Chicago Blackhawks prospect Artur Kayumov could be willing to come to North America next season, his agent told Scott Powers of The Athletic.
Kayumov, 20, missed his third consecutive development camp this past week since being drafted in the second round in 2016 due to his KHL contract. The league’s deals often prevent players from attending NHL team development camps, so Kayumov’s contract isn’t an isolated case.
The 5-foot-11, 176-pound winger played well at the World Junior Championship last season, with three goals and two assists for the Russians.
Blackhawks president of amateur scouting Mark Kelley told The Athletic that Kayumov is a “smart player” that showed he has skills to play on the first line and power play during World Juniors.
Kayumov, a left-handed shot, tallied two goals and an assist in 20 KHL games last season for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. He did not record a point in four games during the 2016-17 campaign. Kayumov is signed with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl through the 2019-20 season.
A move to North America likely means a spot on the Rockford IceHogs’ roster. By coming overseas, the Hawks would finally be able to have a hands-on role in Kayumov’s development.
Chicago has signed four players from its nine-player 2016 draft class in forwards Alex DeBrincat and Nathan Noel and defenseman Lucas Carlsson and Blake Hillman. Kayumov, defensemen Chad Krys and Jake Ryczek and forward Mathias From and goaltender Wouter Peeters remain unsigned.