"That's where he belongs": Michael McLeod's KHL contract sparks fans outrage

After being acquitted of all charges related to the 2018 Canadian Junior Hockey sexual assault incident, there was a minor bid from Michael McLeod to find takers in the NHL. Unfortunately, that hasn't worked out for the forward as he heads to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia for three years.

After interest from the Carolina Hurricanes, Michael McLeod signed a deal with the Avangard Omsk. After his initial NHL spell with the New Jersey Devils came to an end because of the trial, the 27-year-old spent most of the 2024-25 season with Omsk. NHL News reported on X on Thursday that McLeod has signed a three-year contract extension.

McLeod's contract renewal sparked fan resentment, as they took to X to voice their displeasure. Here are a few reactions:

"LMAOOOOO that’s where he belongs," a fan said.

Here are some more reactions from fans.

"The others should join him as well," a fan said.

"I don’t think he should be allowed to play in a professional league period but at least he’s not in the NHL," another fan said.

"Not supporting the KHL anymore," one fan said.

There is still a negative perception about the five players, McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton, despite their acquittal. The league has kept them suspended till December 1, although they are eligible to sign contracts with the clubs as unrestricted free agents from October 15.

McLeod was picked No. 12 overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2016 NHL Draft. He never reached the highs of a first-round pick, being relegated to a bottom-six option. In 287 games, he scored 85 points for the Devils, the final 19 coming in the 2023-24 season before his trial began.

Carter Hart expected to ink two-year deal with the Vegas Golden Knights despite petitions

Petitions against Michael McLeod signing in the NHL could have changed the Carolina Hurricanes' minds. An online petition, signed by 1,775 supporters, was sent as an open letter to the front office of the Hurricanes to forgo the signing of the forward.

A similar petition has been floated around by Vegas fans for the signing of Carter Hart, and it currently stands at 1,616 signatures. The Hurricanes, alongside the Utah Mammoth, had shown interest in the goalie; however, multiple reports suggest that he will ink a deal with the Golden Knights if they do not change their perception.

About the author

Nikhil Parshy is a baseball and ice hockey journalist at Sportskeeda, and after starting out as a cricket reporter, he has been an analyst with SK since November 2022. His interest in the sports were piqued a few years back after watching highlights on YouTube and he has followed the game ever since.

The Chicago Cubs breaking the 108-year curse in 2016 to lift the World Series remains Nikhil's favorite baseball moment. Two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani has been his favorite player ever since he started following the game, while the LA Dodgers are his favorite team.

As a writer, Nikhil maintains a strong attention to detail and rigorously cross-checks information. He seeks to strike a balance in his writing such that the regular reader gains an insight into player profiles, while also keeping in mind that the non-regular reader is not put off by jargon and shallow analysis.

Nikhil is an avid public speaker, and when not writing about baseball, he regularly participates in debates and quizzes.

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Edited by R. Nikhil Parshy