Omsk-based team "Avangard" is considering recruiting a young, promising forward from Pittsburgh.
Hockey Gossip: Ponomarev Sought by Three Top Clubs
It's a hot topic in the hockey world as three top-tier clubs show interest in 23-year-old forward Vasily Ponomarev. According to insider scoop from Arthur Hayrullin's Telegram channel, Omsk's Avangard, St. Petersburg's SKA, and Yaroslavl's Lokomotiv are all eyeing this promising player.
Currently under contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins' system, Ponomarev could be on the move. Last season, the young gun lit up the AHL, scoring an impressive 41 points (15 goals and 26 assists) in 57 games for the Penguins' farm team, including playoffs.
However, Ponomarev's NHL debut was less successful, with a goose egg on the scoring sheets in his seven outings. With his NHL contract set to expire in June 2025, Ponomarev will become a restricted free agent, raising questions about his future with the Penguins[2][5].
Intriguingly, Ponomarev's KHL rights are a bit of a mystery[1]. traditionally, KHL rights belong to the team that drafted or traded for the player. However, without specific details, it remains unclear which KHL team holds Ponomarev's rights, if any. Remember, this is all just rumors and speculation for now. Let's see where Ponomarev ends up!
[1] No specific information is available regarding the ownership of his KHL rights.
[2] Ponomarev is a restricted free agent for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
[3] He played a significant portion of the 2024-25 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL, where he showed promise with 15 goals and 26 assists.
[4] Despite his potential, Ponomarev did not break through significantly at the NHL level during the 2024-25 season, playing only seven games with the Pittsburgh Penguins without recording any points.
[5] The Penguins are indeed interested in re-signing him.
I'm not sure if Ponomarev will continue playing hockey with the Pittsburgh Penguins, given his potential and the interest shown by three top Russian hockey clubs. Despite his impressive performance in the AHL, his NHL debut was less successful and his KHL rights are currently a mystery.
