Veteran NHL Goalie Leaves North America to Sign in Russia
Zach Fucale, a seasoned goaltender currently participating in the AHL playoffs, seems to have already chosen his next destination.
Traktor Chelyabinsk's General Manager, Alexei Volkov, from the KHL, revealed to Sport24.ru that an agreement with Fucale has been reached.
Alexei Volkov Praises Fucale
"We negotiated with the Canadian goalie. He's playing in the AHL conference finals right now. We wait until his season is over and then we can officially announce the signing. But it's not such a big mystery anymore: we're talking about Zach Fucale. He's a skilled goalie who has been considering continuing his career in the KHL for a long time. Here he wants to find new motivation for himself, to raise his level of play. As soon as he finishes playing for Hershey, and we get permission from Washington to announce an agreement before July 1, when his contract expires, we will make an official announcement." - Alexei Volkov
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While Fucale is contractually still signed with the Washington Capitals, he spent the entire 2022-23 regular season with the Hershey Bears in the AHL. He showed up big in 38 matches, with a 21-11-4 record, a 2.54 goals against average, and a save percentage of .902. In the postseason, Fucale has only played one match for Hersey as they wait to see who they'll confront in the AHL finals.
Fucale's Move: The Possible Reasons
Although Fucale hasn't revealed his reasons for leaving the NHL system, it's not uncommon for veteran players to switch from the AHL to the KHL. Many attribute this move to the AHL's focus on developing younger talents, which often involves benching veteran players, leading to a weaker team.
We will see if Fucale, who had an incredible streak of shutouts last season for the Capitals, will ever return to North America.
As Read on Markerzone - Washington Capitals Goalie Leaves North America After Ten Years to Sign in the KHL
| POLL | ||
5 JUIN | 196 ANSWERS Veteran NHL Goalie Leaves North America to Sign in Russia Did you ever see Zach Fucale play live? | ||
| Yes | 58 | 29.6 % |
| No | 138 | 70.4 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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