The Detroit Red Wings’ 2026 Summer Development Camp is underway at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center…
Development camp is underway inside BELFOR Training Center inside @LCArena_Detroit. #LGRW #RedWings pic.twitter.com/xhfwi3Jjm2
— Michael Whitaker (@mwhitaker_89) June 29, 2026
Back at it. Another new season. Red Wings development camp starting. Carter Bear going through some skating drills. Camp runs through Thursday. pic.twitter.com/e1VeOStoSV
— Ken Kal (@KenKalDRW) June 29, 2026
2026 2nd round (47th overall) pick Victor Plante #LGRW #RedWings pic.twitter.com/u1HfdYRzbh
— Michael Whitaker (@mwhitaker_89) June 29, 2026
And there are several KHL players who are over 20 years of age on the Development Camp roster, including Yegor Vinogradov. Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff wonders whether the Red Wings see a free agent signing-to-be in Vinogradov…
Center-wing Yegor Vinogradov, 23, ranked 15th in the KHL scoring race with 23 goals and 31 assists for 54 points in 67 games for Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo. He’s 6-foot-3, 203 pounds and he has one season left on his KHL contract.
As everyone in the hockey world knows, the Red Wings are looking for more scoring up front. Given the lack of scorers available in the free agent marketplace, it would certainly make sense to consider a move to add Vinogradov.
The problem is that there is no formal transfer agreement between the NHL and the Russians. That means NHL teams cannot buyout a KHL contract.
Under terms of a KHL contract, a player can buy himself out of his own contract as long as he uses his own funds to do it. It’s usually one-third or two-thirds of the value of the contract. KHL contracts are usually not made public, but the average KHL salary is $300,000 to $425,000.
Does Vinogradov have the money to desire to do that? Does he want to do that now? Do the Red Wings have interest? Those answers have not come out.
And before you ask, the Red Wings cannot just give Vinogradov the money to buy out his contract. That would be salary cap circumvention because it would be compensation outside of what’s allowed in an Entry Level contract.
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Even though there are scenarios that could allow Detroit to sign Vinogradov, it is also possible that the Red Wings are bringing him over merely to develop a relationship with him so they can be first in line to sign him next year.
And Duff also discusses the make-up of the Wings’ Summer Development Camp roster, free agent invites included.
