Phoenix Coyotes re-sign right winger Viktor Tikhonov to one-year, two-way deal –NHL offseason Update
Young forward, Victor Tikhonov, was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with Phoenix Coyotes after coming to mutual terms following his entry-level deal expired on July 1. The announcement was made by the club through a press release on Wednesday, August
10, of which the financial details were not released as per club policy.
Tikhonov was picked up by Phoenix as their 28th overall pick in round-one of the 2008 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft and immediately participated in the regular season but has not been seen in a major league matchup ever since.
The Riga, Latvia native, played in Russian leagues such as, CSKA Moscow, HK Dmitrov for single seasons and Severstal Cherepovets Russia for three straight years.
The 23-year-old played in 61 games during his first season in the NHL with Phoenix Coyotes, in which he managed to scored 16 points (8 goals, 8 assists) during the timeframe, along with ending up with a plus-minus rating of -3 and 20 penalty minutes.
He also represented Russia that year at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship and boasted a 5-2-7 record throughout the seven game series, winning a bronze medal in the end.
The 6-foot-2, 190 pound right winger played for Phoenix’s minor league affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL), San Antonio Rampage, the following season and contested 18 matchups in total, registering eight points (2 goals, 6 assists).
He left to continue playing with Severstal Cherepovets in the Russian, Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), for another 25 games and 15 points (14 goals, 1 assist).
It is quite clear that Tikhonov will remain mainly as a recall for Phoenix Coyotes since him singing to a two-way deal, which literally means to be playing in the minor league mostly and only if needed in the major league.
Although, if the Russian player is given a chance by the NHL franchise, then it will be a superb chance to prove he really is major league material and can be counted on in the future by showing a spectacular performance. If not, he can count this season
out as well.
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