6th year right wing Brandon Kozun(51) shows no adjustment lag in his first season away from home skating with his new team Jokerit in a new country, Russia.
He’s off to a speedy start with 8 goals and 12 assists in 18 KHL games, good enough for third in league scoring.
The power mini-forward signed a one-year deal after splitting time in 2014/2015 with Toronto Maple Leafs and their affiliate Toronto Marlies.
He was able to connect for his first NHL goal and one more plus 2 assists in 20 games.
He even started on the opening night roster and finished the regular season with the parent club before deciding to take his game elsewhere as he approached his third restricted free agency.
Originally in Los Angeles Kings‘ prospect system for his first 3 campaigns before getting traded in the middle of his fourth year, he was never recalled despite consistently putting up big numbers.
Still just 25-years old, he may just find his way back to North American pro hockey under a one-way contract if he continues to excel and wants to return.
Brandon Kozun(15) Manchester Monarchs
Los Angeles Kings‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#179 overall), right wing Brandon Kozun(15) signed a qualifying offer to stay put in the prospect system for another year.
The small 5’8″ 162 lbs., smart playing-making forward has skated in 246 AHL games with affiliate Manchester Monarchs scoring a handy 75 goals and 95 assists with a +19 rating.
In four seasons of junior hockey in the WHL with Calgary Hitmen he absolutely tore up the score sheet with over 100 points in each of his last two years putting him at a 1.24 points-per-game and won the league title in 2010. His plus/minus was completely through the roof at a +103.
He also finished that campaign, both regular season and playoffs as the league’s assist and point leader and added CHL Top Scorer Award to the mix.
The 23-year has yet to realize his first NHL action and his smaller size may affect that possibility on a team that has a history of recalling bigger players.
See related: 3/5-11