In 2019, with the Calgary Flames desperately looking for an answer in net, they decided to look outside North America. A 23-year-old undrafted Artyom Zagidulin, fresh off a .924 save percentage in his first full season in the KHL, was the target, and he would sign an entry-level contract that offseason.
His time in the organization didn’t go well, with only 36 AHL games and a single NHL appearance, before leaving for greener pastures in 2021. After two years playing in Finland, Zagidulin won’t be trying his luck in North America again. According to Sport Express, the now 27-year-old goaltender will return to Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL.
Zagidulin posted a .919 save percentage in 53 regular season games for Lukko Rauma this year, allowing a goals-against average of just 1.84. That was (incredibly) only good enough for a 24-16-13 record, but still got the club to the playoffs.
A new contract in the KHL at this point of his career (with his hometown team no less) likely ends any speculation of a North American return for Zagidulin.