First offseason signings
KHL.ru presents the top transfers in these first days of free agency. Avangard was especially active on the market, with two bold signings.
Linden Vey
From Adler Mannheim (Germany) to Avangard
The veteran Canadian forward, who will soon turn 33, has already spent several seasons in the league, lining up for Barys (twice), CSKA, and SKA – he also lifted the Cup with the Muscovites back in 2019. With this move, the Hawks guaranteed them a solid option as the center for the top line after another Canadian, Ryan Spooner, left the team. Most recently, Vey has played in the German DEL, with the Adler Mannheim. With the Eagles, the forward posted 31 assists and 39 points in 38 regular-season games, adding seven helpers in as many elimination stage’s games. Vey will be called to feed Reid Boucher in the next season as the American forward will try to improve his impressive 53-goal campaign.
Yegor Korshkov
From Amur to Ak Bars
The towering forward managed to rejuvenate his career after moving from Lokomotiv to the Far East, becoming a top scorer for the Tigers and helping Amur reaching the playoffs, where they lost to the eventual champion, Metallurg, with a 2-4 score. It was a good season for both the team and Korshkov, who hit the free agent market and got fully advantage signing a two-year deal in Kazan. Ak Bars will try to strengthen its roster after a disappointing 2023-2024 season, and signing Korshkov is an excellent first step.
Darren Dietz
From CSKA to Avangard
Following Vey, the Hawks have announced another veteran addition to their lineup in Darren Dietz. The Canadian-born defenseman will enter his eighth season in the league, having lined up before with Barys and CSKA – he has already played with Linden Vey in Astana. In Omsk, Dietz will likely spend time on the man advantage and will add experience and strong two-way play to the Avangard’s lineup. And some good tales about how it was netting the Gagarin Cup clinching goal in 2023 with CSKA.
Andrei Mironov
From Dynamo Moscow to Spartak
One of the main sensations so far was Andrei Mironov’s transfer from Dynamo to Spartak. Transfers between these teams are not so rare, but Mironov’s case is special. He was Dynamo’s captain for two seasons. Spartak already has former Dynamo players Dmitry Vishnevsky, Michal Cajkovsky, and Yegor Zaitsev on its roster, so the defense will be more than halfway rooted with the Blue-and-Whites. And that without counting that head coach Alexei Zhamnov is a product of the Dynamo Moscow school himself.
Jean-Sebastien Dea
New contract with Neftekhimik
The Quebecoise forward moved to Neftekhimik midway through the 2023-2024 campaign, after a rocky start with Metallurg, with 6 (3+3) points in 18 games. In Nizhnekamsk, Dea found his groove, and had a much more prominent role, with a consequent improvement in his numbers. With the Wolves, the forward had 11 (7+4) points in 27 games, and impressed the staff enough to guarantee a new contract with the Tatarstan team, which will try to return to playing playoffs hockey.
