UPDATE: Tikhonov "loaned" to KHL, will play for Red Army

by zyllyx on Nov 28, 2009 4:59 PM MST Comment 6 comments

UPDATE @ 11/28/09, 5:00pm MST: The Coyotes' website states that Tikhonov was "loaned" to the KHL, presumably in the same way a prospect player is "loaned" back to his junior team which holds his rights. The loan is only valid until the end of the 2009-2010 season.

Phoenix Coyotes' prospect Viktor Tikhonov has left the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League for the greener pastures - and bank accounts - of the Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Tikhonov is the second high-profile NHL prospect defection to the KHL in as many weeks, following on the heels of Nikita Filatov's public departure from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

There is currently a dispute between the CSKA Red Army team and Severstal Cherepovets over which team holds the young prospect's rights. It is likely that CSKA will forfeit draft picks to acquire Tikhonov's rights to enable him to play for the Red Army squad.

The move is something of a surprise considering that Tikhonov's own stated intentions were to remain in the Coyotes' system until he achieved his goal of becoming an NHL regular. However, the Rampage are in a significant streak of consecutive defeats and have just fired their head coach; combined with the significant increase in tax-free salary money available in the KHL, there is certainly plenty of motivation for Tikhonov to return home to play.

Interestingly, Tikhonov's player card has been removed from the "Future Coyotes" section of the official Coyotes website, although his stats remain online there as well as at the San Antonio Rampage website.

The most likely scenario is that Tikhonov will finish the season with CSKA before returning to North America next year to attempt to make the Coyotes' roster out of training camp.

The young native of Riga, Latvia spent most of his upbringing in California, where his father Vasily was employed as a coach with the San Jose Sharks franchise. His grandfather Viktor is a Russian hockey legend and former coach of the Soviet National Team.

Tikhonov, the Coyotes' 28th overall selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, played in 61 games with the Coyotes last season, posting 8-8-16, a -3 and 20 PIM. For the Rampage this season, Tikhonov accumulated 2-6-8, +5 and 12 PIM.

Viktor Tikhonov

#41 / Right Wing / Phoenix Coyotes

Height: 6-2

Weight: 187

Born: May 12, 1988

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Tikhonov was pictured in CSKA’s game yesterday (with the other Viktor Tikhonov)

You're out of touch
I'm out of time
But I'm out of my head when you're not around

by sleza on Nov 28, 2009 1:08 PM MST reply actions

Okay so...

Is this like Filatov and Vrbata (like last year when he was pissed in Tampa) where they were “Loaned” to other teams outside the NHL/AHL or like Radulov ditching the Preds?

Space Weed Says Telling it like it is without a care about the mainstream's feelings
"DO NOT get stuck behind Kyle Wellwood in the buffet line. This isn't really etiquette, but it will prevent you from starving to death"- Down Goes Brown on Etiquette for Jason Spezza's wedding

by Kevin Sellathamby on Nov 28, 2009 1:30 PM MST reply actions

I’m guessing it’s more like a Filatov situation, only without the rancor against the coach. The Rampage have, in fairness, lost a buttload of games recently and are changing coaches, so the KHL and a bigger paycheck and the ability to play more minutes probably seems like a great incentive.

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

by zyllyx on Nov 28, 2009 2:06 PM MST up reply actions

by zyllyx on Nov 29, 2009 12:36 PM MST up reply actions

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UPDATE: Tikhonov "loaned" to KHL, will play for Red Army