A former member of the San Jose Sharks has changed representation. Shumi Babaev announced that Klim Kostin has joined his company, the Shumi Agency, and he will represent the Russian forward moving forward.

Babaev, who is an agent in both the NHL and Kontinental Hockey League, also represents players like current free agent Evgeny Kuznetsov and Yegor Chinakhov of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

According to PuckPedia, this isn’t the first time in Kostin’s career he’s changed agents. His two most recent contracts were signed with Paul Theofanous as Kostin’s representation. Meanwhile, his entry-level contract was signed while the forward was represented by JP Barry.

Babaev’s ties to the KHL are the most interesting part of Kostin’s decision, as the 26-year-old former first-round draft pick has struggled to find a place for himself in the NHL. The Sharks were his fourth NHL team, and general manager Mike Grier opted not to tender a qualifying offer to him this summer.

Over the course of six seasons, Kostin had appeared in 190 NHL games and recorded a total of 53 points over that span.

At this stage, it’ll be interesting to see if Kostin attempts to fight his way back to the NHL or if he opts to return to his native Russia for the 2025-26 season.

Photo Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

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Former Sharks Forward Changes Representation Amid Free Agency