Months after I initially speculated on the possibility that Canucks centre prospect Dmitry Zhukenov would leave for the KHL, we have a verdict. My sources told me this morning that Zhukenov has, in fact, signed a two-year deal with Avangard Omsk of the KHL.
Zhukenov is hot on the heels of a strong QMJHL season, capped off with an excellent post-season. In 64 games with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, Zhukenov put up 65 points (18 goals and 47 assists). Over the course of the Sagueneens 17 game post-season run, Zhukenov had 21 points (six goals and 15 assists) including this nasty deke that Ryan Biech captured in gif form.
The Canucks drafted Zhukenov in the fourth round, 114th overall, in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. They’ve yet to sign him to an entry-level contract, though they didn’t have to make that decision yet anyway — Vancouver holds Zhukenov’s rights until at least June 1st, 2019. Zhukenov’s contract runs until the end of the 2018-19 season, and I’d imagine that has something to do with that timing.
When we last checked in, Zhukenov’s most recent campaign gives him a 1.7% Expected Success and 32.9 Expected Points per 82 games through pGPS (short for the prospect graduation probabilities system).
I reached out to the Canucks when news first surfaced about Zhukenov’s defection, and they didn’t seem worried. In fact, I had it suggested to me that this type of move could be to their benefit — they think it possible they’ll retain Zhukenov’s rights beyond the June 1st, 2019 cut-off if he stays in the KHL past that point.
Zhukenov’s departure is something of a blow to the Canucks’ farm system, who desperately need a centre of his calibre. In the bigger picture, it’s not the end of the world. Probably not the end of Zhukenov’s story with the Canucks organization, either.