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The Gagarin Cup Playoffs: KHL Postseason Starts Today

The KHL playoffs start today, as 16 of the league’s 26 clubs compete for the Gagarin Cup. Since the NHL and KHL are huge competitors, it’s interesting to look at the players on the current KHL playoff teams to see just how many are former Philadelphia Flyers or NHLers. On top of that, some clubs’ prospects are in the 16-team field. It’s also worth noting some of the teams that received help from current NHL players who played a good chunk of the season with a certain KHL season before the lockout concluded. With that being said, here are the previews …

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Then and Now: Denis Tolpeko

Denis Tolpeko spent two seasons in the Philadelphia Flyers’ organization, as he endured the majority of his time during the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons with the Philadelphia Phantoms. However, the undrafted Russian left winger enjoyed 26 games with the Orange and Black during the 2007-2008 campaign in which his lone goal in the NHL came at a crucial point in a game against one of the best goaltenders in the league. After he posted 11 goals and 19 helpers in 58 games for the Phantoms during the season of 2006-2007, Tolpeko tasted his first NHL action on October 4, 2007, …