Canucks' Tryamkin returning to KHL
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Tryamkin will suit up in the KHL next season for Yekaterinburg Automobilist, the Russian league announced Thursday.
Tryamkin played four seasons for Automobilist before joining the Canucks - who drafted him in the third round in 2014 - for a brief portion of the 2015-16 season.
Vancouver general manager Jim Benning released the following statement on the matter:
We are disappointed Nikita chose to sign in the KHL, but also recognize from what he told us in our exit meetings that this was a family decision first. He has a chance to be an impact player in the NHL and we offered him a two-year extension. But for now he is home and we will move ahead with building this team with other young players.
The towering 22-year-old blue-liner finished the final year of his entry-level contract this season, and was due for restricted free agency.
"We'll qualify him and retain his rights until the end of the 21-22 season, so hopefully over time he decides to come back." - Benning
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 20, 2017
Tryamkin played 66 games for the Pacific-worst Canucks, recording two goals and seven assists.