Former highly touted Red Wings pick Evgeny Svechnikov signs new AHL deal

The Detroit Red Wings drafted Russian forward Evgeny Svechnikov with the 19th overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, and it was the hope of team management that he'd eventually develop into an every-day player who would play a key role in the organization's future.

And things began well, as Svechnikov scored 20 goals and 31 assists in 74 games with the Red Wings' AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins during the 2016-17 season, and followed that up by 12 points in 19 playoff games as he helped the Griffins earn the Calder Cup championship.

However, he followed that successful campaign up with just seven goals and 16 assists in 57 games with Grand Rapids, and two goals and two assists in in 14 games with the Red Wings. A knee injury cost him the entirety of the 2018-19 season, further hindering his development.

Svechnikov was well traveled this most recent season, going back and forth between the Red Wings and the Griffins, and being waived twice. And the team decided to end their relationship with him after electing not to tend an offer him by last month's deadline to qualify restricted free agents; they also exposed him to the NHL Expansion Draft for the Seattle Kraken.

But now, he's gotten the chance to continue his professional hockey career. 

According to multiple reports, Svechnikov has agreed to a deal in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, the minor league affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets: 

This comes shortly after a report earlier this month that there was mutual interest between Svechnikov and the Jets; this move could pave the way for him to get back into the NHL should he impress while playing with the Moose. 

In 41 career NHL games, the 6-feet-3, 208-pound Svechnikov recorded five goals and seven assists; he scored three goals and five assists in 21 games with Detroit last season.