NHL Veteran was Ready to Leave League, but Health Issues got in The Way

PUBLICATION

TJ Tucker
August 8, 2023 (11:02)

SHARE THIS STORY

According to an agent representing several players from outside of Russia playing in the KHL, a 16 year veteran of the NHL was going to sign overseas for the first time in his career, but health issues have forced him to wait. Alyosha Pilko says his client Ryan Spooner was recently signed by Avangard Omsk, but he wasn't the team's first choice.

"The [KHL] championship starts in just three weeks and the new club management realize that a lot depends on a good start for the team. Playing without the first center is very difficult. There were a lot of candidates. Until the last moment I was waiting for Derick Brassard, but his health does not allow him to start the championship. That's why Spooner was chosen. Ryan is a proven player. His pros and cons are well known. It's hard to bring a playmaker of this level to the KHL now." - Alyosha Pilko, Sport-Express.ru

Spooner has played in the KHL for the past four seasons. Brassard, however, has spent his entire professional career in the NHL. The 35-year-old spent last season with the Ottawa Senators after signing a one-year deal with the team for league minimum. He played his 1000th NHL game with Ottawa in 2022-23, scoring two goals in the process.

There's no word on exactly what injury Brassard is dealing with, but he's had a number of ailments throughout the years. Pilko did not say whether Brassard would be signing a KHL contract when or if he recovers.

Source: Sport-Express.ru