Former Leafs Draft Pick Delays Potential NHL Return By At Least Two Years

From 2015 to 2018, the Maple Leafs drafted a good amount of European players under Lou Lamoriello including Carl Grundstrom, Jesper Lindgren, Nikita Korostelev, Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, Egor Korshkov and Dmytro Timashov among others. Unfortunately, Der-Arguchintsev and Korshkov played in just 1 NHL game each, while Korostelev never saw North American ice.

Timashov, a fifth-round pick in 2015, is one of the only prospects outside of the first and second round to skate in more than 10 NHL games after being drafted by Lamoriello. The now 28-year-old played in 45 games across 3 seasons with the Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders.

While in North America, Timashov was unable to find success in the NHL, but did become a fairly consistent offensive player in the AHL, tallying 118 points in 225 games. Due to the lack of opportunity, however, Timashov left the Islanders in October 2021 and returned to Europe, where he has spent the last four seasons, most recently in the Swiss league.

At 28, a return to the NHL was not out of the question for Timashov, more of a matter of when. According to Ronnie Ronnkvist of Hockeysverige.se, the Ukrainian-born winger will be delaying any potential return for at least two seasons as he inked a two-year deal with Admiral Vladivostok of the KHL.

In speaking about his new deal, Timashov revealed that it was to be closer to his family, indicating that he may not have a desire to return to the NHL even after his contract with Vladivostok ends.