Hurricanes goalie leaves NHL to sign contract with Russian team in KHL

Billy Heyen

Hurricanes goalie leaves NHL to sign contract with Russian team in KHL image

The Carolina Hurricanes saw this coming and already bolstered their goalie depth chart this offseason to be three-deep.

So they won't overly miss their departed goaltender, who is heading to Russia.

Spencer Martin has signed a two-year deal with CSKA Moscow in the KHL, according to a release from that league.

This will be the 30-year old Martin's first time going overseas to play. He's expected to start in Moscow.

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In 2024-25, Martin played nine games for the Hurricanes and struggled with an 84.6 save percentage and 3.89 goals against average.

He was better at AHL Chicago, with a 20-8-2 record.

Martin was a third-round pick by Colorado in 2013. He has played for Tampa Bay, Vancouver and Columbus, as well.

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The Hurricanes have Frederik Andersen, Pyotr Kochetkov and newly signed Cayden Primeau ready to play goalie in the upcoming season.

Martin may have a chance to improve and return to the NHL in a couple of years, but for now, he's off to Russia.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle