Utah hockey team officially frontrunners to land top free agent

The Utah Hockey Club reportedly may be interested in signing free agent Russian forward Andrei Nikonov. The 6'5" Russian winger is a physical threat on the ice, but the Utah club may have some competition when it comes to signing him.

According to recent rumors, the big Russian forward is looking to cross the pond and make the jump to the NHL next season. Reportedly, the Seattle Kraken and the Utah Hockey Club are two organizations that have expressed interest in him.




Nikonov spent most of this season playing with Dynamo Moskva in the KHL. However, in 33 regular season games, he managed just two points, both assists. He recorded zero points in five playoff games. In terms of production, this was a step back for the forward, as he previously scored 4 goals and 6 points in 55 KHL games last season. However, the 21-year-old still has time to develop his game. Standing at 6'5", 220 pounds, he could carve out a role for himself as a physical, defense-first grinder.



Nikonov will likely never be a huge difference maker at the NHL level, but players of his size are always sought after, especially in the Stanley Cup playoffs, when physicality is often a deciding factor.