Alex Galchenyuk: all signs point to a KHL move to 2023-24

In recent weeks, Alex Galchenyuk has been in the news for not so good reasons. The former Canadiens forward was arrested in what looked like a horror film, prompting the Coyotes to terminate the contract they had just signed with the player.

At least Chucky went to the Player Assistance Program for help. That’s the good news.

That said, even if the player no longer has an NHL contract, he could theoretically sign another one right now. On the other hand, we agree that the conditions don’t really seem to be in place for this to happen anywhere in North America.

However, since the start of the day, there have been several indications that Chucky is closing in on the KHL for next season. Earlier today, a KHL GM (Rinat Bashirov, who is at the helm of Salavat Yulaev in the city of Ufa) told a Russian media outlet that he was interested in Galchenyuk’s services.

There have been preliminary discussions, and Bashirov wants to give the situation time to develop, but the forward’s clan knows there’s interest in his services.

Salavat Yulaev isn’t necessarily a powerhouse (the club is often a little above mid-table), but we’re still talking about a fine team that relies on, among others, guys like Josh Ho-Sang, Nikolai Kulemin, Viktor Antipin and Ryan Murphy.

And this lunchtime, we learn that Galchenyuk has just joined a Russian-accredited player agency. We’re talking about the Winners Hockey Agency.

This doesn’t change the fact that he’s represented by Pat Brisson in North America, but since Brisson isn’t accredited in Russia, Galchenyuk has gone to a Russian agency to open doors for himself.

And it didn’t take long: his new agent has already confirmed that he’s looking at KHL options.

The Winners Hockey Agency is a major agency in Russia. It represents Alexander Radulov, Ilya Kovalchuk, Marat Khusnutdinov, Nikita Gusev and Stéphane Da Costa, among others, who are all big names in the KHL.

Often, when a North American player calls on their services, it’s because he’s planning to move to Russia soon.

So this will be a situation to keep an eye on, especially as he may have to spend quite a bit of time in Scottsdale this year as he goes through the courts. That said, if the opportunity arises for him to play in Russia, expect him to take it.

To be continued in the coming weeks.

Breaking news

– Great reading.

– The picture is now complete in the QMJHL.

– Well deserved.

TENNIS |📈📈https://t.co/XFLFG2RGAE

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) July 24, 2023