Latest update: The pendulum swings back in favor of Valeri Nichushkin signing with CSKA Moscow of the KHL, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Nothing is official yet, however.
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The Valeri Nichushkin saga in Dallas could be over soon -- and not with the ending the Stars or GM Jim Nill hoped for.
Nichushkin, a still-unsigned RFA, had his KHL rights acquired by league powerhouse CSKA Moscow on Monday, per Sport-Express.
Not long after that news broke, various reports (including the original from R-Sport) claimed that Nichuskin was working on a two-year pact with CSKA.
The contract term is interesting, in light of this:
Per source Nichushkin doesn't want to play for Lindy Ruff. Although he wants to return to #Stars someday.Ruff's contract is for 2 more years
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) September 19, 2016
The rift between Ruff and Nichushkin is well-documented.
Nichushkin, the 10th overall pick in 2013, showed well as a rookie, scoring 14 goals and 34 points in 79 games, but his sophomore campaign was a nightmare -- he missed nearly the entire season with a hip injury and subsequent surgery, and only appeared in eight contests.
Last year, he struggled.
And Ruff wasn’t exactly all warm and cuddly about it.
In fact, the veteran bench boss sent a message right at the start of the season, making Nichushkin a healthy scratch while adding the 21-year-old needed to “get his head in the right place.”
In late March, an interview with with Russian news outlet Sport-Express made waves, as Nichuskin said he didn’t feel Ruff trusted him, or played him enough.
Not long after, Nichuskin’s agent tried to clear the air.
“Val loves it in Dallas,” Mark Gandler told the Morning News. “He’s very happy there.”
Maybe not that happy.
Update:
Gandler denied a deal with CSKA has been reached, per Sportsnet, but didn’t rule out his client going to the KHL.
Related:
Despite erratic year, Stars say Nichushkin still ‘very important player to us’