This behind-the-back KHL goal is the hockey highlight of the year

Modern sports media lends itself to hyperbole.

Every play is the “Play of the Year.” Every new prospect or rookie is a generational talent. And every great player gets inevitabely put into the discussion of “Greatest of All Time.”

But trust us, it might be tough to top this goal as far as the title of “Goal of the Year.”

It comes to us from the KHL, and the clash between Moscow heavyweights Dynamo Moscow and Spartak Moscow. The game advanced to a shootout, and that is when former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Semyon Der-Arguchintsev lined up for his attempt.

And did this:

Der-Arguchintsev breaks towards Spartak goalie Artyom Zagidulin, before slowing the play and getting Zagidulin to drop down to his pads. That’s when Der-Arguchintsev pulls the puck around his back, lifting a shot around his back and into the top shelf for the game-winning goal.

Toronto drafted Der-Arguchintsev in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft, and the forward worked his way through the team’s developmental system. He spent three seasons with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring 25 goals. He appeared in one game with the Maple Leafs, but did not score a goal.

He opted to return to Russia for the 2023-2024 season, joining Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL.

But this shootout goal is good enough, that it might just get him another look.