KHL Notes: Andrighetto, Mamin, Ozhiganov

Despite still being in the NHL playoffs with the Colorado Avalanche, Sven Andrighetto has been linked to a different team for the 2019-20 season. A report from Sport-Express has Andrighetto expected to join Avangard Omsk next season in the KHL, after his current contract with the Avalanche expires this summer. Obviously nothing is official yet given that he won’t become a restricted free agent until July 1st, meaning there’s no guarantee he ends up overseas. In fact, AJ Haefele of BSN Denver asked the forward about it and he said he hasn’t had any conversations about next year with his agent yet.

Andrighetto hasn’t played since the first round against Calgary, but actually might draw back into the lineup tonight given his early departure from the morning skate. Still the 26-year old Andrighetto has seen his role with the Avalanche diminish greatly, averaging fewer than ten minutes of ice time since the beginning of March. He played 64 games this season for the Avalanche and is scheduled to be an arbitration-eligible RFA this summer for the final time. His current contract carries a $1.4MM cap hit.

• Igor Eronko of Sport-Express is reporting that Maxim Mamin has signed a two-year extension with CSKA Moscow, where he spent the second half of this season. Mamin was loaned to the KHL club in late November and played 25 games with them during the regular season. The 24-year old forward is a restricted free agent this summer and can sign anywhere, though the Florida Panthers will retain his exclusive rights if they issue him a qualifying offer. Mamin has four points in 33 career NHL games.
• There has been speculation that Igor Ozhiganov could return to the KHL this season after seeing his role on the Toronto Maple Leafs effectively terminated this season after the arrival of Jake Muzzin, and Sport-Express is now reporting that the defenseman’s KHL rights have been transferred to Ak Bars in exchange for former NHL player Jiri Sekac. That lends some credence to the idea that Ozhiganov is on his way home, but like Mamin the Maple Leafs could retain his rights (at least temporarily) by issuing him a qualifying offer.