Vancouver Canucks Top Free Agent Target Suddenly Departs North America After Signing One-Year Contract
Photo credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
A Vancouver Canucks free agent target has decided to leave North America for the 2025-26 season after not receiving any solid offers to remain in the NHL.
Vancouver Canucks General Manager took a long, hard look at the National Hockey League's free agent market to see which players he thought would be a good fit for his club.
Among the names that Patrik Allvin was able to sign this summer include former first round pick Pierre-Olivier Joseph and former Stanley Cup champion Mackenzie MacEachern, who was called up to the club last week amid their ongoing injury issues.
There were several other players that Patrik Allvin had his eye on as well, one of whom remained unsigned as the 2025-26 season began and is now taking his talents overseas to Europe.
Vancouver Canucks free agent target leaves North America for 2025-26 season
A few weeks before training camp began, many were wondering if the Vancouver Canucks were going to bring any players in on professional tryouts to help create a more competitive environment and potentially push for an opening night roster spot.
One of the names that was suggested as a potential target was former first round pick Klim Kostin, who spent parts of the last two seasons with the San Jose Sharks.
"As one of the bottom feeders in the league, the Sharks even struggled to find a consistent roster spot for Kostin. However, he's proven he can be a power forward in the NHL, and should be on the Canucks radar if they end up dipping into the PTO pool." Tyson Cole of Canucks Army said in early September.
On Monday morning, KHL club Avangard Omsk, who Kostin won the Gagarin Cup with during the 2020-21 season, announced that they're bringing the 26-year-old centerman back for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.
Note: the following is translated from Russian
"We are happy to have Klim back with Avangard. Obviously, a lot of time has passed since our initial offer, so we needed to renegotiate all the terms. Kostin is familiar with the demands of North American coaches, has a successful KHL experience, and can play in any situation. He will have his first practice today and will go to the Far East road trip with the team." GM Alexei Sopin said.
"We are happy to have Klim back with Avangard. Obviously, a lot of time has passed since our initial offer, so we needed to renegotiate all the terms. Kostin is familiar with the demands of North American coaches, has a successful KHL experience, and can play in any situation. He will have his first practice today and will go to the Far East road trip with the team." GM Alexei Sopin said.
Kostin, a native of Penza, Russia, brings 190 games of NHL experience to the KHL club after suiting up with the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks.
If Kostin has a strong 2025-26 campaign in Omsk, perhaps we'll see NHL club show interest in bringing him back to North America next summer, possibly even the Vancouver Canucks, but we'll have to wait and see what his production looks like when their season ends in the spring.
Source: Avangard Omsk.
Klim Kostin joins Avangard
Klim Kostin joins Avangard
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