While forward Semyon Der-Arguchintsev was aiming to return to the NHL this season, it doesn’t appear that will be happening. His agent, Shumi Babaev, recently told RB Sport’s Olesya Usova that he’s now open to KHL contract offers for his client with the hope of a resolution coming this week. The Maple Leafs continue to hold his NHL rights but Babaev was told that they don’t have room for Der-Arguchintsev but also that they don’t want to trade his rights away to another organization. A third-round pick in 2018, Der-Arguchintsev spent most of his entry-level deal with AHL Toronto and has spent the last three seasons with KHL Traktor, picking up 23 points in 33 games in 2025-26. The Maple Leafs will hold his NHL rights through the 2027-28 season.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic:
When the Canadiens hired Derek Lalonde as an associate coach earlier this summer, the understanding was that assistant Trevor Letowski would be stepping away with the team hoping to keep him in another role. They were indeed able to do so, as Sportsnet’s Eric Engels relays (Twitter link) that Letowski will now serve as a Player Development Coach for Montreal. He spent the last five seasons as an assistant with the Canadiens, his first taste of coaching in the pros after spending parts of ten seasons coaching in the OHL.
The Bruins are expected to invite undrafted winger Niko Tournas to their upcoming rookie camp, notes Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal (Twitter link). The 20-year-old played for QMJHL Moncton last season and was productive in his first action at that level, tallying 43 goals and 31 assists in 64 games. Tournas is committed to suit up for the University of New Hampshire in 2027-28 unless he does well enough in camp that Boston decides to sign him to an entry-level contract.