The New Jersey Devils have convinced Yegor Sharangovich to sign his three-year entry-level contract, and according to team beat reporter Amanda Stein, expect him to come to North America this season. Sharangovich played last season in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk, and suited up for Belarus at the World Juniors this past winter. The team has also announced a one-year, two-way contract for veteran minor league forward Eric Tangradi.
Sharangovich, 20, was a fifth-round selection by the Devils in June in his third year of eligibility. It was a worthwhile gamble by the Devils after watching the young forward participate in the last two World Championships against NHL players, and now play a regular shift in the KHL. Though he recorded just 12 points in 47 games there, it bodes well for his professional future that he wasn’t completely overmatched at such a young age. It’s unlikely that he’ll make an NHL impact right away, but for the small price of a late-round pick, the Devils will try to develop his big talented frame into a legitimate two-way center prospect.
Tangradi on the other hand comes with plenty of NHL and AHL experience. The 29-year old forward has spent the last two seasons exclusively in the minor leagues playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he won a Calder Cup in the spring of 2017. In this most recent season he led the club with 31 goals and finished eighth in the entire league in points with 64. He should give the Binghamton Devils a huge offensive boost and even be depth for the NHL club if injuries arise. Tangradi has played in 144 NHL games, though hasn’t been able to find much success at the higher level.