Winnipeg Jets draft pick Mikhail Berdin put on a show at the 2023-24 KHL All-Star Game.
Over the past weekend, Russia's Kontinental Hockey League celebrated its all-star classic. With no shortage of goals, Team Kharlamov beat Team Tarasov by way of an 8-7 shootout final.
Team Bobrov, to whom former Manitoba Moose star goaltender Mikhail Berdin suited up, ended up finishing third, with a win over Team Chernyshev.
In that game, Berdin picked up the puck behind his goal, went the length of the ice while dangling his way through defenders and helped score the sixth goal of the 7-4 final for the Bobkov.
Fans of the Moose have seen Berdin's tactics many a time, with attempted field goals, dangles, body contact and even the odd goalie goal having occurred at the former Bell MTS Place over the past few seasons.
Although never quite materializing into an NHL-calibre goaltender for the Jets, Berdin certainly made some fond memories playing in Manitoba for the American Hockey League's Moose.
Having spent four years from 2018-22 in the antlers, the now 25-year-old backstop suited up in 127 games for Manitoba, while posting a 64-50-11 record to go alongside eight shutouts, a 2.67 goals against average and a .908 save percentage - all great numbers.
Opting to head back home to Russia to be closer to family last October, the Jets' sixth round pick from the 2016 NHL Draft rejoined the Kontinental Hockey League and served as a member of SKA St. Petersburg and HK Sochi over the past two seasons.
He signed a two-year extension this past offseason that runs through the 2024-25 season, leaving him no longer affiliated with the Jets.
In doing so, Berdin became a Group Six UFA - "A player becomes a Group 6 UFA if they are 25, completed 3 or more professional seasons, has a contract expiring, and has played less than 80 NHL Games. For goalies, this is 28 NHL games with more than 30 minutes of ice time." (Puck Pedia)