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Stars signs 2013 first-round pick Nichushkin

Nichushkingetty

The Dallas Stars didn’t waste any time in signing 18-year-old forward Valeri Nichushkin to an entry-level contract.

Dallas grabbed him with the 10th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

He got some playing time in the KHL last season and won the 2012-13 Aleksei Cherepanov Award as the league’s top rookie.

“Valeri is a skilled and competitive forward who we feel was at the top of the talent pool in this season’s NHL Draft,” said Stars GM Jim Nill, according to the team’s website. “He spent the last season playing against men in a very strong league and we feel that he can come in and immediately compete for a job at the NHL level.”

Nichushkin has made it clear that he wants to play in the NHL next season. However, he’s expected to return to the KHL over the AHL if he fails to make the team.

Related:

Get to know a draft pick — Valeri Nichushkin