Alex Galchenyuk signs 2-year deal with KHL club
Alex Galchenyuk is headed overseas after penning a two-year pact with KHL club SKA Saint Petersburg, the team announced Friday.
Galchenyuk was arrested July 9 in Scottsdale, Arizona, on several charges, including private property hit and run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest, and threatening or intimidating. No physical injuries resulted from the hit and run, only property damage.
A police report said Galchenyuk was acting "erratic and aggressive" during the incident and directed racial slurs toward a police officer in training while threatening to have an officer and their family killed.
The Arizona Coyotes terminated Galchenyuk's contract on July 13, only 12 days after they signed him to a one-year deal worth $750,000 as a free agent.
Galchenyuk issued an apology to the police for his "deeply disrespectful and despicable behavior" on July 18 and announced he was entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.
He pleaded guilty to one misdemeanour threatening charge in Scottsdale City Court on Monday, but five other charges were dropped.
Galchenyuk was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 27 days being suspended upon completing a recovery program, and 12 months without consuming or possessing alcohol.
The 29-year-old suited up for the Montreal Canadiens, Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Colorado Avalanche over 11 seasons.
Selected by the Canadiens with the third overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, Galchenyuk amassed 146 goals and 354 points over 654 contests.