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KHL Notes: Off-Season, Gilroy, Roy, Zadorov

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Given the relatively weak NHL free agent market and the financial instability of the KHL, it would not have been a surprise to see an influx of talent come overseas this off-season. When Vadim Shipachyov signed with the Vegas Golden Knights in June, it seemed that floodgates were about to open. Yet, one month later, it’s been quite the opposite. Other than Shipachyov’s SKA St. Petersburg teammate Evgeni Dadonov signing with the Florida Panthers, most big names in the KHL have re-signed, while others in North America have crossed over. Already, Mikhail Grigorenko and Nikita Nesterov have left the NHL for a return to Russia, as have Sergey Kalinin and Roman Lyubimov; prospects Nikita Gusev, Kirill Kaprizov, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Ilya Sorokin have decided to stay put, and so too have former NHLers playing overseas like Ben Scrivens, Paul Szczechura, and of course Ilya Kovalchuk; and even Nashville Predator’s first-round pick Eeli Tolvanen, spurned by Boston College, has signed in the KHL.

  • Joining the trend of former NHLers staying in the KHL and joining Tolvanen with Helsinki, Finland-based club Jokerit is defenseman Matt Gilroy. The team announced the signing this morning, inking one of the KHL’s top-scoring blue liners to a one-year deal. Gilroy, 32, is a former Boston University standout who played in 225 NHL games over six seasons with the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, and Florida Panthers. Unable to ever find a long-term home or lock down a regular role, Gilroy crossed the Atlantic in 2014 and has never looked back. Gilroy had the best season of his professional career in 2016-17, but nonetheless decided to stick it out overseas.
  • NHL veteran and four-time 20-goal scorer Derek Roy has bucked the trend of staying in the KHL, but he’s also not heading back to the NHL next season either. Roy continues his tour around Europe, as he has left Russia to sign in Sweden. Roy originally left the NHL to sign in Switzerland with the NLA’s SC Bern in 2015, and after a strong campaign, took a step up to the KHL. Roy played 21 games with Avangard Omsk last year before a mid-season trade sent him to Traktor Chelyabinsk for 34 games and the postseason. Altogether, Roy posted just 11 goals and 11 assists in the KHL last year, a drop off from his production in the NLA and from his NHL days as well. Roy will try his hand at the SHL this season, after signing with Linkoping HC, and will try to boost his offense back toward the 30+ point mark that he hit in the NLA and annually reached in the NHL, even at the end. At 34 years old, Roy is still trying to make the most of his ability overseas, but the door is not closed for a member of the NHL’s 500-point club to eventually try to make his North American comeback
  • CSKA fans shouldn’t get their hopes up, but KHL insider Aivis Kalnins is reporting that the club has a deal in place with young Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov if the restricted free agent cannot come to terms on a new NHL deal. The news has gained traction today, but seems unlikely to be anything more than jsut a negotiation tactic. The 22-year-old blue liner is from Moscow, where CSKA plays, but played his junior hockey with the London Knights of the OHL before being drafted 16th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2013. Zadorov may have connections to his hometown team, but has always shown a commitment to North American hockey. The 6’5″, 230-lb. defender logged almost 20 minutes of ice time per game last year for Colorado, and even though they were historically bad, it seems extremely unlikely that they would let their best young defenseman go unsigned. The Avs have plenty of cap room and will budge on term if need be. Even if they couldn’t come to terms, the rebuilding Avs could get plenty in return for dealing Zadorov. Don’t expect him to use the CSKA safety blanket this off-season or any time soon. Grigorenko will be the only 2016-17 Avs member headed to Russia next season.

Kirill Kaprizov Expected To Stay In KHL

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3:28pm: Interestingly, as Russo points out, Kaprizov seems to indicate the contract isn’t finished yet in a recent interview with Sovsport. As with any deal between the KHL and NHL, take all sources with a grain of salt before we have confirmation the contract is signed.

12:41pm: Rumors have been swirling today about the future of Minnesota Wild draft pick Kirill Kaprizov, with KHL insider Aivis Kalnins originally reporting a three-year contract with CSKA Moscow. Though there was some doubt in the report because Michael Russo of the Star Tribune couldn’t get an answer from Kaprizov’s agents, the KHL themselves have now tweeted out that he’ll stay for the next three years.

Kaprizov was Minnesota’s fifth-round selection in 2015, but has talent to play in any league he wants eventually. Scoring 42 points in 49 games last season in the KHL, and captaining the Russian World Junior team to a bronze medal—a tournament in which he scored 12 points in 7 games and was named best forward—he had quite the season. Short but not out-muscled often, Kaprizov can rack up points in all situations. Moving to CSKA will surround him with even more talent, and likely push his point totals even higher.

He turned 20 just this April, meaning he still has plenty of time to continue his game in North America should he choose to come to the NHL eventually. It’s not clear if that’s his eventual goal, but for now the Wild will watch his development from afar. After trading Alex Tuch to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Wild are starting to thin out in terms of forward prospects, and will now rely on Luke Kunin and Jordan Greenway as the key pieces going forward. Remember they did not have a first or second round pick this year, though nabbed young OHL forward Ivan Lodnia in the third round.

Nikita Nesterov, Mikhail Grigorenko Sign In KHL

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A pair of players have decided their underwhelming NHL careers are over for now, as Nikita Nesterov and Mikhail Grigorenko have both signed three-year deals with CSKA Moscow of the KHL. Nesterov’s agent had recently reported that he had at least two NHL offers, while Grigorenko did not receive a qualifying offer from the last place Colorado Avalanche.

Talent continues to stream away from the KHL despite any thoughts of Olympic participation, with players like Vladimir Sobotka, Evgeni Dadonov, Vadim Shipachyov, Alexei Bereglazov, Viktor Antipin and Klim Kostin all coming over in the past few months. Even non-Russian players like Jakub Jerabek and Stephane Da Costa are leaving the KHL for greener pastures. With that, the league has tried desperately to recruit some of their former talent back, getting Nikita Tryamkin and others to return before today.

We’ve written extensively over the past few days on Nesterov, who has had trouble finding a role in the NHL. Though his offensive ability suggests he should be able to quarterback a powerplay and take advantage of third pairing matchups, he’s never consistently shown that he can perform in those roles. A mid-season trade to the Canadiens was an even worse fit than with the Lightning, and ended with him going unqualified by Montreal this offseason.

Grigorenko on the other hand is an even worse story. Drafted 12th-overall in 2012 after dominating the Canadian junior ranks, Grigorenko was supposed to develop into a powerful center capable of playing in all scenarios. Buffalo began developing him before quickly realizing he wasn’t going to be that top-line player, and including him in a trade to Colorado for Ryan O’Reilly. In Colorado, given all the opportunity in the world with skilled players and on the powerplay, Grigorenko was still only able to reach a career-high of 27 points. He just didn’t play as big as he looked, and had trouble bringing a consistent effort.

Now just 23, it’s far from over for Grigorenko in terms of an NHL career. Should he find his game in Russia and develop into the two-way center his skills should allow, there will likely be several suitors in a few seasons to bring him back. He clearly had dreams of playing in the NHL, coming over to play in Canada when he was just 16. That dream isn’t dead, but it will be put on hold for a while.

Nikita Nesterov Will Return To KHL In 2017-18

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Though he apparently had interest from at least two NHL teams, Nikita Nesterov will play next season in the KHL according to agent Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey. Milstein did not clarify which team his client would be signing with.

Nesterov follows Nikita Tryamkin as a young NHL defender heading back to Russia this offseason, trying to rebuild his value after a mid-season trade to the Montreal Canadiens didn’t work out. He never found a fit in Montreal, and hasn’t lived up to his offensive potential during his short career. In Tampa Bay, where he was drafted and developed, he couldn’t hold onto a full-time role after continuing defensive miscues.

That said, he was a relatively excellent possession player that many fans had high hopes for when he came to Montreal. Able to play both sides and even forward at times, his versatility was a worthwhile gamble by the team looking for defensive help heading into the playoffs. Instead of capitalizing on the versatility though, he struggled in all aspects of his game and was essentially replaced with Jordie Benn at the trade deadline. Suiting up for two playoff games, Nesterov rarely saw the ice. He was not issued a qualifying offer, and had become an unrestricted free agent.

In Russia, Nesterov can try to rebuild his career playing a bigger role and perhaps even compete in the Olympics. With most Russian defensemen likely prohibited from playing by the NHL, Nesterov and others still in the KHL will have to make up the team. With players like Nikita Zaitsev, Alexei Bereglazov, Viktor Antipin and Andrei Mironov all signing in the NHL in recent years, the Russian defense corps will be thin. Unless some of the NHL stars go anyway—as Alex Ovechkin has threatened—Nesterov could be heading for an Olympic appearance.

Nikita Nesterov Deciding Between Four Teams, Two Leagues

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When the Montreal Canadiens decided not to qualify Nikita Nesterov, it made him an unrestricted free agent and able to sign with any team in the league. Now, agent Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey reports that his client’s decision is down to two NHL options and two KHL options. The young defenseman will make a final decision by Saturday.

Nesterov, 24, was never able to find a fit in Montreal after a mid-season trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite pretty solid possession statistics, neither team has been able to trust him much on a regular defensive shift, and because of it he’ll have to find his third team in a young career. You’d think rebuilding clubs would give him a look, and try to develop his two-way game into something of value.

The KHL is a clear option, as Nesterov was drafted out of Chelyabinsk in 2011 and could even have an outside chance at suiting up for Russia at the 2018 Olympics given their relative lack of defensive options. He did play one game at last fall’s World Cup, and with several defensemen—namely Dmitry Orlov, Dmitry Kulikov, Alexei Emelin, Nikita Zaitsev and Andrei Markov—all unlikely to be eligible due to the NHL’s ruling, Nesterov would be pretty high up the charts.

St. Louis Blues Sign Klim Kostin To Entry-Level Contract

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After being released from his KHL team due to financial issues, Klim Kostin has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues, allowing him to come over to North America for next season to play in either the NHL or AHL. The 31st-overall pick has already made quite the impression at Blues development camp, after being relatively unseen in his draft year.

The Blues acquired the pick by trading Ryan Reaves to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Kostin has huge boom-or-bust potential. The Russian winger played in just a handful of games after losing most of his season to injury, but was still ranked as the top international skater by the NHL’s Central Scouting. His profile, as a do-it-all power winger that can skate, shoot and hit is one scouts drool over but still has to overcome some consistency issues (like most draft talents).

Kostin was selected first-overall in last year’s CHL import draft, but he’s already said he won’t play for Kootenay and signing his ELC makes that even more clear. The Blues want him to get into the system right away, as his offensive game is developed enough to jump right to the AHL level. There’s no guarantee he ever makes the NHL, but if initial reports out of camp are to be believed, he’s got his eye on the top league already and the talent to get there.

Early Notes: Tolvanen, Peca, Latta

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Eeli Tolvanen, the Nashville Predators’ first-round pick from the recent draft, has signed on with Jokerit of the KHL for the 2017-18 season. The deal also includes an option for 2018-19, and will provide a landing spot for Tolvanen after his earlier issues. The Finnish winger was planning on staying in North America and joining Boston College, but failed to meet their admissions standards and was rejected.

Instead, Tolvanen will play in the KHL for at least a year before deciding where next to spend his professional career. The undersized winger spent two years in the USHL, where he put up 54 points in 52 games last season for the Sioux City Musketeers. Nashville selected him with the 30th-overall pick.

  • The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed Matthew Peca to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650K at the NHL level. Peca made his NHL debut last season and spent ten games with the Lightning, scoring two points. The undersized forward had another big season with the Syracuse Crunch, and should be expected to spend the majority of 2017-18 in the AHL once again.
  • The Arizona Coyotes signed Michael Latta yesterday to a similar one-year, two-way contract. Latta split last year between the Ontario Reign and Rockford IceHogs, scoring 22 points. Traded mid-season for Cameron Schilling, Latta will now try a new organization for the time being. Never able to quite duplicate the offensive prowess he showed for the Guelph Storm before being selected in the third round, Latta is now AHL depth for the Coyotes.
  • Montreal has announced several front office changes, hiring Franvis Bouillon as a development coach, and moving Rob Ramage to Director of Player Development. Ramage will be replacing Martin Lapointe, who has been promoted to Director of Player Personnel, while Vincent Riendeau has moved from Assistant General Manager of the AHL team to Director of Goalie Development and pro scout.

Dynamo Moscow Releases Almost All Players

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The KHL’s Dynamo Moscow released all its players on one-way contracts earlier today, reports Russian sports reporter Slava Malamud. The formerly-esteemed hockey club is in dire financial straits and may not even be able to play in the upcoming KHL season. This marks the second major blight on the KHL in recent times. The league lost two teams to contraction before the season started, with Metallurg Novokuznetsk being kicked out and Medvescak Zagreb moving to the EBEL, a lower-level Austrian-based league.

Earlier reports indicated that Dynamo has not paid its players for months. Players went on strike last month after new owners refused to honor the team’s debts—including unpaid player salary. Players eventually appealed to the KHL, who most likely forced Dynamo’s hand into making this move. It is unclear at the moment whether the KHL or the team itself voided the player contracts.

Dynamo’s money trouble came to light last month after, according to the Associated Press, its offices were raided by anti-fraud and corruption police. The team is under investigation for embezzlement, and is rumored to be about $35MM USD in debt. It’s current situation is a far cry from just a few years earlier, where Dynamo sat atop the KHL in 2012 and 2013. More recently, the team housed NHL phenom Alex Ovechkin during the 2012-13 NHL lockout, and current Toronto Maple Leaf Leo Komarov one year later.

The team released 42 players in all (see complete list at Elite Prospects). Most notably is Klim Kostin, drafted earlier this summer in the 1st round, 31st overall, by the St. Louis Blues. As reported earlier, Kostin is close to signing an ELC with the Blues following his release from Dynamo. Other recent former NHL draft picks include Yegor Zaitsev (2017 7th rd – New Jersey Devils) and Andrei Mironov (2015 4th rd – Colorado Avalanche).

Ilya Kovalchuk Will Return To KHL

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The Ilya Kovalchuk saga may be over, at least for now. Larry Brooks of the New York Post is reporting that the Russian winger will return to the KHL for another season, making him an unrestricted free agent and able to sign with any team next summer. Andrew Gross of The Record confirms the report that he’s headed back, though there has not been any confirmation from a KHL team on where he’ll play next season.Ilya Kovalchuk

Kovalchuk’s camp has been talking to teams around the NHL for months since announcing his desire to return to the league next season, but hasn’t been able to find a deal that would be be acceptable to him, his new team and the New Jersey Devils. The Devils, though not interested in bringing Kovalchuk onto their own team, still had his rights and would have had to complete a sign-and-trade with another team to see him play in the league. Brooks reports that Devils’ GM Ray Shero did try to facilitate trades, but nothing worked out in the end.

The 34-year old will become a UFA next summer on July 1st, but will be hampered by the restrictions placed on 35-year old contracts in the NHL. Any contract signed after a player turns 35 will count against the cap regardless of whether the player retires or is bought out, and since Kovalchuk comes with a checkered past in this regard, it’s unlikely to see a team offer him any sort of long-term deal.

There is also doubt about his ability to even make an impact at the NHL level, as even though he put up 78 points this season for SKA St. Petersburg, things haven’t always been so rosy for him in Russia. Two years ago Kovalchuk scored only 16 goals on a less talented St. Petersburg team, and even this year his play fell off in the Gagarin Cup playoffs. While he was one of the most dominant power forwards in NHL history for a time, there is no guarantee his game can still work in the newer, faster league of today.

That’s not to say he won’t find a deal in 2018, as there will surely be teams after him with no compensation attached. Any contender who believes they can fit Kovalchuk into their system could make an offer, hoping to at least get a 20-goal version of him. With players like Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton getting big paydays even at advanced ages, it’s clear there will be a market for Kovalchuk next summer, though it might come on a very short-term deal.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

KHL Notes: Sorokin, Kuznetsov, Lyubimov

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The New York Islanders have some of the top goalie prospects in the world, but will have to wait a few more years at least to see Ilya Sorokin on North American ice. The Russian goaltender has reached a three-year extension with CSKA Moscow. He was under contract for the 2017-18 season already.

Sorokin is one of the best goaltenders in the KHL, winning Goaltender of the Year two seasons ago age-20. Should he ever decide to come to North America the Islanders would welcome him with open arms, but it still doesn’t seem like he’s considering it. Back in May, he told reporters after the World Championships that he would be focused on the 2017-18 season, but an extension will keep him overseas even longer.

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