Andrew Poturalski, a three-time AHL scoring champion and the league’s MVP last season, is heading to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The 31-year-old American forward has signed a one-year contract with Avangard Omsk, the club announced on its website.
Poturalski’s move to the KHL comes after a highly accomplished tenure in the American Hockey League (AHL), where he has consistently been a top performer. Despite his AHL accolades, his NHL experience has been limited to just nine games over nine professional seasons.
Poturalski Joins Avangard Omsk Amidst Continued North American Presence in KHL
Poturalski’s decision to play in Russia places him among a meaningful number of North American players who continue to compete in the KHL, even after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. According to Eliteprospects, 52 Canadians and 18 Americans are currently under contract in the KHL for the upcoming season. This contrasts with a decrease in European players from Sweden and Finland choosing to play in Russia.
Last season, Poturalski led the AHL in scoring with 73 points (30 goals, 43 assists) in 59 games for the San Jose Barracuda. He also made three appearances for the San Jose Sharks in the NHL, recording one assist.
As turning professional as a free agent in 2016 after his collegiate career at the University of new Hampshire, Poturalski has amassed 493 points in 527 AHL games. his NHL career statistics include three assists in nine games, spread across stints with the Carolina Hurricanes, Seattle Kraken, and San Jose Sharks.
Poturalski’s impressive AHL resume also includes two Les Cunningham Awards as the league’s most valuable player and two Calder Cup championships.
Source: Andrew Poturalski @ Elite Prospects
