Daniil Chayka received some news of the unsavory variety on Monday.
According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Vegas Golden Knights were parting ways with the defenseman prospect. The Russian skater was placed here with the intent to terminate the contract. The 22-year-old was a second-round pick for the Golden Knights in 2021 (38th overall).
On the surface, he appeared to be a promising prospect. He scored 23 goals and 64 assists in three seasons (165 games played) at the OHL level, making his presence felt with the Guelph Storm. However, that production hasn't translated to minor league-level success.
Here, he scored three goals and 13 assists in three seasons (126 games played), averaging 0.13 points per game. The Russian defenseman was demoted to the ECHL level, where he played in four games with the Tahoe Knight Monsters in 2024-25. Here, he only scored one assist in that span.
If unclaimed by another team, Chayka will be an unrestricted free agent. However, the defenseman does have options regarding his playing career. He could return to Russia, where he played for CSKA Moscow in 2020-21. Of course, that would be an option if he either elects to abstain from playing in the NHL again or doesn't get signed.
What could've been with Daniil Chayka
Normally, second-round picks pan out well in any sport. They have solid careers where they become key contributors. Sometimes, they're even the focal point for a specific franchise (see Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets). However, that wasn't the case for Daniil Chayka.
The 22-year-old couldn't put the pieces together offensively. He couldn't keep pace with the faster leagues at the AHL and ECHL level. Thus, the defenseman was absent from numerous games, hindering his team in the process.
Now, he's mired in hockey purgatory, where he must restart his career. That means working on his fundamentals and becoming the strong complimentary piece he was during his OHL days with the Guelph Storm. Doing small things like passing the puck better or seeing the open man will go a long way in getting Chayka back in good graces with a hockey team.
As of right now, the Vegas Golden Knights don't appear to be that team, where the 22-year-old looks to rebound from this setback. The good news is he has plenty of hockey ahead of him, especially at his given age. He could see his first NHL game if he builds off this and works on his craft.