Michael McLeod signs with KHL’s Avangard Omsk after acquittal

Michael McLeod, one of five Hockey Canada players who were found not guilty of sexual assault charges in July, has signed a three-year contract with Avangard Omsk of the Russian Kontinental Hockey League.

McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Carter Hart were members of Hockey Canada’s U-20 National Junior Team in 2018. They were criminally charged in early 2024 for an alleged incident that occurred after the 2018 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala in London, Ontario. In July, Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia found the five players not guilty of sexual assault. McLeod was also acquitted of a separate charge of participating in the offense of sexual assault.

The NHL said at the time that those players were ineligible to rejoin the league until they were reinstated as part of its own investigation. The league announced in September that all five players would be eligible to play in the NHL again starting December 1.

“Taking into account that the players have been away from the game for 20 months – including since their acquittal in July – we have determined that the players will be eligible to sign a contract with the NHL no earlier than October 15, 2025 and eligible to participate in NHL games no earlier than December 1, 2025, bringing their total time away from the League to nearly two years,” the NHL said in a statement. press release.

The NHLPA said it was “pleased that (the players) have the opportunity to resume” their NHL careers.

McLeod, 27, last played in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils in the 2023-24 season. He played 19 games with Omsk in 2024-25, one of two KHL teams he joined during Hockey Canada’s investigation and legal proceedings.

Avangard Omsk is coached by former Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators coach Guy Boucher.

Alexey Sopin, general director of Avangard Omsk, said via Telegram: “Negotiations with Michael and his representatives were brief. The player everyone was waiting for will wear the Hawks uniform again. We are very happy that this difficult situation ended positively for us and for the player.”

There has been speculation recently that the Carolina Hurricanes are interested in signing McLeod. This news prompted immediate reaction from Hurricanes fans, including a petition urging the team to reconsider signing McLeod, which had more than 1,700 signatures. A deal with McLeod and Carolina never materialized.

McLeod was drafted 12th overall in 2016 by the Devils and has 85 points in 287 career games. He was one of the team’s top defensive tackles when he and Foote were granted “indefinite leaves of absence from the team” on January 24, 2024. The players were accused of sexual assault the following month.

Among other Hockey Canada players yet to sign, several reports have linked Hart, a former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender, to the Vegas Golden Knights.