The Maple Leafs’ 122nd overall selection in last month’s draft, Vladimir Bobylev, has made the decision to leave the Western Hockey League to sign for Spartak Moscow of the KHL according to @ KHLNewsEN

This comes as some surprise given Bobylev took such a significant leap forward in Victoria under Royals head coach Dave Lowry after failing to produce in Vancouver and re-entering the import draft in June, 2015.

Provided he makes the team, Bobylev will now play his draft year+2 season in a professional league against men over in the KHL. Courtesy of Elliot Saccucci comes the following information on the implications of Bobylev leaving the CHL after being drafted by the Maple Leafs as a 19-year-old second-time eligible:

See Article 8.6 (b)(iii) below, Bobylev (who was drafted as a 19 year old from the CHL) is ceasing to play CHL in his first league year after the draft. As a result, they have three years from his draft to sign him, and if they make an offer prior to the third year, can gain an additional (4th) year.

8.6 Reserve List-Exclusive Rights (b) Drafted Players who Leave the Major Juniors prior to age 20. Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (a) to the contrary, Clubs shall have additional rights set forth in subsections (i), (ii) and (iii) below with respect to Players who either: (i) were drafted while playing in the Major Juniors or (ii) other than college players described in Section (c) below or Players drafted from a club outside North America described in Section (d) below, play in the Juniors during the period of time that a Club holds their exclusive negotiating rights and, in either case, cease to play in the Juniors and play in a league other than Juniors prior to age 20. (i) If a Player who is drafted as an 18-year-old ceases to play in the Juniors in the first League Year after he has been drafted, his drafting Club shall have the exclusive right of negotiation for his services until the fourth June 1 following his initial selection in the Entry Draft. (ii) If a Player who is drafted as an 18-year-old ceases to play in the Juniors in the second League Year after he has been drafted and the Club hastendered to such Player a Bona Fide Offer pursuant to 8.6(a)(ii), his drafting Club shall have the exclusive right of negotiation for his services until the fourth June 1following his initial selection in the Entry Draft. (iii) If a Player who is drafted for the first time as a 19-year-old ceases to play in the Juniors in the first League Year after he has been drafted, his Club shall have exclusive right of negotiation for his services until the third June 1 following his initial selection in the Entry Draft. His selecting Club may retain exclusive rights of negotiation for a fourth year by tendering the Player a Bona Fide Offer in accordance with 8.6(a)(ii), provided that such Bona Fide Offer may be made at any time prior to the third June 1 following his initial selection in the Entry Draft.

To sum up, the Leafs have three years from last June 1 to sign Bobylev to an ELC, and provided they extend an offer before June 1, 2019, they retain his rights for an additional year until June 1, 2020.

Had Bobylev stayed in the CHL, the Leafs would’ve needed to sign him within two years of the 2016 draft.

8.6 Reserve List-Exclusive Rights. (a) Commencing with the 2013 Entry Draft, a Player selected by a Club in the Entry Draft shall be registered on the Reserve List of the selecting Club as an “Unsigned Draft Choice.” (i) Subject to the provisions of Sections (b), (c), (d) and (e) below, such registration shall establish for such selecting Club the exclusive right of negotiation for the services of each Player selected and registered as against all other Clubs up to and including June 1 of the next calendar year following the date of his selection. (ii) Subject to the provisions of subsection (iii) below and Sections (b), (c) and (d) below, if, on or before June 1 of the calendar year next succeeding the Entry Draft, the claiming Club makes a Bona Fide Offer (as defined below) to its claimed Player of an SPC, the Club shall retain the exclusive right of negotiation for the services of such Player up to and including the second June 1 following the date of his selection.

Leafs Links

Rumor Roundup: Maple Leafs still haven’t made decision on Lupul’s future https://t.co/5vj8Q5QLkC pic.twitter.com/FhDIkIa11D — The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) July 11, 2016

Hedging the Frederik Andersen bet, who is the best backup plan for the Leafs? https://t.co/5L10IajJ3p — Pension Plan Puppets (@PPPLeafs) July 11, 2016

10 players who made a mark at Leafs development camp this week: https://t.co/yPhBAosmai pic.twitter.com/eDlQffieZL — TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 10, 2016