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For the NHL, it was more than a fair trade.

Radulov, who signed with the Montreal Canadiens, is in the top-30 in league scoring with 18 points in 20 games. And Zaitsev, who signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, is tied for third among rookie defencemen in ice time and is fourth in scoring with eight points in 21 games.

“It’s a really good league, but it’s the second league in the world,” Zaitsev said of the KHL. “The NHL is the NHL. It’s a really different league. I’ve got a dream to play here — that’s why I’m here.”

Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes / Unknown CP

Zaitsev’s situation is not exactly unique. While the KHL was initially perceived as a talent-poaching threat to the NHL when it opened operations — according to QuantHockey.com, the number of Russians in the NHL dropped from an all-time high of 73 in 2000-01 to just 29 in 2012-13 — the cases of players leaving are becoming few and far between.

If anything, the reverse is happening. KHL teams are folding. Sponsorships are drying up. And because of a ruble that is now worth .65 cents on the U.S. dollar, players are no longer making the kind of money that they once were.

There is still the threat of players going back to the KHL. But often it involves bubble players, like Valeri Nichushkin, who retreated back to Russia after scoring 29 points in 79 games last season. If you are able to play in the NHL, chances are that you are in the league already — or will be once your contract ends.

Forty-one Russians were in the NHL last season, not including New York Rangers rookie Pavel Buchnevich, who has four goals and eight points in 10 games. And more appear to be on their way after the instant success of Panarin, Radulov and Zaitsev.