Things aren't going well for former Oilers fan favourite Klim Kostin, and according to Oilers insider Jim Matheson, he may soon find himself out of the NHL.
Kostin last played on October 28th for only 4 minutes of ice time before he was benched for the rest of the game. It's now been three full weeks as a healthy scratch, and it's looking very likely that San Jose cuts ties with him.
Now 25 years old, Kostin is in the final year of a contract that pays him $2M, and upon expiry he'll become a restricted free agent. Given the fact that Kostin has only played 7 games and not recorded a point, San Jose surely won't meet his qualifying offer, and he'll likely become a free agent this summer.
In the immediate timeframe, it's likely that the Sharks place Kostin on waivers very soon, or try to work out a trade for him. Kostin was amazing in Edmonton, but on waivers, the Oilers wouldn't pick up his $2M contract.
Kostin's 57 games with the Edmonton Oilers seems to be an anomaly in his career. With Edmonton, Kostin was an electric power forward who was great on the forecheck, had the ability to score, and had the clutch ability too. Maybe he recovers that magic in Edmonton, but it's a real concern that he can't even make the Sharks roster right now.
If there comes a time when the Oilers could acquire Kostin for league minimum salary via retention or free agency, then it may be worth considering Kostin. Last spring the Russian forward even visited Edmonton to watch the playoffs, and he said it felt like home to him.
Oilers fans will be watching what happens with the former fan favourite, and at the very least, hoping he can continue his pro career in North America.
