The Nashville Predators parted ways with former prospect Egor Afanasyev back in June after spending the majority of the last three seasons in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals.
Afanasyev was especially effective last season, scoring 27 goals and 54 points in 56 AHL games, but got into just two games for the Predators. It was his last year before becoming eligible for waivers, and with such a full roster and tough competition to make the team, the 23-year-old was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for former first-round pick Ozzy Weisblatt.
Related: Predators Send Egor Afanasyev to San Jose for Ozzy Wiesblatt
Afanasyev was a RFA and the Sharks issued a qualifying offer to the forward in which he didn't accept. He has now signed a three-year deal in the KHL with CSKA Moscow to return to his home country, likely being given a better opportunity, more money, and to play where he feels most comfortable around people that speak his native language.
The Predators dodged a bullet with this deal even though Weisblatt may not turn out to be anything special. At least Nashville has a player with potential currently playing in their system and not across the world without any guarantee he will return. The only hope the Sharks have is at the end of the three-year deal when Afanasyev still won't be a UFA. He will have one year left, and the signing rights if he wants to return to the NHL, will belong to the Sharks.
This could line up nicely for the Sharks if Afanasyev develops well in the KHL. He might've had a chance to make the Sharks, but the team has a solid mix of young players coming in and veterans that would have probably cut his playing time.
Afanasyev only has one goal in 19 NHL games in his career. It will be a while before we see how things all play out in the end.
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