Former Vancouver Canucks Defenseman Signs New Contract Overseas for 2025-26 Season
Photo credit: Vancouver Canucks.
A former Vancouver Canucks defenseman has signed a new contract overseas for the upcoming 2025-26 season, which will be his third year outside of North America.
Throughout the offseason so far, we've seen a handful of former Vancouver Canucks leave North America to sign overseas in the KHL, among those being Daniel Sprong, who signed a one-year deal with CSKA Moscow, and goaltender Spencer Martin, who will also be suiting up for the same club, albeit on a two-year deal.
The KHL has been home to several former Vancouver Canucks over the years, including defenseman Adam Clendening, who left North America to play in Finland in 2023-24, before signing with Kunlun Red Star last summer.
With a little over two weeks to go until the KHL's 2025-26 campaign is set to begin, it looks like the former Canucks defenseman has found a "new" home.
Former Vancouver Canucks defenseman signs new contract overseas for 2025-26 season
All week, the Shanghai Dragons, formerly known as Kunlun Red Star prior to their relocation & rebrand, announced a slew signings as they prepare their roster for the upcoming season, which will be played in St. Petersburgh, Russia before hopefully heading to China permanently starting next year.
Among those signed by the club this week was defenseman Adam Clendening, who landed a one-year contract to remain in the KHL for a second consecutive season.
"Adam Clendening brings valuable NHL experience and plays an important role both defensively and on the power play. We consider him one of our leaders, and last season he showed he has the ability to guide his teammates on and off the ice." Dragons General Manager Igor Varitsky said.
Clendening isn't the only former Vancouver Canuck that has signed with the Dragons this summer, as forward Alexander Burmistrov was announced in the same press release as the blueliner, forward Ryan Spooner inked a one-year deal over the weekend and behind the bench, Mike Kelly was hired as an Assistant Coach on Gerard Gallant's staff.
Clendening, a native of Niagara Falls, New York, was a second round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011 and went on to appear in 90 games during his time in the National Hockey League, including 17 with the Vancouver Canucks during the 2014-15 campaign, when the club acquired him in exchange for prospect Gustav Forsling, who has gone on to win two Stanley Cups.
The 32-year-old and the rest of the Shanghai Dragons will open up the 2025-26 KHL season on Saturday, September 6th against SKA St. Petersburg.
Source: Shanghai Dragons
Welcome to the Dragons: Tikhomirov, Clendening, Burmistrov, Kuznetsov, Rendulic
Welcome to the Dragons: Tikhomirov, Clendening, Burmistrov, Kuznetsov, Rendulic
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