Veteran NHLer Ryan Spooner signs a new deal

According to a report from HC Avangaard Omsk, the team has signed long-time NHL forward Ryan Spooner to a one year contract.

From the team's official website (translated from Russian):

We did admit the potential necessity to find a skilled center capable of complementing Tkachyov-Boucher duo, a worthy replacement for Corban Knight. We believe, Ryan Spooner is the right candidate - a well-trained player with high hockey IQ. This forward played almost 200 KHL games and has considerable NHL experience. High performance, face-off percentage and power play skills are Ryan’s undoubted strengths. Ryan is adjusted to the KHL and is able to reach the peak of his career with Avangard, being a good example of professionalism for our young players. Significantly, Spooner knows Reid Boucher well, they were teammates in Sarnia Sting (OHL). It will help him blend into the team quickly.

- Ryan Spooner

The 31 year old Spooner played last season with the KHL's Minsk Dynamo, putting up 19 goals and 47 points in 64 games. In fact, he has spent the past four seasons playing in the KHL, following a 325 game career in the NHL split between the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks.