Belov left Oilers in part due to coach Eakins

One reason Russian defenceman Anton Belov won’t be returning to the Edmonton Oilers is because of head coach Dallas Eakins. (Jason Franson/CP)

Anton Belov won’t be returning to the Edmonton Oilers after signing a four-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL.

One reason the Russian defenceman left the Oilers is because of head coach Dallas Eakins.

“There is no one [specific] reason that made it an abrupt change. It all was building up during the season, especially more so after the Olympics,” Belov told Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sports. “[SKA hiring coach Vyacheslav Bykov] was also an influence. The other point is that I could have re-signed with Edmonton, but I didn’t want to stay with that coach [Eakins].”

The 27-year-old played 57 games for the Oilers this season registering one goal, six assists, 34 penalty minutes and a minus-12 rating. The Ryazan, Russia native had spent the previous five seasons with Omsk Avangard in the KHL.

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