Oilers prospect who sued team over on-ice concerns named most interesting farmhand
Oilers analyst Bruce Curlock has identified defenceman prospect Nikita Yesveyev as an interesting prospect, one of the reasons being that he's sued his team for more playing time.
Yesveyev has been playing with the Kazan Ak-Bars this season and has been ridiculously benched numerous times, which was the reason for his lawsuit.
Oilers analyst names KHL defenceman as interesting prospect to watch
Oilers analyst Bruce Curlock has identified Yevseyev as being a talent ready for the jump to North America, and given his ice time in the KHL, that could only be a positive sign.
- Bruce Curlock
Despite filing a lawsuit for contract termination in December of 2023, Yesveyev was still benched for next to no ice time for months. Yevseyev claimed discrimination from the coaching staff, but the suit never went anywhere.
Only recently has he begun to play more minutes, a sign that he's earning the trust of the coach in a mature league.
The Edmonton Oilers drafted Yevseyev with their 6th round draft pick in 2022. In his age 18 season, Yevseyev played 48 games in the KHL.
It's a significant feat for a young defenceman to step into that league against much more mature talent, which will help him make the jump to North America.
The Oilers could use another left shot defenceman coming through the system with the team in Bakerfield light on that side.
Yevseyev has interest in getting more playing time and the Oilers need him in the AHL, so it's possible he comes over this offseason. For more reasons than one, he's an interesting prospect to be tracking.
