Former first-round pick leaves North America, signs multi-year deal in Europe

After 172 career games in the National Hockey League across parts of six seasons, former first-round pick Evgeny Svechnikov has decided to leave North America.

According to reports, Svechnikov has agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth 42.5 million rubles ($585,157 USD) per season with Kontinental Hockey League club AK Bars Kazan.

Svechnikov, a native of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, spent the 2022-23 season with the San Jose Sharks, where he set a new career-high in goals. In 59 games, Svechnikov had 14 points (eight goals, six assists), 26 penalty minutes and was a minus-six.

Given that's Svechnikov is still pretty young at only 26-years-old, there's a very good chance that we could see him return to North America in the summer of 2025 when his KHL contract is up.

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POLL
9 AOUT \| 59 ANSWERS Former first-round pick leaves North America, signs multi-year deal in Europe Do you think Svechnikov will return to North America in 2025?
Yes	19	32.2 %
No	33	55.9 %
Not Sure	4	6.8 %
See Results	3	5.1 %
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