Michael McLeod, one of the five Hockey Canada players acquitted of sexual assault charges in July, has signed a three-year contract with Avangard Omsk of the Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). McLeod, along with Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, and Carter Hart, were part of the Hockey Canada national junior team under-20 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 declared the five players not guilty of sexual assault. McLeod was also acquitted of a separate charge of being an accessory to the crime of sexual assault. The NHL announced in September that the five players would be eligible to return to play in the league starting December 1st.
The NHLPA was “pleased that [the players] have the opportunity to resume” their careers in the NHL. McLeod, 27, last played in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils in the 2023-24 season. He played 19 games with Omsk in the 2024-25 season, one of the two KHL teams he joined while the Hockey Canada investigation and legal process were ongoing. The Avangard Omsk is coached by former Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators coach, Guy Boucher. Alexey Sopin, general manager of Avangard Omsk, said via Telegram: “The negotiations with Michael and his representatives were brief. The player that everyone has been waiting for will once again wear the Hawks uniform. We are very happy that this difficult situation has ended positively for both us and the player.” Recently, there was speculation about the Carolina Hurricanes’ interest in signing McLeod. That news generated an immediate reaction from Hurricanes fans, including a petition urging the team to reconsider signing McLeod, which had over 1,700 signatures. However, an agreement between McLeod and Carolina never materialized. McLeod was selected 12th overall in 2016 by the Devils and amassed 85 points in 287 career games. He was one of the team’s most prominent defensive forwards when he and Foote were granted “indefinite team leave” on January 24, 2024. The players were accused of sexual assault the following month. Of the remaining Hockey Canada players who have not signed contracts, several reports have linked Hart, former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender, with the Vegas Golden Knights.Considering that the players have been away from the game for 20 months, even since their absolutions in July, we have determined that the players will be eligible to sign an NHL contract starting October 15, 2025, and eligible to play in NHL games starting December 1, 2025, which brings their total time away from the League to almost two years.
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