Unrestricted free-agent Marek Svatos has officially signed with Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League.
The 28-year-old Slovakian was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 7th round (227th overall) in 2001, and has spent his entire career with the Avalanche. In 316 NHL games, Svatos scored 96 goals and 68 assists for 164 points with a -4 rating and 207 penalty minutes. In 14 career playoff games Svatos has scored just 2 goals and 5 assists.
In 2005-06, Svatos had his most productive season with the Avalanche netting 32 goals and 50 points in just 61 games, but his point production has dropped off significantly over his six NHL season.
Last year, Svatos struggled mightily to keep up with his young linemates throughout the regular season just posting 7 goals and 4 assists with a -13 rating in 54 games. His post-season wasn't much more productive as he scored once in three games, as his regular season injury troubles followed him.
Svatos isn’t a bad player by any means, but he does play a very one dimensional game which is strictly goal scoring. The general managers around the league turned their heads to the available free-agent due to his inability to fulfill his goal scorer’s potential, and not consistently produce for Colorado.
Marek's decision to sign a one year deal with Omsk probably suggests he holds high hopes for a return to the NHL.
Svatos joins a long list of players to jump ship to the KHL. This year, just to name a few, the NHL has lost the likes of Evgeni Nabokov, Pavol Demitra, and Maxim Afinogenov this off-season. Sadly, the list will continue grow.
- Kendall Grubbs
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