SKA forward Zakhar Bardakov said in an interview with Sport Express that he’s far from done with the NHL, even after a swift return to the KHL following his rookie season in Colorado.

Bardakov’s exit wasn’t a case of giving up. His entry-level deal with the Avalanche included a clause allowing him to head back to the KHL if he was assigned to the AHL rather than kept on Colorado’s NHL roster, a provision built in largely because of his age and experience level rather than a typical prospect track, as reported by Ryan O’Hara with The Hockey News. When the Avalanche moved him to their AHL affiliate, that clause kicked in, giving him a way out of the minors instead of grinding through a development assignment. Colorado still retains his rights via a qualifying offer, and the short-term nature of his new SKA deal could even allow a return to the Avalanche as soon as next season if he impresses in Russia.

“I 100% want to return there,” Bardakov said. “Now I understand how everything works. That league pushes you to get better every single day, you work on yourself, and you realize you’re actually a solid player. That’s why the contract with SKA is only for one year.”

He’s been candid about the calculation behind the move, framing this KHL stint as a bridge rather than a retreat. “I’ll play here for now, and in a year, maybe I’ll head back,” he said.

His NHL debut season didn’t produce eye-popping numbers, with just ten points in 60 games, but Bardakov came away convinced the level of competition is exactly what he needs to keep developing. For now, that means proving himself again in the KHL, with his NHL rights and his sights still very much fixed on Colorado.