Last October goalie Mikhail Berdin left Winnipeg to return to the KHL to be closer to home. His salary didn’t count against the cap for Winnipeg, they retained his rights and Berdin was able to sign a one-year deal back home in Russia. Shortly thereafter his rights were traded from SKA to Sochi (which was the second time that transaction had happened to the goalie from Ufa.
He made his debut for the Leopards on the 26th of October which was lost on this unfortunate goal against. He would play three games for Sochi before it was announced by the club that he would miss 8-10 weeks with a lower-body injury he suffered in the 3rd period of a game against Dynamo on November 6th.
He would play a total of 19 games for HC Sochi finishing with a 4-11-1 record, a .914 save% and a 3.26GAA.
According to the HC Sochi’s Instagram account he has agreed to a two-year deal which won’t expire until April 30th, 2025. The Jets had held Berdin’s rights until this summer but he subsequently became a Group VI UFA. They likely were hoping they’d be able to trade those rights for an asset similar to what they just did with Leon Gawanke although based on his numbers with the Moose that seemed unlikely.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Good thing for the Jets there is a new crop of goalie prospects in the Jets system with the organization not tendering Arvid Holm (2017 6th) a qualifying offer (making him a UFA) and with Berdin (2016 6th) in the KHL. Additionally they only have until August 15th, 2023 to sign Jared Moe who entered the transfer portal back in March but hasn’t yet found a new team in the NCAA. He could also turn pro and signed by Winnipeg prior to this date.
