Former Canadiens first rounder Nikita Scherbak to leave KHL

Going into the 2019-20 season, Nikita Scherbak decided to follow the likes of Nail Yakupov, going to the KHL after failing to establish himself in the NHL. Now, it's rumoured he may be about to leave the KHL.

When Nikita Scherbak moved to Canada in 2013 to play with the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL, few knew what to expect. After a great season with the Blades, scoring 78 points in 65 games, he went into the 2014 NHL entry draft a highly touted prospect. He was drafted 26th overall by the Montreal Canadiens, but since then he has found himself struggling.

After playing two seasons in Montreal's AHL affiliate the Laval Rocket without making an enormous mark, Scherbak still earned himself 26 games with the Canadiens the season after, but decided to leave America after being traded to the Kings organization without finding much more success.

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This year, the 24-year-old winger started in Avangard Omsk, but finished with Traktor Chelyabinsk. In a total of 31 KHL games, Scherbak scored three goals and eight assists for 11 points. According to Business Online, Scherbak received a qualifying offer after the season from Traktor Chelyabinsk, but refused it, and is now likely to leave the KHL.

If Scherbak is to leave, it will be interesting to see where he goes. Either an NHL team decides to take a chance on him, or he will have to move towards Western Europe. Regardless, one can only hope he finds his way back to the playmaking and scoring that once got him drafted in the first round.

According Business Online, after one season in Russia, Nikita Scherbak is leaving the KHL, having rejected his qualifying offer with Traktor. Traktor will retain his KHL rights.— Andrew Zadarnowski (@AZadarski) June 11, 2020

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