Semyonov Seeks Buyout from Leafs, Returns to KHL

The Kirill Semyonov Era is over in Toronto. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs placed Semyonov on waivers for the purpose of a contract termination on Wednesday afternoon, ending his tenure with the team after just three NHL games and zero points. 

Semyonov, who was waiver exempt, was loaned back to the AHL's Toronto Marlies on Tuesday after joining the Maple Leafs for their three-game California road trip last week. With the acquisition of Kyle Clifford, along with Ilya Mikheyev's imminent return, Semyonov was likely on the outside looking in when it came to playing time, likely prompting him to simply cut his losses and return home. 

According to Russian-based news outlet Match TV, Semyonov is set to sign with the KHL's Avangard Omsk, where he played his prior four professional seasons before signing with the Maple Leafs this summer, once his contract termination becomes official. 

Given the pay discrepancy between what Semyonov was set to make in the AHL compared to what he will likely pull down back in Russia, the decision to leave the North American game behind was an obvious one. Semyonov was slated to make just $80,000 this season if he remained on the Marlies roster, dwarfing a KHL salary that will almost certainly land in the millions. 

Semyonov was a quality forward throughout his nine seasons in that league, topping out at 46 points in 62 games back in 2019-20.