Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

So long: Viktor Tikhonov leaves NHL for KHL once again

Minnesota Wild v Arizona Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 11: Viktor Tikhonov #9 of the Arizona Coyotes skates up to a face off during the first period of the NHL game against the Minnesota Wild at Gila River Arena on December 11, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Viktor Tikhonov returned to the NHL in 2015-16, but it apparently wasn’t meant to be a long stay.

The 28-year-old forward is headed back to SKA in the KHL, as the team announced. Specific contract details are currently unclear.

Tikhonov first left the Coyotes organization after the 2010-11 season, playing for SKA from 2011-12 to 2014-15.

He returned to the league first by playing 11 games for the Chicago Blackhawks before being claimed off of waivers by the Coyotes.

It’s easy to see why he didn’t drum up a lot of interest in the NHL this summer, hockey-famous last name and all. He only managed six points in 39 games with Arizona after failing to generate a single goal or assist in those 11 contests with Chicago.

As much of a treat as it is to see that last name - and for some of us, to grin at Herb Brooks lines from “Miracle” in the process - his return to the KHL seems predictable enough.