Leafs prospect surprisingly headed back to Europe for 2022-23 season

Last season, the Leafs were afforded the opportunity to bring over one of their 2020 draftees from the KHL early, as winger Dmitry Ovchinnikov was granted a contract termination from Sibir Novosibirsk in February that allowed him to travel to North America, sign his entry-level contract and join the Leafs' AHL affiliate for the remainder of the season.

Originally, it had appeared as though the Leafs were eager to bring the soon-to-be 20-year-old over to North America ASAP to work more closely with the team's development staff more closely in hopes of perhaps cashing on a European prospect earlier than anticipated.

His offensive skills did not go unnoticed in the Russian junior league, after he tallied 13 goals and added 16 assists for 29 points in just 22 games for Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL). It looked as though the pick could bear fruit earlier than anticipated, which was exciting to many within the fanbase. However, that simply was never in the cards, as it was announced on Saturday that Ovchinnikov would return to his KHL club, Sibir Novosibirsk, for his 2022-23 season.




Apparently, as Kyle Cushman points out, the Leafs were able to sign Ovchinnikov to his ELC and bring him over to North America early due to the fact that his contract termination in 2022 was granted with the condition that he was to return to his KHL club for this upcoming season. He was never meant to be a Toronto Marlie this season.


Ovchinnikov played very little in the KHL last season, despite suiting up for 17 contests. He was able to rack up just 3 points over that span. He also notched 2 goals in 7 games for the Marlies after making his way over from Russia in February.

With Ovchinnikov being the one who pushed for the contract termination and to sign his ELC with the Leafs in the first place, it appears likely that he will come back to North America in the spring, once his KHL season comes to a close. From there, it's probably pretty unlikely that he goes back and will transition to North America full time in 2023-24.