The Dallas Stars have arguably the most talented group of forwards in the NHL, and they could get a significant boost to that unit as early as next year.
Valeri Nichushkin is expected to return to the Stars for the 2018-19 season, his agent Mark Gandler told Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News.
Nichushkin - the 10th overall pick in the 2013 draft - spent three seasons with the Stars, but returned home to play in the KHL last season, and will do so again for the 2017-18 campaign.
"Val is under contract with CSKA (Moscow) for another year. Based on the current NHL-KHL agreement, Val may not sign with Dallas until the '18-'19 season," Gandler explained to Heika. "I know that Dallas was watching Val in the KHL and playing for the Russian National team. They are happy with his progress and expect him back in a year. Val, too, plans to come back to Dallas after his contract with CSKA expires."
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Nichushkin showed flashes of brilliance as an 18-year-old rookie with the Stars. The 6-foot-4 winger potted 14 goals, added 20 assists, had only eight penalty minutes, and accumulated a plus-20 rating.
The next two seasons were a bit of a struggle, though. He played only eight games in 2014-15 due to injury, and scored just nine goals in 2015-16. With CSKA Moscow last season, he tallied 11 goals and 24 points in 36 games.
Stars general manager Jim Nill is content with the agreement, citing that another year overseas could be best for the 22-year-old's development.
"It's good for him," Nill said. "He has the opportunity to play a lot of minutes, he has the opportunity to possibly play for the national team, possibly play in the Olympics. This can be a very big season for him."
If Nichushkin does indeed return to the NHL in 2018-19, he would be a restricted free agent and Dallas would own his rights. He would be placed into the mix of a forward group already featuring Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, Alexander Radulov, Martin Hanzal, and Radek Faksa.
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