Claude Julien's favourite goes to Russia
Considered Claude Julien's favorite player during his time with the Sainte-Flanelle, forward Jordan Weal went from being a player on the CH's power play to playing in the minors with the Laval Rocket this season.
In light of this new reality, the forward has decided to move to the Russian Continental League (KHL) for the next two years.
According to Sport-Express.ru, Ak Bars will pay Weal 65 mullion Russian rubles per season for the next two years. That works out to roughly $876,000 per year, the highest salary on the team. While Weal has made more in the NHL, it's likely he would have been playing in the AHL in 2021-22, where he would have made far less. He had just completed a two-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens where he was making $1.4 million (AAV), but spent all of last season in the AHL with the Laval Rocket.
Jordan Weal, a native of British Columbia, will be joining the AK Bars of Kazan. The forward was acquired by the Tricolore in February 2019, when Marc Bergevin traded forward Michael Chaput to the Arizona Coyotes.
He had finished the season strong with a production of 10 points in 16 games. The following year, Claude Julien even used him on one of the two power play units despite his status as a forward on the fourth offensive unit. In 49 regular season games during the 2019-2020 campaign, Jordan Weal scored eight goals and added seven assists for a total of 15 points.
He did not play a single game this season, which is probably why he left for Putin's country. He still produced 24 points, including 7 goals, in 34 games with the Laval Rocket. After the departure of Joel Bouchard, here is another pillar of the club-school who leaves.
