Ak Bars coach Gatiyatulin on Safonov's possible return from Vancouver
Vancouver sent Ilya Safonov to the AHL. Ak Bars coach Anvar Gatiyatulin won't press the return question, and agent Alexei Dementyev says it's all as planned.
Vancouver sent forward Ilya Safonov to the AHL on Wednesday, and Ak Bars head coach Anvar Gatiyatulin has said the club will not press the question of a return. Asked whether he keeps that option in mind, Gatiyatulin said:
Gatiyatulin said the club would not press the question of a return. Agent Alexei Dementyev called the move standard procedure under their contract.
Dementyev confirmed the contract includes a KHL recall clause.
Dementyev highlighted a single figure: Safonov wins 77 per cent of his faceoffs.
He pointed to Safonov’s previous output—33 points in 68 regular-season games and nine in 20 playoffs—to show he is ready for the step up.
Last season Safonov scored 33 points (16+17) in 68 regular-season games for Ak Bars. He added 9 points (2+7) in 20 playoff games.
If Safonov stays in the AHL for the season, Ak Bars are unlikely to see him before the contract clause comes into play. Both sides have so far said that decision is not on the table.
About this article
Prepared by the editorial team with the help of algorithms, based on the sources listed