Player from the 2018 Hockey Canada scandal gets his contract terminated in the KHL
Michael McLeod who controversially moved to the KHL this season has now had his contract terminated by Barys Astana along with several other former NHL players.
McLeod, who is facing charges related to an incident involving Team Canada's 2018 World Juniors team, had joined the KHL while awaiting the legal process. He along with fellow former NHLer Dillon Dube signed with Barys Astana earlier this year. However in a surprising move the team abruptly terminated the contracts of all its foreign players with little explanation.
In 16 games with Barys Astana, McLeod recorded 3 goals and 6 points, making it unlikely that poor performance led to his dismissal. Despite the lack of clarity surrounding the situation it has left seven former NHL players including McLeod without a team.
While most of these players are expected to return to North America & look for opportunities in the AHL or ECHL, McLeod's situation is more complicated due to his ongoing legal troubles. He may have a harder time finding a team in North America in the near future.
The exact reason behind Barys Astana's decision to terminate these players are unknown & it's not clear if more details will emerge. For now McLeod & the other players will be seeking new opportunities in other leagues around the world.
We will keep you updated with any further developments regarding this situation as more information becomes available.
