The Toronto Maple Leafs pipeline into Russia may continue if the team’s front office has anything to say about it.

Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock and general manager Lou Lamoriello found a diamond in the rough in Nikita Zaitsev. They’re hoping to strike gold twice with a player that hasn’t been on many people’s radars.

Igor Ozhiganov is a defenseman for CSKA Moskva in the KHL and has been with the team since the 2015-16 season. During the 2016-17 season, Ozhiganov played in 50 games and put in eight goals and helped out with 14 assists for a total of 22 points. A good clip for a defenseman in one of the best leagues in the world.

Since his contract with the team doesn’t expire until after the 2017-18 season, this is long-term planning from the Maple Leafs. Ozhiganov isn’t going to break any new records for the team but as a player that has shown constant growth, he is a good bet to contribute in the NHL.

It doesn’t hurt that he has silky smooth hands either.

For a player like Ozhiganov, the only contract that he would/should agree to is an NHL deal. With multiple prospects coming for the Maple Leafs, does he make sense? As a mostly finished product, he could allow for more percolation for Maple Leafs prospects and immediately jump in for the 2018-19 season. If reports are to be believed, this would be a stacked blueline with only more reinforcements coming.

Who said a glut of defenseman is a bad thing?