Denis Bodrov signs with Spartak Moscow of the KHL (Photo © khl.ru)

Denis Bodrov signed a 1-yr deal with Spartak Moscow of the KHL. Bodrov, 24, spent part of the last season with the Adirondack Phantoms of the AHL.

After leaving Russia to play within the Philadelphia Flyers system, many were expecting that the NHL franchise would sign a new contract with the defenseman, but it didn’t work out and now Bodrov is back in the KHL.

Bodrov, soon to be 24, scored four points (1+3) in 17 games with the Phantoms. He’ll play with Spartak with the number 33.

Flyers sign Denis Bodrov (Photo © khl.ru)

The Philadelphia Flyers signed Denis Bodrov to an AHL deal. The Russian defenseman was a second round pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and was released by KHL‘s Atlant Mytischi in November due to bad performances.

“He hasn’t played in about a month,” GM Holmgren said to philly.com. “I don’t really know the process over there in Russia, but it worked out where he was free to do what he wanted. He’s been here the last few days.”

Bodrov, 23, started his pro career with Lada Togliatti. He was drafted by the Flyers after his good performances at 2006 WJC, where he won the silver medal with Team Russia. He was then traded to Atlant Mytischi after he was rumored to have a bad influence on the team’s youngest players. In the Moscow Region team he didn’t manage to play up to the expectation and he was finally released in November.

“He was a highly thought of defenseman in our system at one time,” Holmgren said to philly.com. “He was on our reserve list. He’s not in shape right now. He needs to get down there and play. We’ll see what happens.”

The move to North America might be a successful change of scenario for the young defenseman, who was very near to sign with the Flyers already on summer 2007, but then he decided to spend a further year with Lada.

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Denis Bodrov leaves Atlant

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Denis Bodrov leaves Atlant (Photo © atlant-mo.ru)

Through Atlant’s official site, the team’s General Manager Ravil Ishakov reported that the contract with Denis Bodrov is ceased with immediate effect. The parts mutually agreed to separate ways. Bodrov joined Atlant last season, after spending his whole career within Lada Togliatti. A couple of years ago he has been very near to a move overseas as the Philadelphia Flyers manifested much interest towards him, but he apparently refused offers from both the Flyers and Avangard Omsk to remain in his hometown club. Denis Bodrov was a second round draft pick on the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

In the 33 games he played with the Moscow Region team during 08-09 and 09-10 seasons, he scored two goals and five assists, with 30 PIMs. He also played four post-season clashes last year, with one assist in four games. So far no rumors have been spread about his career’s continuation.