The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that forward veteran star has signed a one-year entry-level contract for the 2025-26 season.
At 24 Top star recorded a career-best 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) in 53 regular-season games for SKA St. Petersburg during the 2024-25 KHL season. Serving as an alternate captain, he also set personal highs in goals, assists, and plus/minus rating (+20). He finished tied for fourth on the team in goals and ranked eighth in points. In the playoffs, he contributed two points (1 goal, 1 assist) over six games before SKA was eliminated in the first round.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 209 pounds, the center has tallied 79 points (38 goals, 41 assists) in 209 career KHL regular-season games with HC Vityaz and SKA from 2020 to 2025. He also played in 41 career postseason games, recording 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) and helping SKA reach the KHL Conference Finals in 2021-22.
A native of Seversk, Russia, Bardakov spent three seasons with Russkie Vityazi in the MHL from 2018 to 2021, amassing 70 points (32 goals, 38 assists) in 104 games. He also had a brief stint in the VHL with SKA-Neva St. Petersburg in 2021-22, scoring two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in two games.
Internationally, Bardakov represented Russia at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he posted two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in seven games.
Originally selected by the New Jersey Devils in the seventh round (203rd overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, Bardakov was acquired by the Avalanche in a trade with New Jersey on March 1, 2024.