When Zakhar Bardakov‘s time with the Colorado Avalanche came to an end, it never felt like a permanent goodbye.
Just weeks after returning to Russia, the 25-year-old forward has officially signed a one-year contract with KHL powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg, taking the next step in a move that had been building since his arrival in North America. While the signing closes one chapter of his career, the Avalanche have quietly ensured another could still be written by extending Bardakov a qualifying offer, allowing the organization to retain his NHL rights.
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Bardakov’s departure from Colorado was never a surprise behind the scenes. When the Avalanche signed him from the KHL, his contract included a clause allowing him to return to Russia if he was assigned to the American Hockey League. It was a unique provision that reflected his status as an established professional rather than a traditional prospect expected to spend years developing in the minors.
Although Bardakov earned a roster spot out of training camp and steadily adjusted to the North American game, his opportunity remained limited throughout the season. He finished with one goal and nine assists in 60 games while averaging just 7:12 of ice time, spending much of the year on Colorado’s fourth line. His lone assignment to the AHL with the Colorado Eagles, where he scored in his only appearance, ultimately reinforced the reality that a larger role wasn’t likely to come in Colorado.
That reality became even clearer in the playoffs, when Bardakov was a healthy scratch for the entire postseason despite appearing in 60 regular-season games.
Rather than remain in limbo, Bardakov chose the more familiar path. His one-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg gives him an opportunity to play significant minutes for one of the KHL’s premier organizations while continuing his development against high-level competition.
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For the Avalanche, however, the story doesn’t necessarily end there.
By issuing Bardakov a qualifying offer before his departure, Colorado retained his NHL rights, meaning any future return to North America would still go through the Avalanche. If Bardakov thrives with SKA and decides another NHL opportunity is worth pursuing, Colorado—not another club—would control that next chapter.
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