KHL club Kunlun Red Star has announced the signing of 26-year-old Canadian center Hudson Elyniuk to a one-year contract.

The son of former NHLer Pat Elyniuk, Hudson was a third-round draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2016. He then recorded 73- and 86-point seasons with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs before turning pro. Elyniuk never played in the NHL, but has spent the better part of the last six seasons in the AHL, mostly with the Toronto Marlie and Tucson Roadrunners. He’s just coming off a 20-point season with the Chicago Wolves, back in the Carolina organization.

Before Elyniuk, Kunlun had already signed former NHLers Adam Clendening, Ian McCoshen and Jayden Halbgewachs this off-season, as well as Nashville-drafted goaltender Konstantin Volkov. The team already had Ryan Merkley last season, and its long-time captain is Brandon Yip.

Nominally a Chinese club, Kunlun has played its home games in the Moscow suburb of Mityshi since 2020, at first due to Covid-related restrictions. However, all indications are that the team will continue to play in Mytyshi in the 2024-25 season.

Formed in 2016, Kunlun Red Star formed the basis of China’s 2022 Olympic team, largely by giving imported players a Chinese club to play for long enough to become naturalized citizens. Eight players from the 2022 Olympic team remain with the club, including Yip, Jake Chelios and goaltender Jeremy Smith.