He had 2 goals in 70 KHL games before this, I assume most of his time was spent on the 5th line but that's still pretty awful.
But yeah, I assume he will not keep up the good play and will be banished to the 4th or 5th line again. I cannot help but marvel at all the places he has played hockey - almost nobody in the world has been to Prince George, Binghamton, and Khabarovsk, but he has called all three home.
Most of the players on the 5th line are 1 of the 2 cap hit free junior players KHL teams can have on their roster. If he’s not producing it’s hard to see him playing, he doesn’t exactly have a 200 ft game.
I’d guess after not playing for a year, and not playing a ton the season before, that his in-game conditioning will become an issue at some point. If his work ethic is an issue than it will be sooner than later.
Sochi is very bad, they spend no money (parity isn’t a exactly a thing in the KHL), so he can probably maintain his ice time as long he show any offensive pulse.
He’s been on Neftehimik Nizhnekamsk, Amur Khabarovsk, and now HK Sochi. Popi’s made a nice little tour of the KHL’s worst teams. He could run out of cheap bottom feeders if he moves on again. (He hasn’t played for Severstal Cherepovets yet, not sure what other teams qualify.)
