The Penguins' forward prospect pool may be taking a hit.
KHL club Avangard Omsk referred to Vasily Ponomarev as its “newcomer” on Wednesday, indicating that he signed or is close to signing a deal. Omsk general manager Alexey Sopin referred to having Ponomarev for "several years" in a release. Omsk has yet to make any kind of official announcement on a deal being done.
"We expect that he can continue to progress and become one of the leading hockey players in the KHL, as well as the leader of Avangard," Sopin added.
Ponomarev's KHL rights were previously held by Spartak Moscow, but those rights were traded to Omsk on Tuesday. The Russian outlet Sport-Express reported prior to the trade being completed that Ponomarev was considering a return to the KHL.
Ponomarev, 23, was a restricted free agent this summer. The Penguins can still extend a qualifying offer to retain his rights in the event he does make a return to North America in the future.
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THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
3:55 pm - 06.04.2025DowntownPonomarev appears to leave for KHL
The Penguins' forward prospect pool may be taking a hit.
KHL club Avangard Omsk referred to Vasily Ponomarev as its “newcomer” on Wednesday, indicating that he signed or is close to signing a deal. Omsk general manager Alexey Sopin referred to having Ponomarev for "several years" in a release. Omsk has yet to make any kind of official announcement on a deal being done.
"We expect that he can continue to progress and become one of the leading hockey players in the KHL, as well as the leader of Avangard," Sopin added.
Ponomarev's KHL rights were previously held by Spartak Moscow, but those rights were traded to Omsk on Tuesday. The Russian outlet Sport-Express reported prior to the trade being completed that Ponomarev was considering a return to the KHL.
Ponomarev, 23, was a restricted free agent this summer. The Penguins can still extend a qualifying offer to retain his rights in the event he does make a return to North America in the future.
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