7.13.23 Pashin

RALEIGH, NC. -As the Carolina Hurricanes move into the 2023-24 season without an American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the first domino has fallen in terms of landing prospects new places to play.

20-year-old Alexander Pashin, who spent last season with the Canes' AHL affiliate, will skate with Spartak Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for the upcoming campaign, the club announced Thursday.

In 47 games with the Chicago Wolves last season, he produced four goals and six assists for a total of 10 points.

Returning to his native country after the 2022-23 season was his first campaign in North America, the 2020 seventh-round draft pick caught the attention of Canes fans early last fall at the Prospects Showcase Tournament with his lacrosse goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Pashin has played in four career games in the KHL to date, skating with Salavat Yulaev Ufa over the course of two seasons (2019-21).

The 5-foot-8 winger is one of 14 Canes prospects that are currently expected to be playing in Russia, or a Russian-based league, for the 2023-24 season. That number could also grow in the near future.

Don Waddell said at his end-of-season media availability that prospects from overseas would likely play overseas next season due to the absence of an AHL partner. Last year's Wolves roster featured five other players from Europe or Russia that will need new rosters to call home this fall - Anttoni Honka, Noel Gunler, Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, and Tuukka Tieksola.

In regard to Pyotr Kochetkov, who also spent time in Chicago last year, Waddell said on July 1 that if the netminder needs to go down to the AHL to play, he already has a few options for him.

North American-born prospects that are under contract with the Canes could also wind up in a European league or the KHL, or they could be assigned to an AHL club that has an existing affiliation with another NHL club. The ECHL could be an option too.

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