Nashville Predators sign Vitali Pinchuk from KHL to one-year deal

The Nashville Predators have signed forward Vitali Pinchuk to a one-year, entry-level contract to begin in the 2026-27 season. Pinchuk, a Zhlobin, Belarus native, was one of the top KHL free agents this spring. The 24-year-old center scored 31 goals and had 35 assists in 65 games for Dynamo Minsk last season.

Over six seasons with Dynamo (2020-2026), he's totaled 74 goals and 73 assists in 254 games. According to a report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman , Pinchuk chose Nashville over the Los Angeles Kings in his final decision. During his draft eligible season (2019-20), Pinchuk played with the Kingston Frontenacs, scoring 13 goals with 21 assists in 54 games.

After he was not drafted that summer, he signed with Dynamo Minsk and has been in the KHL ever since. Punchuk, a 6-foot-3, left-handed center, has grown his offensive game in recent years. This past season with Dynamo, he ranked second on the team in goals and third in assists.

As a late bloomer in the KHL, it's hard to tell what kind of NHL career Pinchuk could carve out. It's a rare path to success, but happens on occasion. The most prominent example is Artemi Panarin, who went undrafted in 2010, but signed with the Chicago Blackhawks as a 23-year-old in 2015.