Penguins Defenseman Makes a New Move and Joins KHL Team

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl made it official with defenseman Mac Hollowell, inking a one-year deal with the reigning Gagarin Cup champions.

The announcement came via the club's Telegram channel, confirming the 26-year-old Canadian's move to the KHL after weeks of speculation.

Hollowell, a Group VI pending unrestricted free agent, last appeared in the NHL for a six-game stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2022-23.

He did not get called up on a two-way deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season but played exclusively with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he led team defensemen with 31 points (1 goal, 30 assists) in 56 games.

A 5'10", 176-pound right-shooting blue-liner, Hollowell has decent puck-moving ability and offensive instincts.

Originally drafted by current Penguins GM Kyle Dubas in the fourth round of the 2018 draft when he was in Toronto, Hollowell spent four years in the Leafs organization before brief stints with the Rangers and Penguins.

In 244 career AHL games, he's averaged a decent 0.56 points per game. With no clear NHL path, Hollowell heads overseas to one of the world's premier leagues.

Lokomotiv, looking to reload with top defenseman Dmitri Simashev being snatched up by the Arizona Coyotes, adds a mobile and experienced piece to help fill the void.