Zakhar Bardakov is set to return to the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg, the club where he spent four years before making the jump to North America. The move comes after a season in which he posted 10 points in 60 games for the Colorado Avalanche, a stint that produced no playoff appearances.
NHL chapter
Bardakov entered the NHL after being acquired in a 2024 trade that sent Kurtis MacDermid to the New Jersey Devils, a deal that also involved the Nashville Predators in the background. He signed a one‑year entry‑level contract with the Avalanche with the explicit understanding that a return to the KHL would be likely if the NHL transition did not work out.
During his lone NHL season he recorded 10 points in 60 games but did not see any postseason ice time, underscoring a limited role on a roster that added depth scorers Nic Roy and Nazem Kadri. Those additions made the Russian forward expendable despite a breakout 2024‑25 campaign in which he tallied 17 goals and 35 points in 53 games.
Bardakov’s prior experience in the KHL was already extensive. He had spent four seasons with SKA St. Petersburg, honing his game and earning a reputation as a reliable depth scorer before crossing the Atlantic. His return to the Russian capital is expected to bring immediate offensive contribution and familiar chemistry with the organization.