Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers Trade Acquisition Returns Home, Signs with KHL Club
Denis Gurianov, acquired by the Philadelphia Flyers from the Nashville Predators on the March 8 NHL trade deadline in exchange for winger Wade Allison, has paused his NHL career, signing a two-year contract with KHL outfit CSKA Moscow on Thursday.
Gurianov, who only turned 27 years old on June 7, appeared in just four games for the Flyers in the 2023-24 season, scoring zero points. The former No. 12 overall pick played 14 games with the Predators prior to the trade, picking up a goal and an assist.
The last few years have represented a rocky road for Gurianov. The 6-foot-3 forward bounced around quite a bit, playing for the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Predators, and Flyers in the span of only two seasons. This also doesn’t include Gurianov’s stint in the AHL last year, when he scored 12 goals, 18 assists, and 30 points in only 27 games with the Predators’ minor league affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.
As mentioned above, Gurianov is a former top draft pick of the Stars who flattered to deceive for most of his NHL career. The 27-year-old potted 20 goals and enjoyed a scintillating playoff run for Dallas in the 2019-20 season and notched back-to-back 30-point seasons in 2020-21 and 2021-22, but the bottom really fell out in 2022-23.
In 66 games between the Habs and the Stars, Gurianov managed only seven goals, 10 assists, and 17 points, hence the beginning of the carousel that has now landed the Tolyatti native back in the KHL.
“He’s interesting. Big, 6-foot-3 left winger that can skate like him. The fact that he’s had some success in some big games,” Briere said after striking the deal for Gurianov. “He’s had a pretty interesting playoff run a few years ago. I know it’s been a little tougher for him the last couple of years, but if he catches fire again… we’re a little thin on the left side, and he brings us speed and size – who knows where that goes?”
After signing a pact with CSKA for two years, it will be a while before we see Gurianov in the NHL again, if at all.
Gurianov was a true pro for the Flyers, even when he was sitting out and not playing. As a player who’s played in the NHL for parts of seven years, Gurianov was supremely helpful for the Flyers organization, helping serve as a liaison and de facto translator for his fellow Russian, newcomer Ivan Fedotov, as the hulking goaltender started his transition to North American life and moving from a KHL career to an NHL career.
The former Flyers forward joins CSKA in a wave of KHL offseason signings that includes Egor Afanasyev, Ruslan Iskhakov, and Dmitry Samorukov.
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with Some of the Russians it’s there potential wise and it doesn’t come out 100% and not even close at times . A few more high profile guys who I always thought underperformed regularly are Kuznetsov and nichkuskin . Both can play really elite and at times and completely disappear for 30 games . Kuznetsov was amazing during capitals cup run and just disappeared completely
don’t know much about gurianov . It was a trial/tri out for sure. I think sometimes people see the talents there but in game situations with the hitting they don’t / can’t do it or it doesn’t translate with the skill
I think the trade was more about giving wade allison a job as a power wing somewhere so he could play in the league . Allison isn’t quite what we need on power wing . I liked his spirit but he needs to learn how to absorb a hit . He’s just undersized by a whisker or not thick enough for power wing in this league is allison .
gurianov had good size but I think he’s a sniper that can’t do it let alone in playoffs
we need tim Kerr or John leclair or Scott hartnell for power wing . It’s coming by next summer
glad we aren’t haphazardly just signing anyone and going thru the process last few years of going thru these players . It’s a plan for once unlike past decades at times
Leclair type players are almost extinct in this new generation of players. Its unfortunate, cause Leclair was my favorite player growing up. But thats why players like Juraj Slafkovský get drafted 1st overall (not to take away from his skill, he’s filthy). But his playstyle and size are hard to come by
The moral of the story is DON’T DO BUSINESS WITH THE NASHVILLE PREDS .Can anyone else see where we are a dumping ground for Nashville stop doing business with undisclosed injuries bad players etc.. etc… it is a complete waste of of resources .
Kimmo was a good deal….Ellis not so much. Before Kimmo however there was another defenseman we got from them that also had an injured knee and never came around….cannot recall his name now.