Semyon Der-Arguchintsev's KHL rights just got shipped out again, but his agent insists the Toronto Maple Leafs are still the target.
Dynamo Moscow traded the 25-year-old forward's rights to Admiral Vladivostok this week. That move alone would normally end a North American dream cold.
Instead, agent Shumi Babaev came out swinging on Sunday, telling reporters the plan hasn't changed one bit.
Der-Arguchintsev wanted to play in North America before this trade ever happened. Nothing about that has shifted, according to his camp.
Babaev shot down talk of a deal with Ak Bars, saying flatly that no conversations have taken place with that club.
His read on Admiral is blunt. He believes the club only grabbed the rights to flip them for players or cash, fully aware Der-Arguchintsev has no intention of reporting.
That's a gutsy thing for an agent to say about a team that technically owns his client's KHL future.
Jim Hiller inherits a rebuild that needs help everywhere
Toronto finished last season 32-36-14 for 78 points, ranked 28th in the league with a goal differential of minus-46.
The Leafs closed the year on a seven-game losing streak, dropping the finale 1-3 on the road against Ottawa.
Jim Hiller took over as head coach on June 17, stepping into a roster that needs scoring depth from somewhere.
A skilled 25-year-old forward with North American intentions and no attachment to his current KHL club fits that need on paper.
Babaev wouldn't say much when asked directly about the Toronto talks. "Right now there's a certain process happening. I can't comment on it," he said.
That kind of caution usually means something is actually moving, not stalling. Agents don't dodge questions about dead deals, they just say the deal is dead.
Whether Admiral can even be forced to release him without compensation is still unclear, and that's the piece nobody's answering yet.
-
For a Leafs front office that just watched a seven-game skid close out a lost season, patience on a project like this is either smart asset management or a bet they can't afford to lose.
Should the Maple Leafs keep pursuing Der-Arguchintsev despite his messy KHL rights situation?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Auston Matthews' latest gesture speaks volumes about what's coming next
