British-Canadian left winger Brendan Perlini, 28, and Spartak Moscow have mutually agreed to terminate his contract, the KHL club announced on Sunday. According to the announcement, the contract was terminated “at the player’s initiative” and that Spartak retains Perlini’s KHL playing rights.
After remaining a free agent from last summer until well into the season, Perlini finally signed with Spartak in December and played only four games with the team – he recorded one assist, two shots on goal and was a minus-2.
Born in Guildford, England in 1996 while his father Fred Perlini played for the Guildford Flames, Brendan grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. and played junior hockey for the Barrie Colts and Niagra Ice Dogs of the OHL. He was taken in the first round, 12th overall, by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Between 2016 and 2022, Perlini recorded 81 points and 92 penalty minutes in 262 NHL games with the Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers. During the pandemic-delayed 2020-21 season, he also played 21 games for HC Ambri-Piotta in Switzerland.
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He went to the training camp of the Florida Panthers in 2023 and played in some pre-season games but spent the season in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers.
A dual citizen, Perlini represented Canada at the 2014 IIHF U-18 World Championship and the 2016 World Junior Championship. He also played for Team Canada at the 2022 Spengler Cup.
Brendan’s older brother Brett is a long-time member of the British national team, having played in four elite-level World Championships, and is a member of the EIHL’s Cardiff Devils, who are currently hosting the IIHF Continental Cup final round.