Jake Virtanen signs a one-year contract with Spartak Moscow of the KHL
@Jake Virtanen won’t be playing in the NHL this season.
According to a report from Spartak Moscow’s official Twitter account, the team has inked Virtanen to a one-year contract.
🔴⚪ ХК «Спартак» Москва и канадский нападающий Джейк Виртанен подписали контракт на один сезон.
Виртанен – обладатель «золота» МЧМ и «бронзы» юниорского первенства мира в составе сборной Канады.
В NHL – 333 матча чемпионата и плей-офф, 103 очка (57+46)
— Spartak Moscow (@spartak_hc) September 7, 2021
A native of Langley, British Columbia, Virtanen was selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2014 draft by his hometown club, the Vancouver Canucks.
After some ups and downs in his first few seasons as a pro, Virtanen had what appeared to be a breakout season in 2019-20. He scored 18 goals and 36 points in 69 regular-season games, though he only added three points in 16 games during the Canucks’ playoff run in the bubble.
The 2021 season was a total disaster for Virtanen, as he scored just five goals and recorded zero assists over the course of 38 games. Virtanen is also currently under investigation for sexual assault for an alleged incident at a West Vancouver hotel in 2017.
The Canucks bought out the final year of Virtanen’s contract earlier this off-season, making him a free agent. He wasn’t able to find an NHL gig this summer and there’s a chance his career in the big leagues is over.