Zakhar Bardakov isn’t treating his NHL stint as a closed chapter.
The SKA forward said in an interview with Sport Express that he fully intends to make another run at the league after returning to the KHL following his rookie season with Colorado. Bardakov made it clear the move back to Russia was never about walking away from the NHL.
“I 100% want to return there,” Bardakov said. “Now I understand how everything works.
That league pushes you to get better every single day, you work on yourself, and you realize you’re actually a solid player. That’s why the contract with SKA is only for one year.”
He was just as direct about how he sees the next step. “I’ll play here for now, and in a year, maybe I’ll head back,” he said.
Bardakov’s departure from Colorado came with a built-in escape hatch. His entry-level deal with the Avalanche included a clause that allowed him to return to the KHL if he was assigned to the AHL instead of staying on the NHL roster.
According to Ryan O’Hara with The Hockey News, that provision was tied largely to Bardakov’s age and experience level, not the usual path for a prospect. Once Colorado sent him to its AHL affiliate, the clause was triggered and he headed back to Russia rather than spend time in the minors.
Colorado still holds his rights through a qualifying offer, and the one-year SKA contract leaves the door open for a possible return as soon as next season if he turns heads in Russia.
His first NHL season didn’t light up the box score - he finished with ten points in 60 games - but Bardakov said the experience showed him the standard he needs to chase. For now, the plan is simple: prove himself again in the KHL, keep Colorado in view, and leave the NHL door wide open.
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