The Dallas Stars expect to have talented young forward Valeri Nichushkin back from the KHL for the 2018-19 NHL season, general manager Jim Nill said on Wednesday. The move would give the Stars a major boost to an already impressive forward corps following next season.
Valeri Nichushkin expected to return to NHL for 2018-19 season
The Stars’ GM says he anticipates Nichushkin will leave the KHL after the upcoming season.
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Nichushkin, a 2013 first-round pick by the Stars, left the organization last year to return to his native Russia to play for the KHL’s CSKA Moscow. He played the entire 2015-16 season in the NHL at age 19, but upon hitting restricted free agency, he left the Stars for a two-year deal in the KHL.
In his first year with CSKA, Nichushkin was good, but not great, with 11 goals and 13 assists in 36 games. During the KHL playoffs, he had five points in nine games. He also played at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, recording three assists in six games.
Thanks to the lack of a proper transfer agreement between the NHL and KHL, the Stars retain Nichushkin’s rights long-term. They were hoping to get him back this year, but he was still under contract in the KHL for another year.
There was also likely pressure on him from back home to stay in Russia for next season in order to be eligible for the 2018 Winter Olympics. We’ve seen some second-tier Russian NHL players leave for the KHL for that reason, and it likely played a factor in Nichushkin making the decision to stay with CSKA for next season.
Based on the comments from Nill, it sounds like the Stars anticipate that he’ll be ready to come back to Dallas by the summer of 2018. At that point, he’ll be a free agent in the KHL, so there won’t be a contract to get out of there. He’ll also likely have played a big role in the Olympics, which could further boost his stock as he negotiates a new deal with the Stars.
Dallas will also be able to offer a different situation than the one he left over a year ago. The Stars have a new head coach in Ken Hitchcock, and Nill made several moves this summer to position the team as a contender next season. Nichushkin could be the a missing piece that helps push the team over the top in 2018-19.
See More:
