Stanislav Galiev

The writing has been on the wall all season for Stanislav Galiev, who couldn’t make the Washington Capitals out of training camp once again and was expected to be moved at the trade deadline. Today in his exit interview, Galiev told Kyle Mace of Chocolate Hockey—a website dedicated to the Hershey Bears—that he will be trying “something different” next year. Because of the combination of being at least 25, with three professional seasons but less than 80 NHL games, Galiev is a Group VI free agent this summer and able to sign with anyone in the league.

Galiev was a third-round pick of the Capitals in 2010, and progressed nicely during the next season before a wrist injury in NHL training camp robbed him of most of his age-19 season. He did end up dominating in the QMJHL playoffs after returning, leading the Saint John Sea Dogs to a Memorial Cup in 2012, but spent much of the next season in the ECHL. He’s since worked his way to the cusp of an NHL role, but has seen the press box and trainer’s table more times than the ice over the past few seasons. In 56 AHL games this year, he scored 40 points and showed that he still has offensive ability but it will have to be explored somewhere else.

The 25-year old has been in North America for nearly a decade, but there is always the chance that he could return to Russia and play in the KHL. That said, the Russian teams won’t be without competition around the league with teams hoping they can find a diamond in a player that once looked like a promising scoring winger. He has the skill to compete at whatever level he wants, but there does seem to be a lack of consistent effort at times.