Rumor: Another Russian to leave the NHL for the KHL?

The Vadim Shipachyov saga with the Vegas Golden Knights marked an interesting point in the history of Russian players in the NHL. 

The Russian forward, who voluntarily retired from the NHL and subsequently signed in the KHL, had a few choice words about his time in North America.

The main quote that stuck out from his interview was the following.

“Now I know that Russian players should think 10 times before leaving for abroad, it’s different from what the clubs and agents tell you.”

The narrative will become a bit more interesting in the coming days, as Toronto Maple Leafs have a NHL-calibre Russian sitting in the AHL in Nikita Soshnikov.

As his contract stipulates, if he isn't recalled by Tuesday, he can head back home.

“Maple Leafs fans are well-aware of this situation: Nikita Soshnikov, on Tuesday, if he’s not in the NHL he has the right to go back overseas,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on Saturday night.

Soshnikov was signed as a free agent out of the KHL in 2015, and has since played 67 games for the Leafs. 

He started the season in the AHL, putting up 12 points in 14 games, showing that he has what it takes to compete at the NHL level. 

While the conditions aren't the same as Shipachyov's, the player may have set a precedent for Russian players in North America - that'll become a little more true if Soshnikov defects back to the KHL. It can truly give pause to future Russian players thinking about crossing over.

He played 56 games for the Leafs in 2016-17.