The Oilers are still courting Vladimir Tkachyov

Vladimir Tkachyov went undrafted in the 2014 NHL entry draft, but nobody picked him up. Despite that, the Oilers had invited him to training camp before attempting to sign him to a 3-year entry level deal which was quickly anulled by the NHL. Now, it appears the Oilers are trying to court him once again.

Vladimir Tkachyov first came to North America for the 2013-2014 season playing for the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL. That season, he posted 30 points in 20 regular season games and nine points in six playoff match-ups. 

The following season, he played only 13 games in a Wildcat uniform before being shipped to the Quebec Remparts in exchange for Taylor Burke and a 7th round selection. 

Tkachyov scored at a point per game pace for the remaining 33 games of the regular season, and helped the team all the way to a Memorial Cup run as the host team. 

As I mentioned at the top of the article, Tkachyov ended up undrafted before the Oilers swooped in and brought the skilled, but small forward to training camp. At the time, he stood at only 5’8, and 163 lbs. 

Tkachyov appeared in three preseason games for the Oilers prior to being “signed” and posted three assists and a plus three rating. The Oilers had announced that he had been signed to a three-year entry level contract. 

Less than six hours after the ink hit the paper, the contract was deemed invalid by the NHL citing that the player was ineligible to sign until the following season. The Oilers thought that the player was eligible to be signed as he had played the previous season in North America and wasn’t selected in the draft. 

What they didn’t realize however, was that Tkachyov needed to play a full-season in North America. He only played 20 games the year prior with the Wildcats and came over from Russia halfway through the season.

The embarrassing move was a knock against the Edmonton Oilers and then General Manager Craig MacTavish.

Since the contact debacle, Tkachyov returned to Russia. He spent the 2015-2016 season bouncing around between the KHL and it’s two development leagues, the VHL and MHL playing a total of 25 games across the three leagues.

This season, he has been playing for Admiral Vladivostok where he has posted 39 points in 45 games, The Oilers have clearly kept tabs on him since his return to Russia, as Sport Express reported Monday that he had received contract offers from both the Edmonton Oilers as well as the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Despite the offers to come to North America, he opted to sign a one year extension with his KHL club.

According to his player page, he currently stands at 5’8 and 152 lbs.