29 teams already called, passing on Vitali Pinchuk now is a front office mistake
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Daniel Lucente
Mar 25, 2026 (4:39 PM)
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Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Thomas Drance says 29 NHL teams have contacted Vitali Pinchuk's camp, and a 31-goal KHL center just became every front office's cheap upside play.
Pinchuk is 24, undrafted by the NHL, and a Belarusian pivot with Dinamo Minsk. He was taken 62nd overall by the Kingston Frontenacs in the 2019 CHL Import Draft.
His 2025-26 season finished at 31-35-66 in 65 KHL games. That is better than a point per game from a big middle-lane center, not a fringe flyer.
The contract angle matters as much as the scoring touch. A first NHL deal signed at age 24 is a one-year entry-level contract, which keeps the cap hit modest and the risk low.
That is why this should be a 32-team story, not a 29-team story. Every club can fit one low-cost bet with real top-six upside.
You can see the appeal in the post below, he attacks inside, protects pucks, and finishes plays instead of floating on the perimeter.
Re Vitali Pinchuk: "The 24-year-old...pivot has produced at a better than point per game rate in the KHL this season and will be highly sought after; there's a lot of enthusiasm for his size...and finishing skill throughout the industry."
- Thomas Drance
- Thomas Drance
For contenders, Pinchuk is a spring and summer recruiting battle. He can fight for a third-line center role, help a second power-play unit, and give a coach another body who can play through traffic.
For rebuilders, the pitch is even cleaner. No trade asset leaves the system, no retention slot gets burned, and the team gets a live NHL test fast.
Vitali Pinchuk puts all 32 NHL teams on notice
Fans should read this as roster construction, not rumor fog.
Big centers with finishing skill do not hit the market for free very often. Pinchuk also has OHL experience in Kingston, which trims some of the North American adjustment risk.
The key now is opportunity. The team that offers real minutes, not empty promises, should have the best shot. That is why all 32 teams should be in.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 25|96 ANSWERS 29 teams already called, passing on Vitali Pinchuk now is a front office mistake Should every NHL team be calling Vitali Pinchuk right now? | ||
| Yes | 67 | 69.8 % |
| No | 29 | 30.2 % |
| List of polls | ||