Valentin Zykov

Valentin Zykov (born 15 May 1995) is a Russian professional ice hockey winger who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played under contract to the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round (37th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Valentin Zykov
Zykov practicing with the Los Angeles Kings in 2013
Born (1995-05-15) 15 May 1995
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 224 lb (102 kg; 16 st 0 lb)
Position Winger
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Free Agent
Carolina Hurricanes
Edmonton Oilers
Vegas Golden Knights
NHL Draft 37th overall, 2013
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2015–present

Zykov was a top prospect who was ranked number eight on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's final ranking of North American skaters.[1] He was expected to be a first round selection in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft,[2] but went in the second round, 37th overall, to the Los Angeles Kings.

Playing career

As a 16-year-old, Zykov played in the MHL with CSKA-Krasnaja Armija Moskva, the junior affiliate for HC CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League.[3] Zykov was drafted in the second round (76th overall) of the 2012 CHL Import Draft by Baie-Comeau Drakkar,[4] and joined the QMJHL team for the 2012–13 season. As a 17-year-old, Zykov was added to Team Russia's roster for the 2012 Subway Super Series,[5] and in his first QMJHL season Zykov racked up 40 goals and 35 assists for 75 points in 67 games played[6] to win the Michel Bergeron Trophy as the QMJHL's Offensive Rookie of the Year.[7] He was further rewarded for his outstanding played by being named the QMJHL Rookie of the Year.[8]

During the 2014–15 QMJHL season, Zykov was traded from Baie-Comeau to the Gatineau Olympiques in exchange for Václav Karabáček.[9]

After attending the Kings training camp, Zykov was assigned to begin his rookie professional season in 2015–16 with the Ontario Reign of the AHL. Zykov compiled 7 goals and 14 points in 43 games with the Reign before he was traded by the Kings along with a conditional 5th round pick (if Los Angeles advanced to the 2016 Western Conference Final, failed) to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Kris Versteeg on 28 February 2016.[10]

Zykov played his first NHL game and recorded his first NHL goal on 9 March 2017, in a game against the New York Rangers.[11]

Zykov was selected for the 2018 AHL All-Star Game after leading the league in goals scored and beating his own career high in goals.[12] After recording his 30th goal of the season in a game against the Hartford Wolf Pack, Zykov became the first Russian-born skater to score 30 goals or more in an AHL season since Artem Anisimov did so during the 2008–09 season.[13] He was recalled to the NHL for the second time during the 2017–18 season on 19 March 2018.[14] Zykov was voted by fans as the Checkers' best forward of the 2017–18 season following the team's elimination from the 2018 Calder Cup playoffs.[15] At season's end, Zykov led the league in goals with 33, and finished second in team scoring with 54 points.

In the following 2018–19 season, Zykov made the Hurricanes opening season roster. As the club's reserve forward, Zykov was a frequent healthy scratch, and was reassigned on a conditioning loan back to the Checkers on 13 November 2018. He later returned to the Hurricanes and after 13 games having collected 3 assists, Zykov was placed on waivers by the Hurricanes and was claimed by the Edmonton Oilers on 30 November 2018.[16] Zykov appeared in just 5 games with the Oilers over the following month before he was returned to waivers and claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights on 29 December 2018.[17]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2011–12 Krasnaya Armiya Moskva MHL 52 5 6 11 105 18 0 2 2 4
2012–13 Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL 67 40 35 75 60 19 10 9 19 18
2013–14 Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL 53 23 40 63 70 22 7 15 22 14
2014–15 Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL 16 6 12 18 22 — — — — —
2014–15 Gatineau Olympiques QMJHL 26 15 13 28 38 11 3 4 7 20
2015–16 Ontario Reign AHL 43 7 7 14 20 — — — — —
2015–16 Charlotte Checkers AHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2016–17 Charlotte Checkers AHL 66 16 18 34 57 5 0 2 2 2
2016–17 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 2 1 0 1 0 — — — — —
2017–18 Charlotte Checkers AHL 63 33 21 54 45 8 4 2 6 8
2017–18 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 10 3 4 7 2 — — — — —
2018–19 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 13 0 3 3 0 — — — — —
2018–19 Charlotte Checkers AHL 6 2 0 2 16 — — — — —
2018–19 Edmonton Oilers NHL 5 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2018–19 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 10 2 0 2 0 — — — — —
2019–20 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 15 1 3 4 6 — — — — —
2019–20 Chicago Wolves AHL 29 10 5 15 22 — — — — —
NHL totals 55 7 10 17 10 — — — — —

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2012 Russia U17 5 0 0 0 0
2014 Russia WJC 7 0 0 0 2
Junior totals 12 0 0 0 2

Awards and honours
Award Year
QMJHL
All-Rookie Team 2013
Rookie of the Year 2013 [18]
Michel Bergeron Trophy 2013
CHL Top Prospects Game 2013
CHL Rookie of the Year 2013
AHL
Willie Marshall Award 2018 [19]

References
  1. "2013 Draft Prospects - North American Skaters". National Hockey League. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  2. "NHL Draft Lottery 2013: Teams That Will Strengthen Playoff Chances in Newark". Bleacher Report. 21 June 2013. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  3. "Zykov having breakout season". FutureConsiderations.ca. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  4. "Valentin Zykov: 2013 NHL Draft Player Profile #28". Last Word On Sports. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  5. "Flyers Faithful: 2013 Draft Eligibles: Valentin Zykov, a Russian-born player for the Flyers in Round One?". Flyersfaithful.com. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  6. "Halifax Mooseheads not messing with success in QMJHL final". Times Colonist. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  7. "Valentin Zykov is awarded the Michel Bergeron Trophy". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  8. "Valentin Zykov: Undrafted - Under 20 QMJHL rookie of the year". dobbersports.com. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  9. Briggins, Jonathan (22 December 2014). "QMJHL trades see Remparts add scoring, goaltending". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  10. "Hurricanes forward Kris Versteeg joining Kings, traded for a 7th time". ESPN. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  11. Wells, Rosie (12 March 2018). "Hurricanes Reassign Zykov to Charlotte". NHL.com. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  12. Niedzielski, Nicholas (4 January 2018). "VALENTIN ZYKOV SELECTED TO 2018 AHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC". gocheckers.com. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  13. Niedzielski, Nicholas (9 March 2018). "VALENTIN ZYKOV HITS 30-GOAL MARK IN COMEBACK WIN OVER HARTFORD". gocheckers.com. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  14. Branecky, Paul (19 March 2018). "HURRICANES RECALL VALENTIN ZYKOV, CHECKERS ASSIGN CALLUM BOOTH". gocheckers.com. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  15. Niedzielski, Nicholas (17 May 2018). "CHECKERS 2017-18 AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED". gocheckers.com. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  16. McCurdy, Bruce (30 November 2018). "Looking to add offence on the flanks, Edmonton Oilers claim AHL goal-scoring champ Valentin Zykov off waivers". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  17. "Golden Knights claim Valentin Zykov off waivers from Oilers". Sportsnet.ca. 29 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  18. "The Golden Puck Awards: an unforgettable evening!". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  19. "TERRY, ZYKOV CLAIM AHL SCORING TITLES". American Hockey League. 15 April 2018.
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