Reigning AHL MVP Unexpectedly Breaks Contract With San Jose and Walks Away From NHL
Photo credit: The Hockey News
The reigning AHL MVP and Sharks player, Andrew Poturalski, has decided to leave the NHL completely and head overseas to sign with the KHL's Avangard Omsk.
Reigning AHL MVP and scoring champion Andrew Poturalski is bound for Europe, inking a one-year contract with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, the team announced Sunday.
The 31-year-old was released from the final year of his contract with the San Jose Barracuda in late May, clearing the way for his move to Russia.
Andrew Poturalski dominated the AHL once again in 2024-25, leading the league with 73 points in 59 games and earning his second Les Cunningham Award as league MVP.
Andrew Poturalski won the AHL scoring title a whopping three times
He had previously led the AHL scoring race in 2020-21 and 2021-22, becoming only the third player in league history to win three scoring titles.
Two Calder Cup titles (2019 with Charlotte and 2022 with Chicago) and a 2019 Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP are also on Poturalski's resume.
In more than 527 AHL contests with five clubs, Poturalski has recorded 493 points (161 goals), which ranks him 105th on the league's all-time list in scoring. Despite his brilliant NHL career, he's never been able to make a name for himself in the NHL.
Poturalski was voted to the AHL First All-Star Team this season, which was the fourth postseason All-Star selection of his career.
Signed originally by the Hurricanes from the University of New Hampshire in 2016, Poturalski also played nine NHL games for Carolina, Seattle, and San Jose. He'll be reunited in Omsk with former Wolves mate Max Lajoie.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 28 | 520 ANSWERS Reigning AHL MVP Unexpectedly Breaks Contract With San Jose and Walks Away From NHL Will Andrew Poturalski have more success in the KHL? | ||
| Yes | 375 | 72.1 % |
| No | 145 | 27.9 % |
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