Blockbuster trade and artistic inspiration

Lokomotiv made the biggest headlines of the week with a stellar signing, while a power forward from Omsk highlighted his cultured side.

Radulov moves to Lokomotiv

This might be the first true blockbuster trade of the KHL summer. Alexander Radulov, still one of league’s most charismatic and effective players at the age of 37, is joining last season’s runner-up Lokomotiv. Radulov has 701 points through 631 games in a KHL career crowned by a 2011 Gagarin Cup win with Salavat Yulaev. He also has two World Championship golds and nine productive NHL seasons on his resume. After returning to Russia in 2022, he played the last two season with Ak Bars and compiled 111 points in 148 games including a run to the 2023 Gagarin Cup final.

Two for Torpedo

Radulov isn’t the only high-profile forward to leave Ak Bars this week. Dmitry Kagarlitsky is also on the move, joining Torpedo. Igor Larionov’s team also added 23-year-old forward Mikhail Abramov. The former CSKA prospect was drafted by the Leafs in 2019 but returns to Russia after failing to crack the NHL. Last season he had 36 (14+22) points in 59 AHL games with Springfield Thunderbirds.

Swedish champ signs for Traktor

Dylan Sikura is the latest import at Traktor. The 29-year-old winger spent last season with Skelleftea, contributing 35 points in 62 games to help secure a Swedish championship. Previously, he was on the bubble in the NHL, making 58 appearances through five seasons with Chicago, Vegas and Colorado. Sikura signed a one-year deal in Chelyabinsk.

Minsk acquires Canadian defense

Dinamo Minsk has added three import defensemen to the roster. Xavier Ouellet, French born, Quebec raised, is the elder statesman. Aged 30, he played NHL for Detroit and Montreal but has been in the AHL for the past three seasons before heading to Europe for the first time. Brady Lyle, 25, who never cracked the NHL despite time within the Bruins and Flames organizations, is also on his way across the Atlantic having previous had a handful of games on loan in Slovakia. And Josh Brook, 24, arrives after a season in Finland with Lukko.

Meet the fans

As part of the KHL’s efforts to bring the game closer to its fans, the league worked with Yandex Plus to set up a meet-and-greet with Metallurg captain Yegor Yakovlev in Gorky Park. The Gagarin Cup winner was not only available for autographs and photos, but also took questions from supporters in an impromptu press conference. So he fielded queries about his choice of playing number, his brightest childhood memories and his impressions of the recent championship parade through the streets of Magnitogorsk.

The art of hockey

Avangard power forward Mark Verba is perhaps better known for his physical play than his creativity. So it might come a surprise that one of his off-ice passions is fine art. During the off season, though, he’s often to be found browsing the galleries and a trip to St. Petersburg’s Hermitage was a highlight of this summer. On his Telegram, he discussed the merits of Rubens, Titian, Leonardo, Rafael, Breughel, Rembrandt and Kandinsky. It’s all about smashing stereotypes: “For years, there’s been this idea that we are bumpkins who can only talk about sticks and pucks. Partly I created these posts to debunk that stereotype and share something of what I enjoy.” While Verba admits that he doesn’t know much about art, he clearly knows what he likes!