Grebeshkov to join SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL…

Well, you can cross Denis Grebeshkov off the list.

While it was highly – and we do mean highly – unlikely that he would re-signed with the Nashville Predators, Grebeshkov has agreed to sign with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.

(For the record, we don’t mean “highly unlikely” as in he wouldn’t want to stay – because obviously, according to this, he did – but as in the Preds couldn’t afford him.)

Many fans were lobbying for the Preds to re-sign the Russian blueliner after an impressive audition in Nashville. In his first game wearing a Predators sweater, he bagged a goal and an assist against his old club, the Edmonton Oilers. Unfortunately, after posting a plus-1 rating in each of his next two games, Grebeshkov took a shot in the groin and was forced to miss the remainder of the regular season after emergency surgery following the contest.

He returned in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, however, and collected two assists in the heart-breaking 5-4 overtime loss. Even in the Game 6 series clincher for the Chicago Blackhawks, Grebeshkov managed to register a plus-1, the only Nashville defenseman to finish with a positive rating.

If he finishes his career in Russia, those two games will be the only Stanley Cup Playoff games of his career as the Oilers, Los Angeles Kings and New York Islanders all failed to make the post season in his first five years in the league.

His deal with SKA St. Petersburg will reportedly exceed the $3.1 million he made last year in the NHL. We would’ve loved for David Poile and company to find a way to bring him back in the fold, at least for one more season. But, in all honesty, if that figure is correct, there’s just no way could’ve made it work.

It’s too bad too. It would’ve been a real treat to see him on the second power play unit all season long.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Danielle (last name unknown) // flickr.com