Nikita Tryamkin ditches Canucks to return to Russia

A weekago Trevor Linden was touting Nikita Tryamkinas an emerging star, a big part of the Vancouver Canucks'promised brighter future.

The big Russian, it seems, hadotherplans.

Tryamkin has signed on with his hometown KHL team YekaterinburgAutomobilist leaving a king sized hole in the Canucks lineup.

It was no secret the 22-year-old was unhappy with his lack of ice time in Vancouver, something he mentioned in an interview with a Russian newspaper published Thursday.

"Sometimes I just did not understandwhy.I could play 20 minutes, I could play 16, I could play 12. And on what it depended, I did not understand," said Tryamkin, according to Google translate.

The six foot seven inchTryamkinaveraged 16:44 minutes per game of ice time this past season.

2-year extension turned down

CanucksGeneral Manager JimBenningsaidTryamkinturned down atwo year contract extension.

"We are disappointed Nikita chose to sign in the KHL, but also recognize from what he told us in ourexit meetings that this was a family decision first. He has a chance to be an impact player in the NHL.But for now he is home and we will move ahead withbuilding this team with other young players," said Benning in a statement.

Tryamkin's physical fitness was an issue when the season began and in October he refused to be sent down to the minor league Utica Comets for a conditioning assignment, as was his right according to his contract.

But during the final months of the Canucks' season Tryamkin's big league and big bodypotential began to shine through, making him a fan favourite at Rogers Arena.

Tryamkin was selected 66th overall by Vancouver in the 2014 NHL entry draft and was a restricted free agent.