The New York Islanders reportedly have brought in defensive prospect Artyom Kudashov on a professional tryout agreement according to Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News. Kudashov, 19, will attend the Islanders’ rookie and training camp over the next several weeks hoping to earn a contract.
Kudashov will be the second player poached by the Islanders this summer from the KHL if he signs a contract joining Maxim Tsyplakov who signed his entry-level deal in May. He doesn’t carry the same pedigree as Tsyplakov so he must earn his spot on the team before New York offers him a contract.
It won’t be the first time he’s skated with an NHL team as the undrafted Russian skated with the Philadelphia Flyers during their summer camp. According to Rosner, the Islanders took an interest then and followed him back overseas while he started the 2024-25 KHL season with Dynamo Moskva.
He spent much of last year with Dynamo’s MHL team scoring five goals and eight points in 21 games. His time in the KHL wasn’t as fruitful with Kudashov failing to put up any points in 25 contests. He considers himself a two-way defenseman but leans much heavier into the defensive side — something New York could use at all levels of their organization.
Artyom is excited about an NHL opportunity after watching his father, Alexei Kudashov, play 25 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1993-94 season. Given that New York could use two-way depth on defense, Kudashov should have every opportunity to earn himself a two-way contract out of camp.
It’s rather miraculous that Artyom watched his father play in 1993-94 given that he wasn’t born until 2005.
“After watching VIDEO of his dad”* we can confidently assume is what he means.
He watched video of 25 games from 30 years ago? I don’t think we can confidently assume that at all. Just sloppy writing.