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A former Vancouver Canucks forward is reportedly switching teams overseas in Europe and has found a new home for, at least, the 2025-26 season.
While he may have already been in Europe for the last six season, it looks like another former Vancouver Canucks will be overseas once again next season and a return to North America doesn’t appear to be in the cards this summer.
Former Vancouver Canucks forward finds new home in the KHL
According to Arthur Khairullin of Sport-Express, former Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Spooner is expected to sign a deal soon with KHL club Kunlun Red Star.
“As SE has learned, striker Ryan Spooner will sign a contract with Kunlun.” Khairullin said.
Spooner, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, was a second round pick of the Boston Bruins back in 2010 and has made stops in the NHL with them, the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks.
The 33-year-old’s time in Vancouver, who to this day remain his last club in North America, was quite brief, appearing in just 11 games with the Canucks after they acquired him from the Edmonton Oilers in February 2019 for Sam Gagner.
After the 2018-19 season, Spooner decided to head over to Europe, starting out with HC Lugano, before signing in the KHL, where he’s been ever since.
Spooner’s time in the KHL has been quite good thus far, registering 257 points (77 goals, 180 assists), 63 penalty minutes and is a minus-21 in 307 games for Dynamo Minsk, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg and Avangard Omsk.
If Spooner’s deal with Kunlun Red Star becomes official, he’ll be joining a couple of names that are familiar to fans in North America – Spencer Foo and Jeremy Smith, who suited up for the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche, respectively.
Previously on CanucksDaily
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Former Vancouver Canucks Forward Officially Finds New Home Overseas After His NHL Career Takes A Dive
Do you think Ryan Spooner will return to North America following the 2025-26 season?