Alexander Khovanov, Evgeny Svechnikov negotiating with KHL team

Rafik Yakubov, the GM of KHL club Ak Bars Kazan, recently confirmed in a phone interview with RIA News Agency that the club is negotiating to bring top Minnesota prospect Alexander Khovanov as well as Detroit's Evgeny Svechnikov (older brother of Carolina's Andrei) to Russia next year. Both players original came up through Ak Bars' training programs.

When speaking about Svechnikov, Yakubov was frank. "We spoke with [him] and Detroit. The team sees that he needs a reboot, and it's better for him to leave the AHL and play for his old team." The 23-year-old winger was drafted 19th overall in the first round by the Red Wings in 2015, but has been unable to crack a historically putrid Detroit lineup. In four seasons, Svechnikov has suited up for just 20 games with Detroit, spending the vast majority of his time down with the Grand Rapid Griffins of the AHL.

Khovanov however, seems to be a strange name to continue his development in Russia. The 20-year-old was a third round pick of the Wild back in 2018, but has since blossomed into a top prospect, ranked as high as #3 overall in the Wild organization and arguably their top centre. After tearing up the QMJHL over the last three seasons, averaging 1.40 points per game, Khovanov was believed to be NHL bound for the 2020-21 season. The Wild can only hope that his contract with Ak Bars will be for no more than a year.

Source: RIA News

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