Ak Bars has signed Montreal Canadiens defenseman and longtime alternate captain Andrei Markov. The 38-year-old, whose resume includes 1,079 NHL appearances (124 goals, 480 assists) for Montreal, a World Championship gold in 2008, and lest we forget, a previous stint in the KHL with Vityaz during the 2012-13 lockout, has signed up for two seasons in Kazan.

Dinamo Minsk has recruited Canadian forward Justin Fontaine on a one-year contract, The 29-year-old, formerly of the Minnesota Wild (NHL totals: 216 games, 29 goals, 43 assists from 2013-16), spent last season in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Bakersfield Condors. He joins his compatriot, the former Sabres, Canucks, Hurricanes, and Devils defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani, 30, who has agreed to extend his contract with the Minsk club for another year.

Slovan has signed ex-Florida Panthers forward and Czech international Michal Repik, 28, on a one-year deal. He is joined by Slovakian international defenseman Lukas Kozak, 25, who has returned to Slovan on a tryout contract after a year away which included a spell at Medvescak.