Today, Semyon Der-Arguchintsev’s KHL team, Torpedo, was eliminated from the playoffs, falling to East conference leader Ak Bars in four straight games. Ak Bars is lying in wait now for Salavat Yulaev, Rodion Amirov’s team, who lead their series 3-1. But Torpedo failed to launch, and now the loan of Der-Arguchintsev comes to an end.
Usually when a Russian player finishes the KHL season, he’s not available to join an AHL team because before this pandemic season, it was very rare for Russians to be under contract in the NHL and loaned to a KHL team. Der-Arguchintsev was not under contract in the usual way to Torpedo, he was loaned, so he should not have to wait out the end of his contract to the club until May 1.
He joined Torpedo in September, played a few games, and it was clear they weren’t sure what they had in this player who’d left Russia when young, and never played in a KHL club system after age 16. He played less than eight minutes in his first game, but was quickly moved up to the third line until he suffered a knee injury in the fall. He returned in February, and took over the second-line centre spot in the run up to the playoffs. In the playoffs themselves, he played on the third line again.
In 17 regular season KHL games, he had two goals and four assists in 14:34 minutes per game. In four playoff games, he remained pointless. Torpedo only scored three goals in the entire series, however.
With travel time and quarantine on arrival, he could be available for the Marlies by the end of March. They have 17 games remaining in April and May, so he will get in some more games. There is some potential for a quasi in-division playoffs as well, but that’s not yet certain.
Before this season, he played three professional games with the Newfoundland Growlers in 2019 and then spent last year on the Peterborough Petes again. He is now fully AHL eligible, as he turns 21 later this year. Also present on the Marlies roster, but yet to appear is Pavel Gogolev, another former Pete.
Der-Arguchintsev, signed by the Leafs in 2018, has had his contract slide twice, so this is the first year of that deal. It expires in 2023, and Der-Arguchintsev will be and RFA. His KHL season counts as a pro year for arbitration rights, but he needs three more, so that is unlikely to happen before his next contract is due.
When we have an official announcement on his return, we’ll let you know.
