Tolvanen returns to Helsinki, Rubtsov moves back home. Top transfers
Eeli Tolvanen rejoins Jokerit, German Rubtsov signs with HC Sochi, and Dinamo Riga signs a Canadian defenseman. KHL.ru presents the best moves of the last week.
Eeli Tolvanen
From Milwaukee Admirals to Jokerit Helsinki
Jokerit’s fans can celebrate — Eeli Tolvanen is back at the Hartwall Arena. Everyone still remembers how the then 18-years-old took the KHL by the storm and scored an impressive 25 goals in his rookie season. That year, he also represented Finland at the 2018 Olympic Games and got his feet wet in the NHL. He then had two okay seasons in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals. Still, considering the uncertainty that is arising around the upcoming 2020-2021 season in North America, both parties probably thought that it would have been better for Tolvanen to spend an extra season in Europe. In Helsinki, Tolvanen will have a chance to hone his skills further and maybe have a long playoff run with the Finnish franchise.
Saveli Olshansky, Igor Velichkin, Artur Boltanov
to Traktor
Yuri Sergiyenko
to Amur
The KHL has seen many trades this summer, and it isn’t over yet. Khabarovsk packed three players and sent them to Chelyabinsk in exchange for Yuri Sergiyenko. The Kazakhstan native blueliner has a long experience in the KHL, with almost 250 games played, and will undoubtedly help the Tigers next year.
For Traktor, the most exciting new piece is defenseman Saveli Olshansky. The young blueliner looked very promising a couple of years ago; then his progress has stalled a bit. In Chelyabinsk, he will have a fantastic chance to show his best qualities and return to his previous level.
By the way, Igor Velichkin, who returns to Chelyabinsk after five seasons, scored the first-ever goal in the KHL for Traktor in 2008.
Reece Scarlett
From Texas Stars to Dinamo Riga
The Latvian franchise is keeping on building its roster, and after announcing several new players in the latest few weeks, this time announced the signing of D-man Reece Scarlett. The 27-years-old Canadian has never played in the NHL but amassed an impressive experience of more than 350 games in the AHL.
Signing Scarlett, Riga will receive a competent defenseman who will be an excellent candidate to complete the team’s top-4 with Mat Maione, Morgan Ellis, and Ondrej Vitasek. Will Riga be able to return to the playoffs with such a strong core of players?
German Rubtsov
From Lehigh Valley Phantoms to HC Sochi
It’s always a pity when a talent doesn’t succeed due to injuries. A trickle of injuries consistently limited Rubtsov’s games in the latest three seasons, and the young center was unable to show his full potential. Similarly to Tolvanen’s case, playing in his home country, German Rubtsov will have a chance to keep on developing at his own pace in a friendly environment. Most recently, Rubtsov played 15 games in the KHL in the 2016-2017 season.
Ivan Kosorenkov
From the Orlando Bears to SKA
After playing for the Team Russia U18 in 2015-2016, and a couple of good seasons in the QMJHL, Ivan Kosorenkov fallen off the map.
Last year, his exposure was limited to nine games with the Orlando Bears of the ECHL. Kosorenkov returned home this summer and signed with SKA. The St. Petersburg franchise has a good record with developing young players, and Kosorenkov is certainly hoping that the move will pay off. Most likely, the 22-years-old forward will start the season with SKA-Neva in the VHL.
