According to a couple of rumors appearing out of Russia, first reported by Semyon Galkevich of rsport.ru, and then by Igor Eronko of Sport-Express, Valeri Nichushkin has signed a two-year deal with CSKA Moscow of the KHL.
According to @galkevich32 Valeri Nichushkin is set to sign 2-year deal with #CSKA of the #KHL. CSKA has just acquired rights for him #Stars
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) September 19, 2016
Earlier today, CSKA allegedly secured Nichushkin’s KHL rights buying them off from Dynamo Moscow.
According to Eronko, Nichushkin does not want to play under Stars head coach Lindy Ruff, but still wants to return to Dallas and play in the NHL. Ruff has two years remaining on his current contract.
During a short talk with Russian sport agency championat.ru, Nichushkin’s agent Mark Gandler refused to comment the rumors, adding that the situation with the Stars hasn’t changed and that he is going to talk about it only when a contract with any club will be signed.
Running in opposition to the reports out of Russia, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Nichushkin’s agent says “nothing is done and all options remain open.”
It’s not the first time that Nichushkin has been rumored to sign in Russia. Earlier this month, his former KHL team Traktor Chelyabinsk said they were negotiating with him, but without having a true chance to ink the player due to lack of finances.
UPDATE:
Now, word the Nichushkin signing to CSKA Moscow will indeed occur. Nothing official yet, but going down that road.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) 19 settembre 2016
