Alex Galchenyuk is wasting no time making an impact in the KHL, but his latest headline came with a nasty price tag.
The former Montreal Canadiens forward was named his team’s best player after Spartak Moscow knocked off SKA St. Petersburg, a game in which Galchenyuk played a major role in the win. But the postgame buzz centered on something far less celebratory: a visibly injured eye after he took a slap shot to the face from his own teammate, Joseph Keane, in front of the net.
The scene was alarming enough that it had already started circulating online in the hours after the game. Even so, Galchenyuk came away smiling, looking happy with both his own night and what Spartak accomplished.
Galchenyuk’s hockey path has taken plenty of turns since Montreal made him the No. 3 pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. He had the strongest stretch of his career with the Canadiens before later moving through the Arizona Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs. He also spent a short time with the Colorado Eagles in the American Hockey League before heading overseas.
Since 2023, he has been playing in the KHL, where the ride has included both good stretches and rough patches. With Spartak Moscow, he’s only two games into the season, but he’s already picked up two assists.
Now 32, Galchenyuk has the kind of experience that should serve him well if he can keep the momentum going. The hope is simple: a strong season, fewer distractions and enough space for his talent to do the talking.
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Chris Kreider Changes Everything About How The Canadiens Are Viewed
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The surprise is as important as the signing itself. Kreider had been tied more often to Boston and Philadelphia, so Montreal was not the destination many expected, especially for a player with his background and the kind of market interest he generated. Instead, the Canadiens got the player who believes they can chase a Stanley Cup, and that alone says something about how far this roster has come and how it may be viewed going forward. [Read more 🡒]