Rumor: Vladislav Kamenev to leave Avalanche for the KHL

Reports out of Russia over the weekend suggest that Colorado Avalanche forward Vladislav Kamenev is expected to sign with SKA St. Peterburg to play in the KHL next season. The 24-year old is set to be a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the NHL playoffs.

The rumor is currently being denied by both Kamenev’s agent and the Avalanche. That said, all reports out of Russia indicate that the move is set to happen before the start of the 2020-21 season. It would make sense for the Avs to deny any defection until the conclusion of the season.

The signing comes after SKA traded for Kamenev’s rights from Metallurg Magnitogorsk this past June in exchange for Los Angeles Kings forward Nikolai Prokhorkin.

The rumored decision to go back to Russia makes a lot of sense given how the young forward had fallen down the depth chart for the Avalanche to the point that he wasn’t brought to Edmonton to be a part of the playoff roster.

After suffering through injury issues over the past few years, Kamenev was finally healthy this season but was unable to crack the Avalanche lineup on a regular basis - appearing in only 38 games an averaging a little under nine minutes of ice time a game.

Drafted by the Nashville Predators, Kamenev came to the Avalanche organization as a part of the Matt Duchene blockbuster trade back in 2017. If this is the end of his time in Colorado, Kamenev will end his Avalanche career having played only 64 games while recording three goals and 13 points.