Wolski back with Keenan; Vishnevsky back in action – June 24 – 30 Transfers

The last week of June saw a flurry of activity on the transfer market as several clubs tried to fill their rosters before heading off to preseason camp.

Severstal has handed a tryout contract to Russian international defenseman Vitaly Vishnevsky. The 37-year-old won World Championship gold in 2009, and is a veteran of eight seasons in the NHL (with the Mighty Ducks, Thrashers, Predators, and Devils – total stats: 592 games, 16 goals, 57 assists) and seven campaigns in the KHL (with Lokomotiv and SKA: 444 games, 29 goals, 69 assists) but has not played competitive hockey since the 2014-15 playoffs.

The Cherepovets club also agreed a two-year deal with another man of experience, defenseman Konstantin Korneyev. The 33-year-old has played in every season of the KHL in spells with Salavat Yulaev, Ak Bars and CSKA, won the old Russian Championship with the Kazan club in 2005-06, and twice won World Championship gold with the Russian national team, in 2008 and with Vishnevsky in 2009.

Kunlun Red Star has enlisted Polish international forward Wojtek Wolski on a two-year contract. The 31-year-old, who amassed 480 games and 284 (107+177) points in the NHL in spells with the Avalanche, Coyotes, Rangers, Panthers and Capitals, and won the Gagarin Cup in 2015-16 with Metallurg, will be re-united with head coach Mike Keenan, the man who brought him to Magnitogorsk.

Kunlun also signed 27-year-old defenseman Evgeny Rybnitsky, formerly of Neftekhimik, Avtomobilist and Amur, for one year; and 26-year-old forward Ethan Werek, from the Texas Stars of the AHL. He has represented Canada at junior level, but also has Chinese ancestry.

Former Traktor, Spartak, Amur, Avangard, Donbass and Torpedo defenseman Oleg Piganovich has joined Neftekhimik. The 32-year-old has agreed a one-year deal.

The Nizhnekamsk club also recruited defenseman Alexei Volgin, 27, who has spent most of his 10-year-career with Lada Togliatti, on a tryout contract.

Russian international defenseman Vladislav Gavrilov has moved from Lokomotiv to SKA Saint Petersburg in exchange for financial compensation.

Torpedo has granted a tryout contract to former Russia U20 international defenseman Viktor Baldayev. Viktor is still only 22, but has already seen KHL action for Atlant and Spartak, had spells in the QMJHL with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and Chicoutimi Saguenéens, and spent part of last season in the Czech Republic playing for HC Karlovy Vary.

Spartak has paid financial compensation to SKA Saint Petersburg in order to bring 21-year-old defenseman Dmitry Yudin to Moscow.

Avangard has signed 20-year-old forward Dmitry Zhugenov, who spent the past two seasons with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the QMJHL.

Dinamo Minsk has given a tryout contract to 23-year-old forward Yegor Voronov, once of the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies U18s.

20-year-old forward Artur Tyanulin, who has spent the last two seasons in the OHL with the Ottawa 67's, has returned to his home-town club, Ak Bars Kazan, on a tryout contract.