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Continental Hockey League (KHL) -  Former NHL player Alex Korolyuk and former NHL prospect Anton But (Tampa Bay Lightning) have both switched clubs and signed deals with HC SKA (St. Petersburg). It appears that Korolyuk’s chances of returning to the NHL are next to zero, as the veteran forward has declined his last opportunity after the New Jersey – San Jose trade last year. The forward has since skated for HC Atlant (Mytistische), where he took on a smaller role, but unsuccessfully attempted to win the Gagarin Cup. But has had a sub-par season for HC CSKA and has since been waived by that club and claimed by the now defunct KHL club HC Khimik (which has left the KHL and has been replaced by HC Avtomobilist from Ekaterinburg). Another player on the move to St. Petersburg is a former NHLer from the Czech Republic, Petr Cajanek, who has already skated several seasons in Russia and is considered a very versatile veteran player. All these moves have been strengthening the St. Petersburg based club that unfortunately fizzled out early in last year’s playeoffs despite a high payroll and hefty expectations

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IIHF Winter Olympics -  Denis Kulyash (Nashville Predators) and Alexander Korolyuk (San Jose) have been added to Russia’s Olympic roster. Kulyash will replace his Dynamo teammate and former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Dmitri Bykov, who was sidelined indefinitely after re-injuring his knee. Korolyuk will replace injured Alexei Zhamnov, who went down with a shoulder injury last month. Korolyuk has been one of the top forwards in Russia, while skating for struggling Vityaz (Podolsk). He was instrumental in raising his club out of the High League (Russia 2) into the Super League (Russia 1) last season. Kulyash padded his candidacy just a few days ago when the young defenseman lead Dynamo with his blistering slap shot to a victory over Ak Bars by scoring a hattrick in the waning minutes of the contest.

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Russian Super League -  Alexander Korolyuk (San Jose Sharks) will make his return to the Super League within a few days. The San Jose Sharks forward has spent the season thus far in the High League (Russia 2) with Vityaz (Podolsk). The young forward is not a stranger to the Super League, as he spent his hold out a couple of years back with Ak Bars (Kazan) before returning to North America. Along with Korolyuk, Khimik will get Mikhail Yunkov’s (Washington Capitals) older brother Alexander Yunkov, who has been very effective with Korolyuk on the same line. In return, Vityaz received young defensemen Denis Makarov and Mikhail Lyubushin (Los Angeles Kings). Vityaz likely also received financial compensation, as the trade was very one sided with Khimik getting one of the top scorers in the High League in Korolyuk and giving up hardly anything in return.