CSKA sign big, Kempfer and Jurco return
CSKA signs six Russian players from North America, while Kempfer returns to the KHL signing with Traktor. Spartak strengthens up with Will Bitten. KHL.ru presents the best transfers from the last few weeks as the preseason is now starting.
Yegor Afanasyev, Ruslan Iskhakov, Nikita Okhotyuk, Denis Guryanov, Dmitry Samorukov, Ivan Prosvetov
Sign with CSKA Moscow
The Muscovites made a statement in early August signing six Russian players from North America as they will try to return to the Gagarin Cup finals with their new head coach, Ilya Vorobyov. Most of the newly signed players have experience in both the NHL and the KHL, excluding Ivan Prosvetov, who lined up for overseas teams since 2015, and Ruslan Iskhakov, who spent a season each in Finland and Germany before spending two seasons within the New York Islanders system. It’s expected that Guryanov and Okhotyuk will be very busy this season, with Samorukov adding size and experience to the defensive lineup and Afanasyev and Iskhakov adding technique and unpredictability to the team’s offensive plays. CSKA lost some significant players in this offseason, but these signings will most likely be among the best in the offseason.
Michael McLeod
From New Jersey Devils to Barys
The Kazakhs signed another high-profile player from the North American market in Michael McLeod. The forward, 26, had a notable 2023-2024 season with the New Jersey Devils, recording 10 goals and 9 assists in 45 games. His career in the NHL includes 287 regular-season games, where he amassed 29 goals, 56 assists, and 85 points. He was a first-round pick in the 2016 draft. He represented Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the IIHF U18 World Championship, and two World Junior Championships, winning a gold medal in 2018. In the 2022-2023 season, he set a career-high with 26 points in 80 games and scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. Joining Barys, McLeod brings a combination of speed, agility, and defensive prowess. His experience in the NHL and on the international stage will be critical to the team.
Steven Kampfer
From Tucson Roadrunners to Traktor
The defenseman is back to the KHL after inking a one-year deal with Traktor. Kampfer, 35, had a solid 2023-2024 season with the Tucson Roadrunners in the AHL, recording 3 goals and 22 points in 45 games. His extensive North American career includes 231 NHL games, where he tallied 39 points, and 378 AHL games, amassing 170 points. He also represented Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics, serving as an assistant captain and recording 4 points in 4 games. This is not Kampfer’s first stint in the KHL. He previously played for Ak Bars Kazan during the 2021-2022 season, where he recorded 11 goals and 19 assists in 46 games.
Nic Petan
From Hartford Wolf Pack to Ak Bars
After losing several high-profile players, Ak Bars is back to the transfer market, announcing the signature of Canadian forward Petan. The British Columbia native had an impressive 2023-2024 season, recording 15 goals and 48 points in 59 AHL games split between the Iowa Wild and Hartford Wolf Pack. He also contributed two assists in six NHL games with the Minnesota Wild.
Petan – whose brother is also a professional player active in the top-flight Austrian league – has been a consistent performer in the AHL amassing 289 points in 296 games. He was an AHL All-Star in the 2023-2024 season and has represented Canada at the international level, winning gold at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and the 2015 World Junior Championship in Toronto and Montreal. Petan is expected to slot into the top line center position for Ak Bars.
Danny O’Reagan
From Modo Hockey (SHL) to Kunlun Red Star
The American forward with a German passport has signed a one-year contract with Kunlun Red Star, who is assembling a good roster for the upcoming season. Born in Berlin, O’Reagan had a solid 2022-2023 season, recording 17 goals and 48 points in 64 AHL games split between San Diego and Grand Rapids. In the 2023-2024 campaign, he had 12 points for MoDo Hockey in the Swedish top league.
In the AHL, O’Reagan showcased his skills with 58 points in his rookie season and earning the AHL Red Garret Memorial Award for the best debut, in 2017. O’Regan also played for Boston University, where he scored 66 goals and added 88 assists for an impressive 154 points in 154 games. O’Reagan’s skills and experience will be key for the Dragons as the 2023-2024 campaign approaches.
Tomas Jurco
From Avangard to Kunlun Red Star
Following O’Reagan, the Dragons have announced another strong signing with the return of Tomas Jurco. The skilled Slovakian winger has inked a one-year deal with the Dragons, marking his second sting with the Chinese franchise after the 2022-2023 campaign. Jurco recorded 21 points in 33 regular season games with Avangard, with five points in 12 postseason matches. Internationally, the forward has represented Slovakia at multiple World Championships and two Winter Olympics, returning home with a bronze medal in 2022. His familiarity with the KHL and his previous experience with the Dragons will help him quickly integrate and make an impact on the ice right away.
Will Bitten
From Springfield Thunderbirds to Spartak
Spartak added another international player to its lineup signing the American forward Will Bitten. The versatile player, who can play in the middle and on the flanks, had a solid 2023-2024 season with the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL, recording 33 points in 68 games. His versatility and speed make him a valuable addition to Spartak’s roster, who can already count on the international experience of Patrik Rybar, Michal Cajkovsky, Shane Prince, and Adam Ruzicka. Bitten was a finalist in the 2022 Calder Cup, when he played side to side with Dinamo Minsk’s Sam Anas, among the others.
