Nikita Gusev Does Not Plan To Leave KHL For Lightning
Amidst the signing of Vadim Shipachyov with the Vegas Golden Knights and rumors of Ilya Kovalchuk and Evgeni Dadonov hoping to make the move to the NHL as well, reigning KHL champion SKA St. Petersburg can at least take some solace in the fact that at least one of their star players would like to return. According to the Tampa Bay Times’ Joe Smith, Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Nikita Gusev has no plans to jump ship to North America. A current free agent, Gusev instead hopes to re-sign with SKA.
Despite the ample attention that 28-year-old Dadonov is getting from NHL team right now, it was actually the 24-year-old Gusev who finished third on the team in scoring this season behind Shipachyov and Kovalchuk. Gusev scored 71 points in 57 games to Dadonov’s 66 point in 53 games, even narrowly edging him out in points per game. The 2012 seventh-rounder additionally led the team in playoff scoring with seven goals and 16 assists in 18 postseason games en route to a title. At 5’11” and 181-lbs., Gusev is quick and elusive and possesses top end puck-handling skills. He also has a penchant for play-making, finishing third overall in the KHL with 47 assists in 2016-17.
Gusev is certaintly a promising player, but doesn’t appear to be ready to follow in Nikita Kucherov‘s footsteps and take his talents to Tampa and to the best league in the world. Kucherov committed to the Lightning and to the NHL at age 20 and has developed into one of the most dangerous scorers in the world. However, Kucherov also never had the impact on a KHL team that Gusev has had. With Shipachyov, Kovalchuk, and Dadonov all likely gone, Gusev knows that if he puts off on any NHL aspirations and doesn’t join a crowded Tampa forward group, he has the chance to be the leader of SKA and knows the fame (and payday) that would bring. So, for now, Lightning fans will have to wait on adding yet another elite Russian weapon.
Snapshots: Gavrikov, Montgomery, Brodeur
In the continuing saga of Vladislav Gavrikov, Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reports that rumors of his signing in the KHL already are completely false. Dan Milstein of Gold Star who represents Gavrikov reiterated that no decision will be made on his future until after the World Championships are over.
Gavrikov is still just 21, and despite being drafted in the sixth round has developed into a legitimate NHL prospect. The young defender apparently has two KHL teams chasing him after his solid season for Yaroslavl. After already convincing Gabriel Carlsson to come over earlier this spring, the Blue Jackets could make another important addition to their defense pipeline with Gavrikov. While Team Russia spreads their ice time out fairly evenly, Gavrikov is used in tough defensive matchups and has been effective in the tournament. His future lies as a shutdown third-pairing player, though he still has time to develop even further.
- The Florida Panthers have met with Jim Montgomery from the University of Denver twice now, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald, and have booked a second interview with Michel Therrien as well. The club is still searching for their next head coach, and many believe that Nashville Predators assistant Phil Housley will be given a chance to interview before they make a decision. Housley of course is still working in the playoffs as Nashville is off to the Western Conference Finals for the first time. Montgomery and Therrien represent two very different directions for the club, showing that they’re looking in every direction for their next bench boss. Therrien has 814 games of head coaching experience in the NHL, while Montgomery—and in the same vein Housley—has none.
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Martin Brodeur will not continue as goalie coach for the Blues next season, instead returning to his post as assistant general manager. The team will hire a new coach who will hopefully be able to continue the work Brodeur did with Jake Allen in the second half. When the Blues fired Jim Corsi—the man the divisive Corsi stat was named after—along with Ken Hitchcock on February 1st, Allen held a .895 save percentage and was the focus of much hand-wringing among those watching the team. Following Brodeur and Ty Conklin taking over coaching duties, Allen posted a .928 save percentage (including playoffs) and was key in the Blues turnaround. Conklin, previously the goaltender development coach, will surely be in the running to take over the job full-time.
Morning Notes: Parayko, Dotchin, Kings
Colton Parayko will be heading to Europe to join Team Canada for the remainder of the World Championships, marking the end of a breakout season for the 23-year old. Though he scored just two more points than last season, Parayko firmly entrenched himself as the future on the blueline in St. Louis and skated more than 21 minutes a night for the team. When the Blues were forced to move on from Kevin Shattenkirk, Parayko received more time on the powerplay and showed off his incredible skill down the stretch and into the playoffs.
This summer, Parayko will be at the top of the to-do list for the Blues as he will become a restricted free agent on July 1st. A long-term extension is obviously what the team would prefer, but with such little cap space it will be difficult to accomplish. The team already has more than $68MM dedicated to players next season, and will need to move out some money if they want to buy out any free agent years from Parayko. Otherwise they could do a shorter-term bridge deal with him and revisit the issue after veterans like Jay Bouwmeester and Paul Stastny are off the books or retained at a lower price.
- Jake Dotchin has received a three-game AHL suspension for his latest attack on a Maple Leafs player. Dotchin was called for interference on Frederik Gauthier for a hit that will cause the Maple Leafs’ prospect to miss at least six months. Dotchin had a really solid season with the Lightning during his first stint in the NHL, but these plays may jeopardize his future should they become habit. At just 23, the Lightning will hope he can learn to play just up to the line instead of over it.
- The Los Angeles Kings are working hard on extensions for Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli according to Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider. The pair of restricted free agents both have promising futures though Toffoli did take a slight step backwards this season. With the Kings installing new management, a focus on the youth movement will likely follow and Pearson and Toffoli embody it perfectly.
- While the Columbus Blue Jackets hope to land Vladislav Gavrikov at some point this summer, the defender won’t make his decision until after the World Championships. Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reports that Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen will be attending the tournament personally, and perhaps could get an answer directly while he’s there. Gavrikov received accolades from the KHL this year and saw his role on Yaroslavl increase significantly, leading many to believe he could step directly into an NHL role very soon. Should the Blue Jackets succeed in bringing him over, they will have a log jam of defenders without enough ice time to go around.
Latest On Ilya Kovalchuk’s Impending Return
While it has been speculated and rumored for months, Pierre LeBrun of TSN confirmed today with New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero that Ilya Kovalchuk does indeed plan on returning to the NHL this season. LeBrun adds that Shero has given Kovalchuk’s camp permission to talk to other teams about potential deals, but that a sign-and-trade would have to be beneficial to the Devils before agreeing to it.
Kovalchuk can sign with New Jersey as soon as July 1st, but could only sign a contract directly with another team should every GM in the league sign off on it. That is almost certainly not going to happen, meaning a sign-and-trade is the only option for the Russian winger (outside of playing in New Jersey next season). The former 50-goal man may not have the immediate impact of his youth, but still scored 32 goals and 78 points in the KHL last season. The Devils are in a win-win scenario, allowing them to either get another scoring winger on their club or an asset for a contract that was signed a very long time ago.
LeBrun for what it’s worth said on TSN 1050 Leafs Lunch right after breaking the news that he doesn’t believe that Kovalchuk is going to play for the Devils, and also teased that this is New Jersey’s last chance to get an asset for him. Next summer, Kovalchuk would become an unrestricted free agent in the NHL able to sign with anyone.
If there is a fit somewhere in the league, Kovalchuk would be signing a brand new deal in the NHL. His old contract wouldn’t be taken into account, nor do the Devils owe him any of that money. That’s not to say that he won’t be expensive though to whoever does sign him, as the 34-year old will still likely command a big deal. One of the most dominant power wingers in his time, Kovalchuk could help anyone’s top six right now, but it is hard to see him keeping an elite level of play into his late-30s.
Andrei Mironov Will Sign With Colorado Soon
Colorado Avalanche fans that are hoping for a certain NCAA prospect to sign will have to wait a little longer, but may have something to cheer them up. According to Darren Dreger of TSN, Andrei Mironov has been given a verbal release from his KHL club and will sign with the Avalanche in the next few days.
Mironov was selected in the fourth round of the 2015 draft, and has shown the potential to be an NHL defender capable of doing several different things on the ice. His offensive game is improving, but it’s his ability to get under opponents’ skin and play on (or sometimes over) the edge. Adrian Dater of BSN Denver says that he models his game after former NHL veteran Darius Kasparaitis. He can sometimes cross the line into dangerous territory, but is effective all the same.
Mironov is currently playing in the World Championships with Russia, and has a chance to continue to play against NHL talent as soon as next season. The 22-year old shoots left, and could slide in behind Nikita Zadorov and Francois Beauchemin next season.
Snapshots: Ducks, Blues, Goalie Interference
Anaheim could possibly see the return of two players this evening in their potentially series-deciding Game 6 against Edmonton. Forward Ondrej Kase has only played in two post-season games, but was a spark-plug for the Ducks when inserted. The 21 year-old had played parts of two seasons with the AHL affiliate San Diego Gulls before his call up and 53 games this season for Anaheim, tallying 5 goals and 10 assists. His quick ascension as a 205th overall pick has been impressive, if largely unheralded and under-the-radar. For a rookie, he has shown poise in his own end and adjusted well to the tempo of the playoffs. Although pointless, his possession metrics have been strong and he has skated well in his very sheltered ice time. It will be interesting to see if he will slot back in or if coach Randy Carlyle will opt for a more veteran presence.
Defenseman Kevin Bieksa is also an option on the backend, but with the emergence of Shea Theodore, it is difficult to justify his re-entry into the lineup. Although Bieksa boasts a wealth of playoff experience, his team is 3-0 in his absence this series. His skating has slowed to a crawl and he has been exploited repeatedly by the Oilers forward corps. Carlyle is known to like his veterans however, and it is possible he finds the ice tonight. Sami Vatanen could find himself in the pressbox if that were the case.
- TSN’s Frank Seravelli is predicting a huge discussion this offseason among general managers regarding the league’s goalie interference and coach’s challenge rules. Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli was obviously irritated in his post-game interview following yet another controversy in Game 5, as were numerous Edmonton players. Late in the third against Anaheim, Ryan Kesler appeared to hold goaltender Cam Talbot‘s right pad as the tying goal was shot through his five hole. Although a review was instituted, it quickly upheld the call of a “good goal”, to much befuddlement among experts and players. Anaheim went on to win the game. This issue has come up consistently throughout the season and its application does seem very obscure. Some slight bumps have overturned goals and completely hindering a goaltender from making a save has been allowed. Clarity on the league’s part as to what constitutes goalie interference would go a long way in alleviating these sorts of issues going forward, but some GMs may opt to abandon the challenge altogether and revert to the former system. For all its faults, the challenge has been particularly useful in attempting to relieve pressure from on-ice officials during fast-paced gameplay. In the case of offsides, for instance, there has been little disagreement on the positive impact reviews have had. Some argue that the interruptions to play are too extensive, but it seems unlikely the challenge will be entirely scrapped, but rather, modified.
- Folowing the St. Louis Blues’ playoff exit, attention will turn to off-season business. The team only has one UFA in forward Scottie Upshall, and three RFAs in forwards Nail Yakupov, Magnus Paajarvi, and defenseman Colton Parayko. Upshall is a good bet to head elsewhere, as his solid (if unremarkable) season will likely get him a spot on a team in more desperate need of role players. Yakupov could easily turn his sights to Russia if a larger contract offer comes his way and negotiations stall. There is no transfer agreement with the KHL however, so this will be an interesting case to watch. Parayko is absolutely deserving of a raise, as he has consistently contributed on the backend. In only his second NHL season, the 6’6″ tower has averaged over 23 minutes of ice per night and blocked shots with the best of them. He definitely has a bright future and it would be wise for St. Louis to lock him up long-term. It might be difficult to squeeze him under the cap at a higher, extended rate, however. Paajarvi will likely get a very marginal raise on a short-term contract extension. He only participated in 32 contests this season after being plagued by injury and splitting time with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.
Capitals Have Four Of Top Eight Unrestricted Free Agents
The 2017 free agency class may not be the strongest, but the Washington Capitals have the most to gain (or more likely lose) if free agency doesn’t go their way. The Capitals, currently on the ropes, down 3-1, to the Pittsburgh Penguins (Game 5 tonight), have four of the top eight unrestricted free agents, according to Matt Larkin of the Hockey News, as he posts his Top-30 unrestricted free agents this summer.
Unlike previous years, Larkin writes that this year’s class falls short of firepower, which the scribe points out is bad news for the expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights, who get a 48-hour window to negotiate with any free agents before any other teams. Regardless, it’s the Capitals who will find themselves on the clock as defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk is listed as the number one free agent on the list, while winger T.J. Oshie is third. Defenseman Karl Alzner is ranked fifth, while veteran wing Justin Williams is eighth on their list.
Larkin adds that he believes the Capitals will only be able to ink two of those players and will be forced to let two go. Shattenkirk, who was acquired in a February trade from the St. Louis Blues for their playoff run, has struggled in the playoffs this year, but is listed first due to the fact that blueliners in the prime of their careers, who can play 20 minutes a night, are always rewarded. Whether Washington can keep him at a high price tag is the tough question.
The team is likely to do everything to sign Oshie, however. The 30-year-old winger has had a breakout season with Washington on the first line with Alex Ovechkin and Niklas Backstrom. He has tallied 59 regular-season goals in the two seasons he has played for the Capitals since being acquired by trade from the Blues.
The Capitals then have to look at Alzner, a rugged blueliner who at age 28, could get a large contract in a weak year of free agent defensemen, while Williams playoff success could make him a well-paid second-liner as well. The Capitals have to decide what priorities they have as it’s unlikely they can afford to keep all four players.
Montreal Canadiens veteran winger Alexander Radulov, who returned to the NHL last year after a long stint in the KHL, is ranked second on the list, although he has said he would like to resign with the Canadiens. Goaltender Ben Bishop is listed fourth on that free agent list and the 30-year-old netminder should be in high demand. Veterans Martin Hanzal (No. 6), Joe Thornton (No. 7), Radim Vrbata (No. 9) and Patrick Eaves (No. 10) round out the first ten on that list.
Poll: Where Will Evgeni Dadonov End Up?
Now that Vadim Shipachyov has signed with the Vegas Golden Knights, all eyes turn to Evgeni Dadonov for the next big name to come out of the KHL (sorry Ilya). Dadonov may not have the elite-level skill that some Russian snipers have had in the past, but make no mistake that he can be an effective offensive winger at the NHL level.
The team the most often linked to Dadonov are those same Golden Knights, as they try to find ways to make their team competitive right from the start. Even today George McPhee admitted that he has had discussions with the 28-year old, but isn’t sure where he’ll land.
Outside of Vegas, there has been considerable interest around the league but no concrete discussions between a team and Dadonov’s camp. The Maple Leafs have been rumored to have interest, while he has been tenuously linked to the Canadiens, Rangers and Hurricanes. He could always return to the team that drafted him in Florida, though that seems like a dark horse given their history.
So we ask you, the PHR public where you think Dadonov will end up. Make sure you leave a comment to explain why, and take a guess at the contract details.
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Vadim Shipachyov Turned Down $20MM Offer From KHL
The Vegas Golden Knights signed their second player in franchise history last night, inking Russian playmaker Vadim Shipachyov to a two-year, $9MM deal. It had been rumored for months that Shipachyov wanted to come to North America, but his old KHL squad did everything they could to keep him around. Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports that SKA St. Petersburg offered a four-year, $20MM deal to try and tempt him to stay in Russia. Apparently that wasn’t enough, as he decided to come to the NHL for less than half, albeit with a chance to hit the open market again at 32.
Engels also reports that though both sides have long said they weren’t interested in each other, the Shipachyov camp were in contract with the Montreal Canadiens as recently as ten days ago. Apparently Montreal didn’t want to offer more than the $9MM deal he ended up signing, or perhaps there were other reasons for heading to Vegas. Shipachyov will likely be their best player among a forward group that will include a lot of youth and a lot of declining talent. He’ll certainly get his chance to shine, centering one of the top two lines and likely playing on the power play.
St. Petersburg could be watching several players leave this summer, as Ilya Kovalchuk and Evgeni Dadonov are both rumored to also be heading back to the NHL. The team has just acquired the rights to Nail Yakupov though, and Shipachyov’s decision to sign in the NHL may put even more pressure on the squad to try and convince the former first-overall pick to return to Russia.
Golden Knights Sign Vadim Shipachyov
The Vegas Golden Knights have made their first big player acquisition, signing KHL star Vadim Shipachyov to a two-year contract.
Shipachyov will make $4.5MM per season, per the team’s media release. He joins rookie pro and former Brandon Wheat King center Reid Duke as the only two players currently under contract by the expansion Golden Knights franchise.
The 30-year-old center is a legitimate scoring threat in Russia, having scored 26 goals and 50 assists for 76 points in 50 games this season for SKA St. Petersburg. That was good for third in the KHL and second on SKA, behind only Ilya Kovalchuk. In Shipachyov’s nine-year career in the KHL, he has 137 goals and 412 points in 445 games. His points-per-game is slightly lessened by his early years; he’s scored 190 points in 153 games over the last three years. SKA has won the Gagarin Cup twice in those seasons.
Shipachyov is a highly-skilled offensive player, but isn’t a big body at 6’1, 190 lbs. Here’s how he’s described by Elite Prospects:
Shipachyov is a skilled center with excellent on-ice vision. He skates very well and with a fluid stride. Owns great offensive instincts and likes to have the puck on his stick. Could improve his all-around game. Isn’t overly efficient in physical battles.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported back in March that Vegas was exploring the possibility of signing the highly sought-after Russian star and his SKA teammate Yegveni Dadonov.
Even though this is Shipachyov’s first contract with an NHL club, he’s too old to sign an entry-level contract and will be a UFA at the expiry of the two-year deal, according to Cap Friendly. No word yet if he’ll wear his usual number 87 in the NHL. Only Sidney Crosby and Capitals minor-leaguer Liam O’Brien currently wear the number.
Shipachyov is currently with the Team Russia at the IIHF World Championships in Colonge, Germany.