You could be forgiven if you had forgotten about Calgary Flames prospect Ilya Nikolayev. The Russian product was drafted by the team back in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft, but he’s fallen off the radar a bit.
Nikolayev was signed to Metallurg Zhlobin in the Belarusian Extraliga for 2021-22, but he was released late last week. Metallurg club sources told FlamesNation the release was due to a North American opportunity for Nikolayev.
On this side of the Atlantic, Nikolayev has a few options.
Nikolayev wasn’t ever selected in either the Canadian Hockey League’s import draft or the United States Hockey League’s drafts, but as a 2001-born player he’s age eligible to play in either league.