Maple Leafs Prospect Signs New KHL Deal, Raising Questions About Future in Toronto

There's a lot of talk about who the Maple Leafs might bring in this upcoming season, and while there are trades and free agents to help out, the team certainly has a decent enough farm system to find the next star.

Names like Easton Cowan, Ben Danford, Noah Chadwick, Borya Valis, and Artur Ahktyamov are all set to make their Leafs debut in the coming years, and there's a lot of excitement; even if Toronto traded two of their better prospects this year.

But one who won't be joining them, and might not be with the team at all in the future is forward Alexander Plesovskikh, who signed a deal to extend his contract with KHL team Spartak Moskva until 2027-28.

With him staying in Russia for the foreseeable future, the Maple Leafs might not be able to see what he can offer, and it puts his North American hockey career in doubt.

Plesovskikh, 18, was drafted 152nd overall in last year's NHL Entry Draft. He spent two years playing for Khanty-Mansiysk Mamonty Ugry, where he scored 32 points in 69 games (15G, 17A).

This season, he ended up playing for Spartak Moskva (Jr's) and registered 38 points in 50 games (15G, 23A), 28 PIM and a plus-22 rating.

While he is playing in the MHL; the KHL equivalent to the AHL, there's a possibility he is able to play for the big league club if he performs well enough.

He's a 6'1, 185-pound winger who plays a very aggressive defensive game, and isn't afraid to get into the nitty gritty and uses his defense to create offense by deflecting passes, and always using an active stick to force breakouts.

However, there are concerns about some of the key facets of his game such as shooting and skating, but with more seasoning in Russia and perhaps some reps against KHL teams will give him more confidence and hone his skillset.

For Brad Treliving's new-look Maple Leafs, it seems like Plesovskikh might have a shot in the future if he decides to move to North America, and with some real improvement could end up making a fruitful career for himself.

But for at least a few more years, Plesovskikh calls Russia home once again.