Following a one-year stint with the Colorado Avalanche, Zakhar Bardakov returned to the KHL for the 2026-27 season, signing a one-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg. The Avs qualified the 25-year-old restricted free agent, ensuring that they keep his rights even after his departure.
In a recent video interview with a Russian outlet, Bardakov expressed his desire to return to the NHL someday, citing that as the main reason why he chose to only sign for one year in the KHL.
The interview is absolutely worth a watch. Among the topics he discusses, Bardakov credited the Avalanche organization for having such a great season, had great things to say about Nathan MacKinnon as a teammate, and believes he could be a more permanent NHL player someday, whether with the Avs or elsewhere.
I’ll break down more from his interview in the coming days. In the meantime, you can find the video here.