Former Oiler Klim Kostin attends Game 1 against L.A. Kings, receives ovation from fans

Kostin was acquired by the Oilers just before the start of the 2022-23 season from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenceman Dmitri Samorukov. The big winger started off the season with the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League and was called up when Evander Kane landed on the Long-Term Injured Reserve with a wrist injury.

The 2017 first-round pick enjoyed a breakout campaign with the Oilers, as Kostin set a career-high with 11 goals and 21 points over 57 games. He quickly became a fan favourite in Edmonton because of his willingness to throw big hits and his ability to score clutch goals. Kostin buried two game-winning goals during the regular season and he scored three goals across 12 games for Edmonton in the playoffs.

In the off-season, Kostin became a restricted free agent and couldn’t come to terms with the Oilers on a new contract. He was traded alongside Kailer Yamamoto to the Detroit Red Wings and signed a two-year deal worth $2 million annually, a raise from the league-minimum $750k salary he had the previous season between St. Louis and Edmonton.

Kostin scored three goals and four points over 33 games with the Red Wings in 2023-24 and was traded to the San Jose Sharks ahead of the trade deadline. With the rebuilding Sharks, he saw an increased role and scored five goals and 10 points over 19 games.

The two-year contract that Kostin signed last summer with Detroit has one more year left on it and he’ll again become a restricted free agent following the 2024-25 season.