Carolina Hurricanes‘ 3rd year Russian-born left wing Valentin Zykov(73) is popping the score sheet in his recent recall from affiliate Charlotte Checkers, where he’s exploded for a career high 32 goals, 20 assists and 52 points in 61 AHL games.
The solidly built 6’1″ 224 lbs. forward was originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft (#37 overall), but got off to a slow start as a rookie with minor league club Ontario Reign (7 goals, 7 assists), then was traded at the deadline.
He basically doubled his scoring totals as a sophomore skater to 16 goals and 18 assists in 66 games, which put him on the radar of the parent club to earn his first summons to the big league.
It took him no time to get settled in a first appearance of 2016/2017, as he connected for his first NHL goal.
He would somewhat repeat the feat but bettered it in a first venture up for 2017/2018.
Going scoreless in his debut, he struck for 2 tallies in his 2nd game and added a pair of assists in his third outing.
The almost 23-year old, former more than point-per-game guy in three seasons of the QMJHL with Baie-Comeau Drakkar is only getting started.