Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

KHL

Jan Kovar Signs With New York Islanders

at CDT | by 1 Comment

After garnering interest from several clubs around the league, Jan Kovar has decided on where he’ll start his NHL career. The New York Islanders today announced a one-year contract with the European free agent, ending a five-year stint in the KHL with Magnitogorsk. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports that the deal is worth $2MM, as Kovar is old enough to not be held to the entry-level system.

Kovar, 28, may look like a no-brainer when it comes to bringing offense to the Islanders in the wake of John Tavares signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Czech forward has 286 points in 285 career KHL games, and was one of the better scoring threats in his home country’s leagues before that. Some though question those KHL numbers due to the fact that he played with two of the league’s best players in Danis Zaripov and Sergei Mozyakin for almost every shift. Last season, when Zaripov left the team Kovar’s numbers dropped significantly to just seven goals and 35 points in 54 games. That was despite still getting more than 20 minutes a night, something Kovar has enjoyed since entering the KHL in 2013.

Nevertheless the Islanders will try to squeeze some of that production out of Kovar this season and see if he can find his offensive touch with some of the other talented players on the roster. The center position battle will be one to watch, as Kovar, Casey Cizikas and Valtteri Filppula are all natural centers that will need minutes, while Mathew Barzal is expected to replace Tavares as the top line pivot going forward. Brock Nelson is the likely front runner to take the second-line job, but Kovar’s acquisition does complicate that somewhat.

Nelson filed for arbitration earlier this month and still hasn’t been able to post positive faceoff numbers in his career. Add that to poor possession statistics and a step backwards offensively, and he may get moved down the lineup by new head coach Barry Trotz. One thing is for sure, the front office is trying to give Trotz as much center depth as possible, something he enjoyed during his time in Washington.

Vitali Kravtsov Signs In KHL

at CDT | by 2 Comments

The New York Rangers took a calculated risk in the first round of the most recent NHL Entry Draft, when they selected big Russian winger Vitali Kravtsov ninth overall. The Rangers avoided several other top rated prospects, betting on the high-end potential that Kravtsov brings. With any Russian player though, there is always the threat of them staying in the KHL for several years and failing to join their NHL organization. For at least one season, that will be the plan for Kravtsov who today re-signed with Traktor Chelyabinsk. The deal is for just one year, at which point the Rangers will attempt again to bring their young forward over and add him to the organization. There was a very small chance that Kravtsov would play in the NHL this year, leaving the KHL as likely the best destination for his development path.

Kravtsov was always expected to stay in the KHL for this season, but some had hoped that given his new status as a top-10 pick there would be a impetus to get him into the Rangers organization right away. Instead his camp has negotiated an improved contract for the 2018-19 season with Traktor, where he’ll continue on his steep development path. The Rangers can re-visit contract negotiations in the spring after his KHL year ends, and potentially get him into minor league action before the end of the season.

The 18-year old winger played just over nine minutes a night last season with Traktor, but saw that bumped up quite a bit in the playoffs where he went on a tear offensively. Kravtsov scored 11 points in 16 games and shot up the NHL draft rankings, with teams drooling over his skilled power forward frame and excellent skating ability. If he does eventually come over—which is assumed at this point—he’s a good bet to be a versatile top-six forward who the Rangers should feel comfortable playing in nearly any situation. If he reaches his absolute ceiling, there could be a dominating offensive presence in New York for years to come.

Central Notes: Blackhawks, Kovar, Seguin, Eriksson-Ek, Yeo

at CDT | by 7 Comments

Many teams in the Central Division have been quite active this offseason as they attempt to force their way to the top of the standings next season. However, the Chicago Blackhawks who need to move up in the standings more than anyone have been quite quiet so far this offseason.

If fact, the team have made just a handful of small moves, which included signing a 39-year-0ld forward, a backup goaltender and a depth defenseman in Chris Kunitz, Cam Ward and Brandon Manning. However, after a season that saw the Blackhawks drop from perennial playoff powerhouse to a team that lost more games than they won with a 33-39-10 season, these moves aren’t going to propel them back to the top of the Central. Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that the team is likely done with the free agent market and if there is any plan to improve the team, it will need to be done through the trade market.

The Athletic’s Scott Powers (subscription required) adds that the team must address its defensive deficiencies and Manning doesn’t add anything to a team that showed its defense has slowed down considerably. While the team has quite a few defensive prospects, none are likely to be ready to help the team next year, suggesting the team must address that deficiency via trade.

Both writers suggest the team must engage the Carolina Hurricanes for defenseman Justin Faulk, who would complement the team’s defense. Now with Dougie Hamilton and Calvin de Haan in place in Carolina, Faulk would seem to be quite expendable.

  • NHL.com’s Chris Kuk reports that the Blackhawks are not in the mix of  teams to land KHL forward Jan Kovar, who has expressed interest to come to the NHL this season. His agent, Allen Walsh tweeted that Kovar is considering various offers and will make a decision Sunday.
  • In a mailbag segment, NHL.com’s Mike Heika writes about what the likely scenario could be if the Dallas Stars are unable to work out an extension with star center Tyler Seguin. He suggests that Seguin, whose six-year, $34.5MM contract expires after next season, very likely will want to look at options, much like Steven Stamkos and John Tavares did. The fact that the Dallas Stars have only reached the playoffs once in the past four years isn’t in the team’s favor when they are trying to convince him to stay. Heika writes that if an extension isn’t reached before the 2018-19 season ends, the team would trade his rights rather than lose him for nothing. However, there is also high hopes that new head coach Jim Montgomery will have a major effect on the team as well as on Seguin.
  • In another mailbag, The Athletic’s Mike Russo (subscription required)writes that the team hasn’t made many moves as they are in a precarious position where they are left with many unmovable contracts to go with a group of young, talented players, who they would like to develop, leaving the team with few trade assets. The injury to defenseman Ryan Suter at the end of last season also has hindered the team’s trading ability as the team does have excess defense they could move, but won’t now that Sutter’s target date for a return is still up in the air. However, Russo writes that team has high expectations for Joel Eriksson Ek, who they want to move into a top-six center position and he could envision a position battle between Eriksson Ek and Mikko Koivu, who coach Bruce Boudreau wouldn’t mind moving to a checking role in the near future.
  • In yet another mailbag, Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that with the acquisition of top talents in Ryan O’Reilly, David Perron and Tyler Bozak, that much of the team’s success will now fall on head coach Mike Yeo who could find himself on the hot seat quickly. If the team falters early on, Yeo is likely to be replaced with Gordon suggesting that Dave Tippett or Alain Vigneault would be candidates to replace him midseason.

Beau Bennett Signs In KHL

at CDT | by 2 Comments

The deadline came and went yesterday without Beau Bennett’s name on the list of players filing for player-elected salary arbitration, and now we know why. Igor Eronko of Sport-Express reports that Bennett has signed a one-year contract with Dinamo Minsk in the KHL, meaning there was no need for arbitration with the St. Louis Blues.

Bennett, 26, has never been able to fulfill his first-round draft pick status and spent almost all of last season in the minor leagues. With 64 points in 200 NHL games, Bennett’s offensive ability—quite apparent at every other level of hockey—hasn’t ever shown itself. He’ll try another league, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him find great success overseas. The KHL often rewards players exactly like Bennett, who are obviously talented but have failed to really take advantage of the opportunities given to them in the NHL.

You can bet he’ll be back on the North American radar after a year in Russia, especially if he finds success playing for Minsk. There are 31 AHL teams who would likely welcome Bennett into the fold, but it’s obvious that he wants to play at the highest level possible. He’ll join Sergei and Andrei Kostitsyn on the KHL club, along with Jhonas Enroth and other former NHL players.

Andrey Pedan Officially Signs In The KHL

at CDT | by 3 Comments

In a move that has been expected for a couple of months now, Penguins restricted free agent defenseman Andrey Pedan has officially signed in Russia, signing with Ak Bars Kazan per a team release (link in Russian).  The 25-year-old received a two-year contract.

Pedan was acquired by Pittsburgh in early October as part of the deal that sent blueliner Derrick Pouliot to Vancouver.  He’s the lone asset remaining from that trade as the fourth-round pick they also added was later flipped to Vegas as part of the three-team Derick Brassard swap.

He wound up spending the entire season at the minor league level where he had his best year statistically with nine goals and 17 assists in 52 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.  While he didn’t get into any NHL contests in 2017-18, he does have 13 games under his belt with Vancouver back in 2015-16.

The two-year term is particularly notable.  Pedan will be 26 at the end of the contract which means he will still be under team control so if he fares well, Pittsburgh could still bring him back in time for the 2020-21 season.

Damir Sharipzyanov Placed On Unconditional Waivers

at CDT | by 1 Comment

Largely unnoticed earlier today was the placement of Damir Sharipzyanov on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a mutual contract termination. The 22-year old defenseman actually spent last season in the KHL on loan, but will now have his NHL rights relinquished by the Los Angeles Kings. Tomorrow after his contract is terminated he could technically sign with another NHL team, but it seems likely that he will return to the KHL.

Sharipzyanov, 22, signed an entry-level contract in 2015 after going undrafted for the second time and returned to the Owen Sound Attack for a final season and won a silver medal for Russia at the World Juniors. His point totals were solid if unspectacular, and he had the size to potentially find success at the professional level. After a season spent bouncing between the ECHL and AHL, he decided to go to the KHL where he would have a better opportunity. In this interview with Alessandro Seren Rosso for The Hockey Writers, Sharipzyanov did seem to indicate that he would want to come back to North America eventually.

I had a chance to get back home. To be loaned [to the KHL]. And then to get back to North America. I simply want to play. I didn’t have this option [in North America] at this moment. That’s why I and my agent decided to give the KHL a chance.

It seems unlikely that the Kings would give up his rights if he intended on playing in North America this season, meaning we’ll likely have to wait to see if there is a return down the road. If his first season in the KHL was any indication—where he recorded 16 points in 54 games while logging nearly 20 minutes a night—there could be plenty of teams after him in a few years.

Nail Yakupov Signs In KHL

at CDT | by 1 Comment

It’s finally happened, Nail Yakupov has gone back to Russia. After years of struggling to find his game in the NHL, bouncing around between a few cities and roles, the 2012 first-overall pick has signed a one-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL. We wrote about this option last summer before Yakupov signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche, a team that he played just 58 games for last season.

Yakupov, 24, broke onto the NHL scene with a splash, scoring 17 goals and 31 points in his rookie season—a year that was lockout shortened and only lasted 48 games. With that, it looked like the young Russian forward was on track for a tremendous career that would see him grow into a dominant offensive weapon. Unfortunately, that’s not at all what happened. Yakupov regressed heavily in his next season, and never topped the 17 goals he scored as a rookie. He left Edmonton after just four seasons, and couldn’t find a full-time role in St. Louis. Last year for Colorado he was a useful part-time player, but didn’t come anywhere close to living up to the hefty expectations that came with being the first-overall pick.

Armed with all the physical skills to make it in the NHL, something failed to clicked for Yakupov and his effort level waned at times. While he’s now headed back to Russia, by no means does this mean his career in North America is over. If he can find his game with SKA and round out his defensive capabilities, there’s no telling how quickly he could return to the NHL for another chance. The Avalanche gave up his rights by failing to extend a qualifying offer, meaning he could sign with any team next summer. Since he’s still relatively young, you can bet there will be someone who wants to take another chance on him down the road. For now, he’ll try to learn from some of the best in Russia like Pavel Datsyuk, Sergei Plotnikov and Nikita Gusev.

Yohann Auvitu Signs In The KHL

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Oilers unrestricted free agent defenseman Yohann Auvitu has signed a two-year contract with HK Sochi, the KHL team announced (link in Russian).  This was an expected outcome after he stated back in May that he was intending to leave the NHL but at that time hadn’t decided which international league he’d be going to.

The 28-year-old had a limited role with Edmonton last season.  He was a frequent healthy scratch and even saw a bit of action on the wing.  Overall, he played in 33 games with the Oilers, collecting three goals and six assists while averaging 13:33 of ice time per night.  He then suited up with France at the World Championships where he played in four games.

Auvitu’s time in North America has wound up being quite brief as he only made his way over in time for the 2016-17 season when he joined the Devils on an entry-level contract.  Considering the limited role he had over two seasons, this is likely the end of his time in the NHL.

David Desharnais, Others Sign In KHL

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Another center option is off the market, but David Desharnais isn’t going anywhere in the NHL. The diminutive center is headed overseas to join HC Lokomotiv in the KHL on a one-year contract. Iiro Pakarinen and Patrice Cormier have also signed one-year deals in the KHL, for Magnitogorsk and Barys Astana respectively. Victor Antipin, after trying one season with the Buffalo Sabres, is back with Magnitogorsk for three more seasons. Anton Slepyshev has also returned, signing a two-year contract with CSKA.

The KHL has become a landing spot for plenty of players unwilling to return to the minor leagues, but it’s kind of surprising that Desharnais decided so quickly to take his talents overseas. Scoring 28 points for the New York Rangers last season, he’s still only 31 and is a fine bottom-six center in the NHL. Perhaps he doesn’t want to play that type of role, as he’ll likely get much more ice time even powerplay experience in the KHL. Desharnais remember was once a 60-point player in the NHL, and put up some legendary seasons in the QMJHL as a junior player.  There is plenty of offensive talent in his game, something that was unlikely to show playing 12 minutes a night on the fourth line.

Antipin’s departure from Buffalo is a bit disappointing, given that he actually was fairly successful in his limited role there last season. Though he only played a little over 15 minutes a night in his 47 games, he looked like there could be a future for him in the NHL as a two-way defenseman. Instead, he’ll return to the KHL where he can continue to log big minutes for Magnitogorsk. There’s no guarantee that he doesn’t attempt to come back in three seasons, and since the Sabres didn’t extend him a qualifying offer he will be free to sign with whoever he wants.

Valeri Nichushkin Signs Two-Year Contract With Dallas Stars

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The wait is over for Dallas Stars fans, as Valeri Nichushkin is back in the NHL. The Russian forward has officially signed his two-year contract that carries a cap hit of $2.95MM. Nichushkin is returning after two years in the KHL, and will add another dimension to the Stars offensive group.

The 23-year-old and former 10th overall pick back in 2013 started out his NHL career well as he scored 14 goals and tallied 34 points in his rookie campaign immediately after being drafted. The 6-foot-4, 205 pound forward is referred to as a freight train, but a hip injury derailed his second year and he was never able to recover and saw his playing time decrease the year after that. The moment he hit restricted free agency, Nichushkin took his game back to the KHL, where he posted 11 goals and followed that up with a strong 16-goal performance this past year for CSKA Moscow, which was good enough for third on his team in goals scored.

Now back in the fold in Dallas, Nichushkin hopes he can continue along the career path that he started at. He will be given every opportunity to take a second or third-line spot on the wing this season with the Stars.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top