Shanghai Dragons at full strength, Leivo joins Traktor. Top transfers

Big moves across the KHL as Barys finds its goalie, Traktor lands last season’s MVP, Lokomotiv secures Gernat, and the Dragons unveil a new-look roster. KHL.ru presents the best international transfers for the last week.

Olivier Rodrigue

From Bakersfield Condors to Barys

The Astana franchise found its starting netminder in Quebec born Olivier Rodrigue, who will most likely enjoy much action at the beginning of the season, with Nikita Boyarkin and Andrei Shutov possibly out for injuries from last year. The son of a former pro goalie with seasons in North America and France, Rodrigue will be at his second stint outside of his country after 23 games in Austria with Graz in 2020-2021. The 25-year-old netminder had his debut with the Oilers last term, but failed to make the team on a consistent basis. On the international stage, Rodrigue represented Canada at the U18 and U20 level.

Joshua Leivo

From Salavat Yulaev to Traktor

When last year’s top sniper was left free from Salavat Yulaev, Traktor jumped on the chance and signed him to a one-year deal. In the 2024-2025 campaign, broke Sergei Mozyakin’s record for most goals scored in a single KHL regular season, netting 49 times. The forward recorded four hat tricks during the season, setting another league record in that category — and needed only 26 days to achieve it. With 80 points, Joshua set the all-time regular-season record among international players and was named the KHL regular season’s Most Valuable Player. Now he’ll bring his offensive talent to contending Traktor, who will be looking to make a further jump ahead.

Martin Gernat

New contract with Lokomotiv

The reigning champion is now even stronger as the team managed to retain one of its leading defensive players – Slovak international Martin Gernat. The Kosice native will enter his third KHL season and will be called to his usual job at both ends of the ice. One of the premiere d-men in the league, Gernat has an impressive resume, plenty of KHL experience, and excellent physical prowess. His new contract with the Railwaymen is a great deal for the Yaroslavl franchise, who can count on another high-level player on a strong roster, capable of lifting the Cup last season.

Barys’ other signings

Other than Rodrigue, the Kazakhstan franchise made several acquisitions lately, most of them on the international market. Perhaps, the most resonant name is Reilly Walsh. The blueliner had a strong collegiate career with Harvard, then was a solid point producer in the AHL with the Utica Comets, the Providence Bruins, and the Ontario Reign. The Massachusetts native has more than 300 games in the AHL, with 168 career points. One of Walsh’s teammates with the Utica Comets was forward Tyce Thompson, who also signed with Barys this week. Both players come from serious hockey blood lines, with Thompson also inking a one-year deal in Astana. Another strong signing by Barys is defensive blueliner Jake Massie, who is expected to add solidity and size to the team’s defensive lineup.

Shanghai Dragons

After announcing Gerard Galant as the team’s new head coach, the Chinese franchise recently named several players who will make the roster for the upcoming 2025-2026 campaign. Some of them are already known to KHL fans, like Ryan Spooner, Nick Merkley, or Borna Rendulic. Spooner, 33, posted 31 assists with Avangard last year, and is expected to play significant ice time for the Dragons. Merkley is, instead, expected to bounce back after a disappointing 2024-2025 campaign with Avtomobilist, where he only produced eleven goals and 20 points for the Motormen. Rendulic follows a similar path, with only three combined goals for SKA and Metallurg last term as the Croat will enter his fifth season in the league. With Patrik Rybar returning between the piping, the Dragons’ defense will be highlighted by, among the others, Jeremy Groleau and returnees Joseph Duszak and Adam Clendening.

In the offensive zone, hope will be on Gage Quinney, the Foo brothers, and Riley Sutter – another player who will join the KHL from the Hershey Bears and a member of the Sutter dynasty. It will be an interesting season for the Dragons, who are yet to play any preseason game.