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Kirill Semyonov Signs Entry-Level Contract with the Maple Leafs [Report]

Long-time KHL 26-year-old veteran forward Kirill Semyonov signs entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kirill Semyonov, a 26-year-old undrafter Russian forward, signed an entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs yesterday. The deal is due to start with the onset of the 2021-22 season.

Semyonov has been a bit of a fixture in the KHL, with this being his eighth season in the league. Over the past two seasons, he’s scored 26 goals and 46 assists for 72 points in his 122 games.

He won’t show up with the Maple Leafs until next preseason’s training camp but when he arrives he’ll likely compete for a spot on the Maple Leafs’ 23-man roster. Although he looks like a bit of a long-shot to make the team, stranger things have happened.

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The Maple Leafs KHL Relationship Is Still Working

The Maple Leafs’ scouting system in the KHL is really strong and has produced fixtures on the team like Ilya Mikheyev over recent years, but also has brought in players such as Igor Ozhiganov and just last season Mikko Lehtonen and Alexander Barabanov.

It also helps that Semyonov’s agent is Dan Milstein, who has shared with his Russian clients just how impressed he was with the personal attention that Maple Leafs’ general manager Kyle Dubas gave Mikheyev when the first-year Russian had his horrible skate cut in New Jersey. Fans will recall that Dubas hung out with Mikheyev for days watching tv and also bought Mikheyev clothing and personal effects to help provide the young Russian “family” after his surgery.

Kirill Semyonov, New Maple Leafs signee

Milstein noted that, “Kirill is a very smart, two-way centre. He would be a great addition. Plays very responsibly [and] hard.” MIlstein added that “It’s been a dream to play in the National Hockey League, and he (Semyonov) feels it’s the best time to make a switch right now.”

It will be perhaps a long shot to make the Maple Leafs roster next season, but a number of depth players will likely be leaving the team and who knows how the roster will shape up? Obviously Semyonov would like a chance to prove he belongs.

Related: Nick Foligno Gives Four Reasons Auston Matthews Should Be Respected

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