Breaking: Oilers centre signs contract in the KHL

Drafting Russian-born players always comes with a major caveat - will they choose the NHL or the KHL? In the case of an Edmonton Oilers 3rd round draft pick from 2013, Russia has been the preference.

A recent move today has extended his stay in the KHL.

Bogdan Yakimov, the player in question, was loaned to the KHL in the 2015-16 season after playing roughly half a season in the AHL. With only one game to his name in the NHL, Yakimov hasn't proven that he's capable of playing at hockey's highest level, and hasn't fared too well in the KHL, arguably the second best league in the world.

The 6'5 centre has failed to live up to expectations, and with the news that he signed a 2-year extension in Russia, it's fairly clear that he doesn't see the NHL as a viable option, or he's simply not interested in it now.

He became a restricted free agent following the conclusion of the 2016-17 season.

Here's a little profile of Yakimov from Fansided's Sammi Silber.

"The 6-foot-5, 231-pound centre is a big, physical two-way player who also has great hands and playmaking ability. He also takes great care of the puck and has a strong vision for the game, and he is also a hard player to match up against.

"However, he is not the best skater and also doesn’t put up consistent numbers, even at the lower levels. His lack of production, as well as his need to further develop and build on his offensive edge, makes it unlikely that he will reach the NHL soon."