Former 3rd overall pick signs his 3rd contract in the last 2 months after having two contracts terminated

Galchenyuk's story began with a trade to the Nashville Predators from the Colorado Avalanche after they had acquired centre, Ryan Johansen. The Predators then informed Galchenyuk that he would not be signed and he entered unrestricted free agency on the 1st of July.

He was quickly scooped up by the Arizona Coyotes but then had his contract terminated in short order after he was arrested on 6 different charges. Galchenyuk entered the Players' Assistance Program, had 5 of the 6 charges dropped, and had his 30 days sentence reduced to 27 as long as he followed protocol for the following 12 months.

There were rumours that he would be inclined to join a club in the KHL after his summer fiasco and that is exactly what happened today with his official unveiling with SKA St.Petersburg.

He will be joining a club that already includes 7th overall pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft in Matvei Michkov and a top-ranked prospect ahead of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in Ivan Demidov.

After being drafted 3rd overall in 2012 by the Montreal Canadiens, he struggled to play to his true potential with just 146 goals and 354 points in 654 games with 7 different teams. Being of Belarusian descent, Galchenyuk was drafted in the KHL Junior Draft in 2011 so he should feel right at home.