The issue for Senators restricted free agent Egor Sokolov is the AHL salary portion of what’s expected to be a two-way deal, notes Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch. The 23-year-old spent most of last year with AHL Belleville where he impressed with 21 goals and 39 assists in 70 games. Sokolov also got into five games with Ottawa, picking up a goal and an assist. Sokolov is now waiver-eligible so if he wants a chance to prove his worth to 31 other teams out there, this is a deal that will need to get worked out sooner rather than later. If he can earn an NHL spot somewhere, the AHL portion of the deal won’t matter but if Sokolov clears waivers, that will be a key part of the contract which is why it’s being haggled over. He is one of just eight remaining unsigned RFAs league-wide.
Other prospect news around the NHL:
- A trio of Penguins prospects are dealing with injuries and aren’t expected to play at their upcoming rookie tournament, relays Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Those players are defensemen Owen Pickering, Nolan Collins, and winger Raivis Ansons. Pickering is the most notable of the group as Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in 2022 and in theory could have an outside shot at cracking their lineup in camp. He and Collins are ticketed to return to junior otherwise while Ansons should once again suit up in AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. There is no word about the nature of the injuries or how long each player might be out for.
- Jets prospect Kristian Reichel has changed agencies, joining Octagon per an announcement on Twitter from agent Allan Walsh. The 25-year-old is entering the final season of a two-year, two-way contract and will be a restricted free agent this summer. Last season, Reichel spent most of the season in the minors, picking up 24 points in 61 games. He did get into a pair of games with Winnipeg, however, and has 15 career appearances at the top level over the past two seasons.