It’s been a tumultuous ride for Nikolai Chebykin since being selected in the seventh round back in 2016 by the Toronto Maple Leafs. With KHL free agency open, the big winger has signed a two-year contract with Salavat Yulaev Ufa, his third KHL team in three years.
Drafted out of the Dynamo Moscow system, Chebykin proved in the 2016-17 season that he was ready for the jump to pro. He tore up the MHL, the Russian junior league, with 17 goals and 27 points in 17 games.
He struggled at the higher levels, however, only scoring eight points in 24 games in the VHL, the KHL equivalent of the AHL.