Canadian forward has KHL contract terminated after refusing to return to league
A Canadian forward has refused to return to the KHL despite being under contract for the 2022-23 season. Due to his refusal, HC Vityaz has terminated the last year of his two-year contract.
26-year-old Daniel Audette played for Vityaz last season, racking up 39 points (17G, 22A) in 45 games. However, he spent the last part of the season with Orebro HK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) after leaving Russia following that country's invasion of Ukraine. While no official reason for his refusal to return to Russia has been given, it's highly likely he does not agree with that country's decision when it comes to Ukraine, doesn't feel safe in the country, or possibly both.
There are plenty of Canadians and Americans who will be playing in the KHL in 2022-23. In fact, most that were there last year have returned for training camps that are already underway, if they have a contract. The KHL season begins at the last of August.
Daniel Audette is the son of Donald Audette, who played 14 seasons in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers. Daniel was drafted by the Canadiens in the fifth round in 2014, but never made it out of the AHL. He played five seasons there for the St. John's IceCaps, Laval Rocket and Springfield Thunderbirds from 2015 to 2020. No word on if he'll return to Sweden for the upcoming hockey season.
Source: Sport24.ru
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 18 | 222 ANSWERS Canadian forward has KHL contract terminated after refusing to return to league Would you play in the KHL if you were under contract for the 2022-23 season? | ||
| Yes | 37 | 16.7 % |
| No | 160 | 72.1 % |
| I'm not sure, it's a tough decision | 25 | 11.3 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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YESTERDAY
MAY 16, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Rasmus Dahlin | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
| Tage Thompson | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jack Quinn | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Zach Benson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jake Evans | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jason Zucker | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ivan Demidov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Konsta Helenius | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Zach Metsa | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Arber Xhekaj | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Bowen Byram | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Cole Caufield | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Lane Hutson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Michael Matheson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ryan McLeod | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Norris | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mattias Samuelsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Zachary Bolduc | - | - | - | |
| Alexandre Carrier | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||