Leivo lands in Omsk, Moscow teams load up. Top transfers
In the second wave of offseason signings, Avangard strengthened its forward group with Joshua Leivo from Traktor, while HC Sochi added Spencer Foo and Colby Williams, and Dynamo Moscow secured Nick Merkley from the Shanghai Dragons.
Alex Cotton
From Lada to CSKA
One of the KHL’s most productive rookie defensemen last season, Cotton arrives at CSKA after a successful debut campaign in Russia. The 24-year-old Canadian recorded 25 (4+21) points in 63 games for Lada, finishing among the league’s top-scoring defensemen outside the playoff teams and quickly establishing himself as a key figure on the power play.
A right-shot blueliner with strong offensive instincts, Cotton is known for his puck-moving ability, vision, and willingness to join the attack. Before coming to the KHL, he produced impressive numbers in Finland and Slovakia, including a 50-point season with HK Nitra. At CSKA, expectations will be significantly higher, but the Muscovites are getting a defenseman entering his prime years who has already shown he can adapt quickly to the league and contribute at both ends of the ice.
Spencer Foo and Colby Williams
From Shanghai Dragons and Lada to HC Sochi
Sochi added two experienced Canadians who should immediately become important pieces of the lineup. Foo was among the Dragons’ key forwards in 2025-2026, recording 20 (11+9) points in 59 regular-season games serving as the team’s captain. Across six KHL seasons, Foo has accumulated more than 300 games and over 150 points, making him one of the league’s most established import forwards.
Williams arrives after splitting last season between Lada and CSKA. The defenseman will enter his fifth season in the league, and this signing gives Sochi a proven top-four defenseman capable of contributing at both ends of the ice.
Nick Merkley
From Shanghai Dragons to Dynamo Moscow
Nick Merkley joins Dynamo Moscow after a standout season with the Dragons, where he finished as the team’s leading scorer. The Canadian forward produced 45 (24+21) points in 68 regular-season games, leading the club in both goals and total points.
Merkley was the Dragons’ offensive centerpiece throughout the campaign, regularly logging top-six minutes and playing a key role on the power play. His combination of finishing ability and playmaking made him the most productive forward on the roster, and his 24 goals also set a new benchmark for the club in a single regular season. At Dynamo, Merkley arrives as a proven KHL scorer entering his prime, expected to bring immediate offensive impact and strengthen the team’s top-six forward group. He has four KHL seasons under his belt, with stints also with Dinamo Minsk and Avtomobilist.
Jordan Gross
From Traktor to Avtomobilist
Jordan Gross has signed a two-year contract with Avtomobilist after spending the last two seasons in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk and Traktor. The American defenseman became a key offensive driver from the blue line in Chelyabinsk, consistently playing heavy minutes and contributing in all situations.
During the 2025–26 season, Gross recorded 35 (8+27) points in 64 regular-season games, ranking among Traktor’s most productive defensemen. Over his two-year KHL stint, he established himself as one of the league’s more reliable puck-moving blueliners, combining strong skating with effective power-play production.
Joshua Leivo
From Traktor to Avangard
Joshua Leivo joins Avangard after a one-year stint with Traktor. In the 2024–2025 regular season, with Salavat Yulaev, he recorded 49 goals and 80 points in 62 games, breaking the KHL record for most goals in a single regular season and surpassing Sergei Mozyakin’s long-standing mark. He also became the league’s MVP (Golden Stick winner) and was named to the KHL All-Star Team as a forward.
Across his KHL career, he has consistently ranked among the league’s top offensive forwards, combining elite finishing ability with high-volume shot production. The Hawks are adding a proven record-holder and MVP-level scorer who arrives with one of the most productive individual seasons the league has ever seen.
