,” Pajuluoma continued. “His strengths lie in the game with the puck, and in addition, he has an incredible shot from the point, so we also expect him to have a role on the power play.”

Born in the Vancouver suburb of Maple Ridge, B.C., Hunt played four years of college hockey at Bemidji State University. Never drafted by an NHL team, he signed with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves in the spring of 2012.

Hentrik Zetterberg Returns Home to Timrå in the SHLDetroit Red Wings legend Henrik Zetterberg is back in hockey. The 2008 Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy winner has taken on an advisory role with his former club Timrå IK in Sweden’s SHL.

Between 2013 and 2023, Hunt played 288 NHL regular-season games for the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks and Colorado, recording 86 points and 52 penalty minutes. He also played five playoff games for Minnesota and Colorado, incurring one minor penalty.

He spent the entire 2024-25 season in the AHL with the Hershey Bears, recording 20 points in 43 regular-season and playoff games.

To be able to afford Hunt’s contract, the Vaasan Sport club had to raise over 90,000 euros (approx $105,000 US) from a combination of sponsors and donations from fans.

Mattias Norlinder returns to Sweden; donations raised to pay contractSwedish defenseman Mattias Norlinder, 24, has signed a two-year contract with MoDo Hockey, the SHL club announced on Wednesday. Norlinder previously played with the club from 2016 to 2020 at the U16 and U18 levels and also played 55 games in the second-tier professional HockeyAllsvenskan, where he recorded 34 points.

“Without the community's campaign, this player signing would not have been possible for us,” Pajuluoma explained. “This shows what is possible with a community pulling in the same direction, and this was good proof of how special our community in Vaasa is.”

The Liiga season has already started and Vaasan Sport has played two games, beating Kärpät Oulu 3-0 on the road and then losing its home opener 3-2 to TPS Turku on Friday. Since being promoted to the top-tier Liiga in 2014, the team has never finished better than 10th place. Last season, despite an 11th-place regular-season finish, Sport won a play-in series and advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time.

The club made big news in the off-season when it signed 20-year-old Topi Rönni, a former Calgary Flames second-round draft pick who was convicted of rape in 2024, to a two-year contract. After a strong negative response from the Finnish media and public, the contract was terminated two weeks later. Rönni signed soon thereafter with Hungarian ICEHL club Ferencvárosi TC. 

Topi Rönni’s Contract With Finnish Club Terminated Due To Public UproarFinnish center Topi Rönni, who recently signed as a free agent with Liiga club Vaasan Sport, has agreed to part ways with the club after the signing drew intense criticism from the Finnish public and media.

There’s been lots of attention on Nicklas Bäckström’s SHL comeback this upcoming season. Behind him, Magnus Hellberg is looming as one of the biggest signings ahead of the season.

Hellberg returns to Sweden and Djurgården after thirteen years abroad. During that time, he played 7 games in the NHL and 259 games in the AHL. He also spent several seasons in the Russian KHL, where he made 169 appearances over the years.

Djurgården’s sporting director Niklas Wikegård is pleased to bring in such an experienced goaltender. In an interview with the club’s own media channels, he shared his thoughts on Hellberg and what he believes he can add to the team this coming season.

“We’re bringing in one of the most experienced goaltenders in the country, with many years of playing abroad at a very high level. Magnus has represented some of the top clubs in the KHL and been close to the top clubs in the NHL, and on top of that he has produced strong results in the AHL in recent years,” said Niklas Wikegård.

In addition to Hellberg, Djurgården has the talented Hugo Hävelid in goal. Hävelid is undrafted but has represented Sweden at the junior international level. Here’s what sporting director Wikegård said about Hellberg as a complement to Hävelid.

“Magnus will be an extremely important piece for us to bring home. He is a goaltender we feel secure with and who upgrades us, together with the defensive line we are putting together. We are also creating a very exciting goalie duo with 21-year-old Hugo, who can get fantastic training from Magnus over the coming years,” says Wikegård.

Hellberg followed Djurgården from a distance last season and, like so many others, was impressed by the club’s fan support. Djurgården won the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan last season and earned promotion to the SHL.

“I followed the team very closely last season and am very impressed by the journey, with the fans’ support and help. A full Hovet or Avicii Arena with all the awesome tifos and atmosphere and the pressure that comes with it is something I look forward to sharing with you. I’m super excited to come home, help Djurgården win hockey games and create great memories together with all of you,” says Magnus Hellberg.

In addition to Hellberg, Djurgården has several other players with NHL experience. Most notably, they have Marcus Krüger, who won two Stanley Cups with Chicago during their dynasty years. They also have Jacob Josefsson, formerly with the New Jersey Devils, who has made a comeback and adds further experience to the team.

When it comes to young players, Djurgården also has a strong group. Among them are two 17-year-old prospects, Marcus Nordmark and Viggo Björck. The team also features 2025 NHL Draft first-round picks Victor Eklund and Anton Frondell.

The Swedish site HockeyNews.se reports that former NHL player Calvin de Haan is close to signing with Rögle in the SHL. de Haan has previously been linked to several other SHL clubs, such as Brynäs, but is now only a few contract details away from joining Rögle, according to the report.

de Haan split last season between the Colorado Avalanche and the New York Rangers, playing 44 games for Colorado and three for the Rangers. The defenseman from Carp, Ontario, was traded to the Rangers along with Juuso Parssinen, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick in 2025. In return, the Avalanche received Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey, and Hank Kempf.

de Haan would be another addition to the growing list of players who have joined the SHL after spending time in the NHL. Below is a list of notable names who have signed with SHL clubs.

Nicklas Bäckström (C), Brynäs IF

The biggest name to sign in the SHL since the lockout seasons. The hype around Bäckström has been huge, and he’s by far the signing that has received the most attention ahead of the season start.

 

Nicklas Bäckström Ready for a New Chapter in the SHL - Community PostNicklas Bäckström continues his preparations for the SHL opener on Saturday. On Tuesday, the SHL held its annual media day, where Bäckström was in the spotlight.

Jakub Vrána (RW), Linköpings HC

An exciting signing who is arriving in the SHL at a different stage of his career compared to the previously mentioned Nicklas Bäckström. Jakub Vrána spent most of his NHL career in Washington, where he was teammates with Bäckström. In total, he played 406 NHL games, recording 119 goals and 223 points.

 

Kieffer Bellows (LW), Brynäs IF

Bellows was drafted 19th overall by the New York Islanders in 2016. The former first-round pick is a fast-skating power forward with a strong shot. In total, he played 114 NHL games and recorded 32 points.

 

Magnus Hellberg (G), Djurgårdens IF

Hellberg returns to Sweden after 13 years abroad. Although he has only played seven NHL games, he has managed to start games for the Predators, Rangers, Red Wings, Senators and Penguins. It is quite a unique accomplishment.

Gustav Lindström (D), Djurgårdens IF

Lindström most recently played for the Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, where he appeared in 42 games and recorded 11 points last season. He was drafted 38th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings.

 

Charles Hudon (LW), Djurgårdens IF

Djurgården made another high-profile signing by bringing in Charles Hudon, who most recently played for the Ontario Reign in the AHL. With the LA Kings’ affiliate, he recorded an impressive 20 goals and 64 points in 67 games last season. Hudon brings much-needed offensive production as Djurgården heads into the new season after earning promotion from the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan to the SHL.

Yesterday it was announced that former Red Wings player Henrik Zetterberg is returning to his childhood club Timrå IK as an advisor. The news created a lot of excitement in Sweden, and Zetterberg did several interviews throughout the day following his appointment to the new role. Among others, Henrik spoke with the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. The original interview can be found here.

After spending a year in Detroit following the end of his playing career, Zetterberg has settled down in Sweden. He has made his home in the south of the country and has lived a quiet life in the years since retiring from hockey. Gaining more attention is not the purpose of his new role, and the humble Zetterberg said that the attention wasn’t something he was seeking when the role was announced.

“It’s not the public attention I’m seeking by taking on this role as an advisor. I’ve actually had this role for about a year now in Timrå, but we haven’t really made much of it publicly. I love hockey and have a strong connection to Timrå. Now we’ll be a team working to push Timrå forward, and I’ll focus on being a sounding board for young players and their coaches in the club to help them develop. I’ll also continue supporting Kent Norberg (GM of Timrå) with thoughts and opinions on potential signings. It’ll be fun to see what kind of development we can achieve together,” says Henrik Zetterberg.

Several of his former Detroit teammates have gone on to start careers in management and coaching. Zetterberg was asked about his future plans and whether a role as a sporting director or GM is something he envisions down the line. However, he was quick to play down those speculations.

“I have no plans to take over after ‘Nubben’ (current GM at Timrå) that’s not something I’m thinking about at all. I want him to stay in Timrå forever, and I think he’s doing a fantastic job. My passion lies in helping younger players make the same journey that I once did.”

Henrik Zetterberg was also asked about his connection with the Red Wings and whether he might use his current role to help Detroit. His former captain and fellow Swede Nicklas Lidström is also based in Sweden while serving as Detroit’s Vice President of Hockey Operations. The connection to Detroit is still there, but there is no official collaboration between Zetterberg and his former club at this point.

“Of course I’ll probably have thoughts and questions during the season. I have people around me who have worked in hockey and have a lot of experience. Almost everyone on the Red Wings staff today are my former teammates, and I feel like I always represent Detroit since I played there for so many years. But we’ll see how that can help me in my professional role.”

Finally, Zetterberg was asked how he expects Timrå to perform this season. The team has lost valuable pieces during the offseason, including Filip Hållander and Oliver Kapanen, who have both left for the NHL.

“There’s no denying that losing Filip Hållander and Oliver Kapanen is a big blow for the club. They did a lot for the team last season. But we have other guys who are very talented and maybe flew a bit under the radar last year. Now it’s up to them to take the lead and push the club forward. Timrå is in a good position to surprise, but they might not be a top team just yet. There are many strong top teams. I don’t need to name them, it’s obvious who they are.”

Oliver Kapanen played 18 games for the Montreal Canadiens last season but returned to Timrå on loan. The season was a success for Kapanen, who recorded 15 goals and 35 points in 36 games. It’s an impressive points tally in the defensively minded SHL.

Filip Hållander returns to Pittsburgh with the ambition of earning a roster spot with the Penguins. He has played in three NHL games for Pittsburgh and has also appeared in 104 AHL games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Swedish center is coming off a brilliant SHL season, finishing second in the league in both goals and points with 26 goals and 53 points in 51 games for Timrå.

Swedish center Jacob Josefson, 34, has signed a one-year contract to play with Djurgården, the Stockholm-based SHL club announced on Monday.

A former NHLer, Josefson has not played professionally since the 2020-21 season, when he recorded 14 points in 27 games for Djurgården. After suffering a series of concussions in his career, Josefson left the team’s training camp prior to the 2021-22 season when symptoms returned. This season, he feels he is finally ready to return and has already appeared in three pre-season games.

“I am so incredibly happy and grateful to have the chance to play hockey after a long absence,” Josefson is quoted in the club’s announcement. “Getting the opportunity to put on the Djurgården jersey and play in front of the best fans in the world again is something that I am extremely proud of. Always. No matter what.”

“This is so incredibly gratifying for both Djurgården and Jacob,” said club sports director Niklas Wikegård. “His attempt to return to hockey has succeeded and the entire Djurgården family will see when a great athlete is given a second chance.”

Born in Stockholm and a member of the Djurgården club from age 14 to 19, Josefson was picked in the first round, 20th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Between 2010 and 2018, he recorded 64 points and 84 penalty minutes in 315 regular-season NHL games, mostly with New Jersey but he also played one season with the Buffalo Sabres. His only six playoff games came in 2012 – a year the Devils went to the Stanley Cup Final – in which he tallied one assist.

Norwegian National Team Captain, Former Oiler & Flyer Retires There was speculation he’d come back for one more season but, ultimately, Patrick Thoresen is sticking with the decision he made last summer and announced his retirement on Thursday via Instagram.

From his return to Sweden 2018 until his timeout from hockey, Josefson served as Djurgården’s team captain.

“Hockey-wise, we know what Jacob is capable of, and that there is more to learn,” said Wikegård. “With every game he plays and every practise he attends, he feels stronger in his body. He can skate more, put more pressure on himself and will get better and better just like the rest of the team.”

Djurgården was just promoted to the SHL from the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan but is trying to build a competitive roster. The team will notably feature two 18-year-old forwards who were chosen in the first round of this year’s NHL Entry Draft – Victor Eklund and Anton Frondell.

In addition to Josefson, Eklund and Frondell, Djurgården’s lineup for the 2025-26 season also includes veteran center Marcus Krüger, who was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, Canadian winger Charles Hudon, Finnish right winger Jesse Ylönen, Swedish defenseman Gustav Lindström, and Swedish goaltender Magnus Hellberg.

Charles Hudon Signs In Sweden, Joins Frondell & EklundCanadian forward Charles Hudon, 31, has signed a two-year contract with Djurgården IF, the Stockholm-based SHL club announced on Wednesday.

American winger Zach Sanford, 30, has signed a one-year contract with HC Lugano, the National League club announced on Monday.

After a nine-year pro career in North America, this is Sanford’s first contract to play in Europe.

“Zach Sanford brings a lot of experience to our team – he’s a very versatile forward that can play on the wing and at center,” said Lugano GM Janick Steinmann. “He’s also used to playing different roles on the power play and is strong on the penalty kill. He will bring our team lots of stability and quality in all aspects of the game. The coaches will have lots of different options down the line up. I’m very happy that Zach decided to join our club and help our team this season.”

A native of Salem, Mass., Sanford was a second-round pick, 61st overall, of the Washington Capitals in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. After a year in the USHL and then two years at Boston College, he signed with Washington in 2016.

RUMOR CONFIRMED: Jan Rutta Signs Multi-Year Deal In Switzerland Czech defenseman Jan Rutta, 35, has signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Monday.

Between 2016 and 2024, Sanford played 334 NHL regular-season games for the Capitals, St. Louis Blues, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks, recording 104 points and 144 penalty minutes. He also had eight points in 25 playoff games – all for St. Louis – and was a member of the Blues’ 2019 Stanley Cup championship team.

He spent the entire 2024-25 season in the AHL for the Rockford IceHogs, where he tallied 51 points in 77 regular-season and playoff games.

Sanford joins a Lugano team that is trying to rebuild its roster after missing the playoffs last season. The team has also added former NHLers Rasmus Kupari, Connor Carrick and Brendan Perlinithis off-season.

Former First-Rounder Rasmus Kupari Signs In Switzerland Finnish forward Rasmus Kupari, 25, has signed a two-year contract with HC Lugano, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

Czech defenseman Jan Rutta is about to sign with Genève-Servette of Switzerland’s National League, according to a Swiss media report.

Gregory Beaud reports that his media outlet Blick has information that indicates the deal is imminent. No details about the length of the contract are mentioned, other than “for the upcoming season.”

If correct, it would mean a return to Europe after eight years in the NHL for the 35-year-old. Rutta has 98 points and 219 penalty minutes in 417 NHL regular-season games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks. He also has 11 points in 49 playoff games and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay.

Earlier this off-season, Blick reported that Jesse Puljujärvi was on his way to Switzerland.Two weeks later, the Finnish winger indeed signed with the same Genève-Servette team.

CONFIRMED: Jesse Puljujärvi Signs Multi-Year Contract in Switzerland Finnish winger Jesse Puljujärvi, 27, has signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

According to the report, Genève-Servette sports director Marc Gautschi has said that he wants to start the upcoming season with seven import players. The club already has under contract for the 2025-26 season Finns Puljujärvi, Markus Granlund, Sakari Manninen and Vili Saarijärvi, Canadian Taylor Beck and American Jimmy Vesey.

Genève-Servette team won its first-ever national championship in Switzerland in 2023-24 after a century of existance and then won the Champions Hockey League in 2024-25, but has missed the playoffs the last two National League seasons. 

Jan Rutta grilled by Swedish media after semifinal; suspended for finalThe Czechs will play for the gold medal on home ice in Prague but they’ll do so without defenseman Jan Rutta, who has been suspended one game by the IIHF World Championship Disciplinary Panel for an elbow to the head of Swedish forward Isac Lundeström.

Canadian winger Josh Leivo, 32, has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL website announced on Monday.

The news comes just five days after Leivo’s contract with rival KHL club Salavat Yulaev Ufa was terminated – visa and club financial issues were cited. This past season, Leivo set a KHL record with 49 goals in 62 regular-season games. He finished the season with a league-leading 80 points and was rewarded with the league’s MVP award and what turned out to be a short-lived two-year contract extension.

“As has already been said, if a player of Josh Leivo’s caliber enters the market, the club needs to react immediately,” said Traktor GM Alexei Volkov. “Over the past two seasons in the KHL, he has become a real star of the league, breaking what seemed to be Sergei Mozyakin’s eternal record and winning the MVP title at the end of the 2024-25 regular season.

“It can be said without a shadow of a doubt that Josh is a real scoring machine,” Volkov described. “His shot can be called elite, his one-timer on the power play and, as they say, is a difference-maker. He feels comfortable against any opponent and any defensive line. We are confident that Leivo will quickly adapt to our friendly team and will write his name in its glorious history.”

A native of Innisfil, Ont. who played junior hockey for the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves and Kitchener Rangers, Leivo was picked in the third round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Former NHL First-Rounder Mikhail Grigorenko Changes KHL Teams Russian forward Mikhail Grigorenko has signed a two-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL club announced on Friday.

Leivo played 265 NHL games between 2013 and 2023 for the Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes and St. Louis Blues, recording 93 points and 93 penalty minutes. In 2022, he won a Calder Cup championship with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, leading the playoffs with 29 points in 18 games and winning the playoff MVP award.

In two KHL seasons, Leivo now has 142 points in 122 regular-season and playoff games.

Traktor had the best record in the KHL this past regular season but lost in the Gagarin Cup finals to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in five games, so there has to be a feeling that this move could put the team over the top.

In addition to Leivo, the club’s roster includes ex-NHLers Mikhail Grigorenko, Vladimir Zharkov, Jordan Gross and goaltender Chris Driedger. It also has NHL prospects Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (Toronto), Alexander Rykov (Carolina) and Arseni Koromyslov (St. Louis).

Former NHL Goalie Chris Driedger Signs In KHL Canadian goaltender Chris Driedger, 31, has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL club announced on Tuesday.