American forward Rocco Grimaldi, 32, has signed a two-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg, the KHL announced on Wednesday. For 5-foot-6, 181-pound Grimaldi, this is his first contract to play overseas. Born in Anaheim, Cal., Grimaldi moved to Michigan at age 12 to further his hockey career. He played in USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and then was drafted by the Florida Panthers [http://thn.com/florida] in the second round, 33rd overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Following three seasons of college hockey at the University of North Dakota, Grimaldi signed with Florida in 2014. Between 2014 and 2022, Grimaldi played 203 NHL regular-season games for the Panthers, Colorado Avalanche [http://thn.com/colorado] and Nashville Predators [http://thn.com/nashville], recording 67 points and 34 penalty minutes. He also played in 11 playoff games with Florida and Nashville, recording four points. Gerard Gallant Takes Over KHL’s Shanghai Dragons [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/e479c092-abba-4970-b86f-b5695d6460f5.webp] Gerard Gallant Takes Over KHL’s Shanghai Dragons Gerard Gallant is the new head coach of the Shanghai Dragons, the KHL club announced on Wednesday. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/gerard-gallant-takes-over-khl-s-shanghai-dragons] Grimaldi also played in the pre-season with the Anaheim Ducks [http://thn.com/anaheim] in 2023 and since then has played in the AHL [http://thn.com/ahl]. In 2024-25 with the Cleveland Monsters, he had 60 points in 72 regular-season and playoff games. Internationally, Grimaldi won two gold medals for the USA at the 2010 and 2011 IIHF U-18 World Championships and another at the 2013 World Juniors. He also played for the USA at the 2023 World Championships, and in total he has recorded 32 points in 30 IIHF games. Tony DeAngelo Leaves SKA St. Petersburg, Officially For “Family Reasons” [https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/MjA5NDg5NTY3OTE5NjQ2MzU4/usatsi_21958313.jpg] Tony DeAngelo Leaves SKA St. Petersburg, Officially For “Family Reasons” Tony DeAngelo has left SKA St. Petersburg. The 29-year-old American defenseman’s contract has been terminated by mutual agreement, officially for family reasons, the KHL club announced on Tuesday. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/tony-deangelo-leaves-ska-st-petersburg-officially-for-family-reasons] A perennial powerhouse in the KHL, last season SKA finished a disappointing seventh in the Western Conference and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs despite a star-studded lineup that included Ivan Demidov, Alexander Nikishin, Mikhail Grigorenko [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/former-nhl-first-rounder-mikhail-grigorenko-changes-khl-teams], Evgeny Kuznetsov [https://thehockeynews.com/international/players/evgeny-kuznetsov-signs-4-year-contract-with-ska-st-petersburg], Arseni Gritsyuk, Nikita Zaitsev [https://thehockeynews.com/international/players/nikita-zaitsev-signs-4-year-deal-with-ska-st-petersburg] and Tony DeAngelo [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/tony-deangelo-leaves-ska-st-petersburg-officially-for-family-reasons]. Heading into 2025-26, only Zaitsev remains from that group. The team has replaced coach Roman Rotenberg with Igor Larionov and added center Igor [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/igor-larionov-jr-to-play-for-father-in-khl] Larionov Jr. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/igor-larionov-jr-to-play-for-father-in-khl] and North Americans Trevor Murphy, Brennan Menell and Joey Blandisi, who have some NHL experience. Igor Larionov Jr. To Play For Father In KHL [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0d2a310e-2c69-4dda-a270-39e4eca94e66.webp] Igor Larionov Jr. To Play For Father In KHL American-Russian center Igor Larionov Jr., 26, has signed a one-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg, the KHL club announced on social media on Wednesday. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/igor-larionov-jr-to-play-for-father-in-khl]
