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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
The KHL transfer market continues to heat up a month before the championship resumes. The Shanghai Dragons made a splash by officially announcing three signings in the form of professional tryout contracts, while Ak Bars Kazan secured their number one goaltender Timur Bilyalov for the upcoming season.
This late July confirms a fundamental trend: Russian clubs and foreign franchises are fine-tuning their rosters at a steady pace, aware that the summer window closes in a few weeks. The league, which has gained attractiveness since expanding to China and Kazakhstan, offers a transfer window as lively as those of the best European championships. Every move is closely scrutinized by observers, as the balance of the Eastern Conference seems fragile.
This late July confirms a fundamental trend: Russian clubs and foreign franchises are fine-tuning their rosters at a steady pace, aware that the summer window closes in a few weeks.
Shanghai Dragons go on the offensive
The Chinese franchise announced on July 27 the signings of Vladislav Barulin, Semyon Koshelev, and Pavel Koledov. Three complementary profiles. Barulin, a 27-year-old forward, comes off a 45-point season with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Koshelev, 28, brings his experience of 298 KHL games. Koledov, a 29-year-old defenseman, was free since the end of his contract with SKA Saint Petersburg, officially announced on July 22 by the Russian club.
These three arrivals, however, are only tryouts. The Dragons, who fight every season for their sporting survival in a league dominated by Russian clubs, did not want to commit to firm contracts before evaluating the players' integration. The club's management stated that the three men "will compete for spots on the team" during training camp. A understandable caution for a franchise still seeking to establish itself sustainably in the KHL landscape.
Ak Bars Kazan secures its last line of defense
In Kazan, the priority was to keep Timur Bilyalov. The 30-year-old goaltender, undisputed starter for four seasons, has extended his contract. The Russian international netminder comes off a solid campaign highlighted by a save percentage above 92% in the regular season. Such consistency at the highest level makes him one of the very best at his position in the league.
The Tatar club also finalized the extension of forward Grigori Denisenko and recorded the arrival of American defenseman Will Reilly from Spartak Moscow. Ak Bars, eliminated in the conference semifinals last season, is building a roster with clear ambitions for 2026-2027. The club's management has not hidden its goals: nothing less than a return to the top for an institution that has marked KHL history.
Kuznetsov, the summer's enigma
The Evgeny Kuznetsov case continues to fuel debates in Russia. The former Washington and Carolina player, who returned to the KHL with Traktor Chelyabinsk last summer, has still not convinced. Sergei Cherkas, a former SKA coach, gave a blunt analysis in the columns of Championat: "Kuznetsov is a fading star, that's a fact." The consultant points to a lack of consistency and defensive involvement that is too often lacking.
Traktor has not yet communicated on the future of the 33-year-old player, who is under contract for one more season. The situation reminds us that the KHL, long considered a fallback league for Russian NHL stars, now demands total commitment. The recent arrivals of young locally trained talents have raised the level of expectation across the league, making the transition more difficult for veterans accustomed to the North American pace.
The season resumes on September 1. Until then, the Nikita Gusev case, still without a contract after leaving Dynamo Moscow, could become the saga of the end of summer. The 33-year-old winger, the league's top scorer a few seasons ago, is reportedly looking for a project capable of offering him a final challenge worthy of his talent. In a league where every spot in the top 8 is often decided by a few points, a player of this caliber could tip the balance of an entire conference.
