A former Maple Leaf could potentially make his triumphant return this season

An ex-Leafs prospect could end up back with the team this season, as they still own the NHL rights of Semyon Der-Arguchintsev in the final year of his KHL deal.

Last off-season, Der-Arguchintsev chose not to sign his qualifying offer tendered to him by the Toronto Maple Leafs, instead signing a two-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL. The 23-year-old had a very productive season with Traktor, registering 34 points (17-17) in 53 games and adding another 10 points in 13 playoff games while playing center. The Leafs are in need of a third line center and while SDA is unable to join the Leafs until the end of the KHL season, he could conceivably join them for the end of the NHL regular season and playoffs, as his NHL rights still belong to Toronto.

The knock on SDA prior to him going back to the KHL was that he was more of a one-dimensional, offensive forward that was too small. While he is still on the relatively small side, with Elite Prospects listing him at 5'11 and just 168 pounds, SDA chose to return to the KHL because he was not getting the playing time in the NHL he felt he deserved. Should he have another productive season overseas, SDA could find himself in the Leafs lineup, or at the very least be an option for Craig Berube in the bottom 6.

It is worth noting that if he does not return to the Maple Leafs when his contract ends after this season, the Leafs will still retain his rights until he becomes a UFA in 2028.

There is still plenty of runway for SDA to become a serviceable bottom-six NHLer and if he doesn't help the Leafs this season, we may see him in the lineup down the road.

Source: Elite ProspectsSemyon Der-Arguchintsev Stats

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