What happened: Nazar Privalov, a projected top selection in the 2027 NHL Draft, has signed a contract with CSKA that runs until May 31, 2030. The deal keeps the 6-foot-4 center in the KHL for three seasons beyond his draft-eligible summer.

Why it matters: Any NHL team that drafts Privalov in 2027 would now be waiting until at least the 2030-31 season for his North American arrival, a timeline that historically weighs on draft position. Scouts have pegged him as a consensus No. 2 on early 2027 boards, so a long-term Russian commitment reshapes the calculus at the very top of that class.

What to watch: Watch how NHL scouting departments adjust his 2027 draft stock, and whether the contract's structure includes any early NHL out clauses as details emerge.