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Report: Marchenko the latest to join Russian powerhouse CSKA

Detroit Red Wings v Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 07: Alexey Marchenko #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates during an NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings at Air Canada Centre on March 7, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

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Following yesterday’s news that d-man Alexey Marchenko was parting ways with Toronto, reports are now suggesting Marchenko will sign a three-year deal with KHL super club CSKA Moscow.

Marchenko, 25, joined the Maple Leafs last season after being claimed off waivers from Detroit, but didn’t get much of an opportunity. He appeared in just 11 games for the Leafs, none in the playoffs.

All told appeared in 41 contests last season, scoring one goal and adding six assists. That one goal came during his brief time with the Leafs.

Yesterday, agent Dan Millstein announced Marchenko had been waived, with The Athletic later confirming he was placed on unconditional waivers -- a move that would lead to the termination of his contract, and the freedom to sign elsewhere.

Enter CSKA.

The Moscow-based team is a KHL powerhouse, and has made several significant moves this offseason. Most recently, the club retained the services of Dallas forward Valeri Nichushkin, and signed former Habs d-man Nikita Nesterov and ex-Avs forward Mikhail Grigorenko.

The club also said that prized Minnesota prospect Kirill Kaprizov would remain with the team for the next three years.

CSKA also reportedly has an agreement in place with Colorado d-man Nikita Zadorov, should he fail to re-sign with the Avs. Oh yeah, Roman Lybimov also joined the team after a brief stint in Philly.

All these moves come after both the KHL and Russian hockey federation went vocal with their stated goal of keeping KHL players from leaving for North America and bringing NHL free agents back this summer, to prepare for and participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics.