Semyon Der-Arguchintsev is making a serious push to play for the Maple Leafs, and ditched Russia to take his training to Toronto and work towards an NHL job.
There are several Maple Leafs prospects who are fighting for their chance to be part of the club's future plans, and we've already seen some pretty solid names appear. Ben Danford, Ethan McKenzie, Tyler Hopkins, Harry Nansi, and Miroslav Holinka have all emerged as potential future NHLers meanwhile names like Easton Cowan have already made an impact at the NHL level.
But there are also a few overseas like Victor Johansson and Tinus Luc Koblar who are applying their trade in different leagues, as they continue to grow and raise their ceiling.
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev is leaving the KHL for a spot on the Maple Leafs
One player though who has been hellbent on getting back to the Maple Leafs is Semyon Der-Arguchintsev.
The Russian forward has been in the KHL the past two seasons as he continues to work his way towards an NHL deal. The team still owns his rights, but has yet to sign him. He continues to look for a job with the Maple Leafs - and has just taken a huge step towards doing just that:
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A European scout familiar with Der-Arguchintsev's situation has posted that the Russian prospect has ditched Russia in favour of training in Toronto as he works towards an NHL spot, and while the Leafs don't have a ton of room, they can still add him.
He still remains unsigned in Russia despite having a very solid three-year stretch in the KHL where he had 36 goals and 101 points in 171 games with Traktor Chelyabinsk and Dynamo Moskva.
Does Toronto have a need for Der-Arguchintsev?
Well if the team was worried about their lack of scoring depth in the bottom six, then adding the Russian forward would solve that. He's got great hands, a sneakily heavy shot, and has proven he can contribute at a high level, and is already comfortable with the North American style.
His best bet is to take a job with the Marlies, play hard, and earn himself a real shot next season.
The issue becomes what his contract might be, as the team needs to ensure they keep enough space for a future deal down the line, and adding Der-Arguchintsev to a two-way deal wouldn't help things. He's stuck in limbo right now:
- Der-Arguchintsev gets traded to from Dynamo
- Refuses to report to current team (Admiral Vladivostok)
- Maple Leafs have no room on the current roster
- His current team (Admiral Vladivostok) has no urgency to trade his rights
- Admiral also has no plans for Der-Arguchintsev with his refusal to play
- Der-Arguchintsev still remains hopeful for an NHL job
Toronto's lack of acknowledgment as well is playing a huge factor, as Admiral is driving up his price knowing that they have no risk of losing him to Toronto - until now.
Obviously the team sees something in him as they would have either dealt his rights away by now, and his production playing in the world's second-biggest pro hockey league can't be understated - he's a solid player who can add scoring where Toronto needs it.
We just have no clue what their game plan is, but at least Der-Arguchintsev believes moving closer to the team means he's one step closer to being back in the NHL.
Do you think the Maple Leafs will sign Semyon Der-Arguchintsev or will they let him go?
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