The knock against Russian hockey players in the past decade or more has been them snubbing National Hockey League (NHL) teams that draft them in favour of staying home to play in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Now the Western Hockey League (WHL) is experiencing such a snub as recent first overall Canadian Hockey League import draft selection Klim Kostin is reportedly shunning the Kootenay ICE to stay home and take a shot at playing for Moscow Dynamo of the KHL.

The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy today reported that Kostin “plans to stay back home. Kostin is a powerful and offensively gifted player who is also a top prospect for the 2017 NHL draft. But apparently, he recently signed a contract with Moscow Dynamo and will be given a shot at making the KHL squad in the pre-season.

“That’s tough for the rebuilding Ice, but it’s the chance you take in the Import Draft. Kootenay selected another Russian in the second round, defenceman Nikita Radzivilyuk, and I’ve been told he will come to the ICE for 2016-17 – so it’s not all bad news,” Kennedy wrote.

Should Kostin fail to make the KHL club, he could still come to North America and suit up for the ICE.

e-KNOW

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