New York Islanders Anatoly Golyshev Signs Extension In KHL

New York Islanders former fourth-round pick from the 2016 NHL draft, Anatoly Golyshev will be staying in the KHL for the foreseeable future.

In 2016, the New York Islanders drafted Russian born Anatoly Golyshev 95th overall. He wasn’t the biggest player in the draft, but the 5’9″ forward was putting up points in the KHL.

The then 21-year-old had a 44 point season for the KHL’s Yekaterinburg Avtomobilist in his draft year. You never know if Russian born players, already in the KHL will ever come to the NHL, but the Isles took a shot at him with a fourth-round pick.

With his contract up at the end of the season, perhaps he might want to make the jump over the North American and join up with the team that drafted him?

What’s He Done Since the Draft?

Why should we care about a former fourth-round pick playing out in Russia? Was he even any good?

Since his draft year, Golyshev has scored 88 points in 153 games. He hasn’t been outstanding, but he’s been a solid forward that consistently put up points for Avtomobilist.

He wouldn’t likely come to North America and change the game, but he could come in and perhaps give the Islanders another option going forward.

But on Thursday Igor Eronko reported over Twitter that Golyshev has signed a four-year extension with Avtomobilist, staying put in Russia for a long time.

To be fair, it’s not like we shouldn’t have seen it coming. Just a few weeks ago Eronko again reported that Golyshev didn’t want to leave Russia now that he has two children.

The New York Islanders took a shot on a player that had some talent even though they knew he wasn’t likely to come over. They shot their shot with him and it didn’t work out. All they lost was a fourth-round pick.

PS: They drafted Otto Koivula 20 picks later at 120, so the 2016 fourth round wasn’t a total loss.