Sven Andrighetto Signs In KHL

Though it had been rumored for some time, confirmation came today that Sven Andrighetto will in fact play in the KHL next season. Andrighetto’s agent Aljosa Pilko announced as much today, though it took some additional reporting from Igor Eronko of Sport-Express to find out the veteran forward has signed a two-year deal with Avangard Omsk.

Andrighetto, 26, has played parts of the last three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, recording 17 points in 64 games during the most recent one. The team has brought in several new faces up front in Andre Burakovsky, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Joonas Donskoi and Nazem Kadri, a plan that may have facilitated his departure from the team as a free agent. The team decided not to issue him a qualifying offer last month given it would have cost them at least $1.55MM.

A dynamic offensive player in the minor leagues, Andrighetto has never quite been able to establish himself in that way at the highest level. Though there is obviously scoring to be found there, his minutes were limited by the Avalanche and with them his effectiveness. That offensive ceiling will likely bring him success in the KHL, and could even bring about a return to the NHL in a few years. Since he is just 26, there is still more than enough time for him to earn another contract if he decides to try to come back. If not, he leaves with 84 points in 227 career NHL games.