Metro Division Snapshots: Connolly, Kovalchuk, Rangers
After dropping the opener of their Eastern Conference semifinal match-up against Pittsburgh, the Washington Capitals have elected to make at least one lineup change in advance of game two. According to a tweet from Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post, Paul Carey will draw into the lineup replacing Brett Connolly. As the scribe noted prior to the start of the series, Connolly had his ATOI cut back drastically in the latter half of their six-game series win over Toronto, averaging less than six minutes per contest in games four through six so perhaps a healthy scratch shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
Limited ice time is nothing new this season for Connolly. The six-year vet averaged just 10:41 per game yet managed to set a career-high in the goal scoring department with 15. In fact, among all NHL players who reached that threshold, Connolly saw the lowest ATOI per game. The lack of playing time, both during the regular season and playoffs, would appear to inject some doubt as to how interested the Capitals will be in renewing their working relationship beyond the current campaign with the former first-round draft pick. Connolly is scheduled to be a RFA and will likely seek a significant bump in pay over his 2016-17 salary of $850K based on his solid goal scoring ouput. With several key regulars – T.J. Oshie, Kevin Shattenkirk, Karl Alzner and Justin Williams among them – approaching unrestricted free agency and with RFA’s Andre Burakovsky and Evgeny Kuznetsov also needing new contracts, the Capitals will have a difficult time re-signing or replacing all the talent they may lose with just $20MM in projected cap space. Salary cap considerations may also prompt the team to move on from Connolly this summer, meaning he might be available via trade for any interested parties.
Elsewhere in the Metro Division:
- It’s been reported that Ilya Kovalchuk may be preparing a return to the NHL after four years of self-exile playing in the KHL. As it stands, he is still property of the New Jersey Devils, unless all 30 NHL GM’s agree to allow Kovy to sign with another team. Of course, while the Devils could certainly use the offensive boost Kovalchuk would bring, they likely aren’t close enough to serious contention to justify committing the necessary salary cap resources to an aging, albeit still skilled winger. In fact, they would benefit more by agreeing with an interested club on a sign-and-trade, which would allow Kovalchuk to go to a contending team of his choice with the Devils picking up assets needed to further their rebuild. Whether or not Kovalchuk ultimately returns to the NHL, one thing is certain; the Russian winger will not be representing Team Russia at the upcoming World Championships. According to a report from the Russian sports site SovSport.ru (link in Russian) – H/T to TSN’s Gord Miller for retweeting the link – Kovalchuk has, or will soon undergo knee surgery and is expected to miss the next month to recover. Evidently the knee was an issue throughout the KHL playoffs though it wasn’t enough to prevent Kovalchuk from helping his SKA St. Petersburg club from winning the Gagarin Cup. While he won’t have another chance to showcase his skills for interested NHL teams, it’s unlikely this injury will do much to stunt his market, should he elect to come back.
- Newsday’s Steve Zipay retweeted a report from the Russian Prospects website indicating that coveted young winger Vladimir Tkachyov is slated to attend prospect camp this summer with the New York Rangers. It should be noted that Zipay had yet to independently confirm the report. Tkachyov, an undrafted free agent, spent last season skating with Admiral Vladivostok in the KHL, finishing with 14 goals and 39 points in 49 contests. Prior to returning to Russia, Tkachyov appeared in 66 QMJHL games split between Moncton and Quebec, tallying a combined 26 goals and 79 points. Scouting reports describe the 5-foot-10, 154-pound LW as a dynamic offensive talent and an explosive skater. Tkachyov has been linked to Toronto and Edmonton previously but at this point it looks like the Rangers may have the first chance to convince the skilled winger to join their organization. The Blueshirts interest is understandable as they favor skill and speed in their roster construction and with the lack of high draft choices in recent seasons due to sacrificing futures in pursuit of a Stanley Cup, adding a talent like Tkachyov helps the team keep the prospect pipeline producing NHL-caliber players.
Viktor Antipin Expected To Sign With Buffalo Sabres Soon
Originally linked to the Buffalo Sabres by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet back in March, new reports about Viktor Antipin signing with the team have surfaced today. KHL insider Aivis Kalnins reports that the two sides have talked recently, while Brayton Wilson of WGR 550 writes that sources have confirmed Antipin’s intention to sign in Buffalo for next season. The defender is only able to sign a one-year entry-level deal if he can agree to a termination with his club as he’s currently under contract through 2018.
Antipin’s teammate—and the other Magnitogorsk defender that Friedman mentioned in March—Alexei Bereglazov just signed with the New York Rangers, lending credence to the idea that Antipin will also journey to North America for next season. The 24-year old Russian has played in the KHL for six seasons already, and just completed a playoff run that saw him log more than 24 minutes a night for the Gagarin Cup finalists. His performance in the KHL playoffs was among the best, recording 11 points in 18 games and being named the top defenseman in the final series.
It is interesting to note that the Sabres don’t currently have a General Manager, so Antipin’s courtship must now be conducted by someone other than Tim Murray. Should the Sabres land the young defender, he’ll add an interesting option to the team for next year’s blueline. As Wilson reports, it would be likely that the deal would contain a clause for Antipin to return home should the team wish to send him down to the AHL, similar to the one Nikita Tryamkin negotiated into his deal.
Antipin’s success on the powerplay is an appealing factor for the Sabres, who already boasted the top unit in the league this year. Adding another dangerous option on the blueline can only help the team as it looks to rebound from another disastrous season and claw their way back into the playoffs. Antipin will be playing in the upcoming World Championships, where he’ll test himself once again alongside NHL players.
Jakub Jerabek Expected To Sign With Montreal Canadiens
According to multiple reports, the Montreal Canadiens have come to terms with Jakub Jerabek, a Czech defender from the KHL. Because his current deal doesn’t expire until April 30th, no official announcement can be made as of yet. No financial details have been released. Even though Jerabek will turn 26 in a few weeks he is still required to sign a one-year entry-level contract if he wishes to join the league for next season. Earlier this month, agent Allan Walsh announced that Jerabek had multiple NHL offers and though his decision took a bit longer than expected, he’s now headed to North America and the NHL.
The 25-year old is undersized, but possesses excellent puck-moving ability and is a strong skater. In his rookie season with Chekhov Vityaz he recorded 34 points in 59 games while skating over 21 minutes a night and was named to the KHL All-Star team. The left-handed defenseman had played parts of eight seasons in the Czech professional league prior to this year, debuting when he was just 17. This year he played on the same squad as Maple Leafs’ signee Miro Aaltonen and former NHL star Maxim Afinogenov, but was eliminated early from the playoffs by the eventual Gagarin Cup winners SKA St. Petersburg.
For Montreal, Jerabek offers another option for them that could possibly replace Andrei Markov as he heads into free agency. Though the long-time Canadien has said he wants to play again next year for the Habs, the team may want to go in a younger direction after being eliminated in the first round. Jerabek offers them that youth, though there is no guarantee that it comes with much effectiveness. While Nikita Zaitsev‘s rookie season was successful in Toronto, there have been many before him that failed to make the transition smoothly.
Jerabek first will suit up for the Czech Republic in the upcoming World Championships that begin May 5th, where last year he recorded five points in eight games and was among the tournament leaders from the blueline. His resume boasts quite a bit of individual success at international tournaments, including captaining the Czech team at the 2011 World Juniors where he scored eight points in six games.
Aivis Kalnins was first to report the deal on Twitter, while R-Sport has also been made aware of his intention to sign.
Latest On Ilya Kovalchuk’s NHL Return
When it was reported on Saturday night’s Hockey Night In Canada broadcast by Elliotte Friedman that Ilya Kovalchuk could return to the NHL next season, it caused fans around the league to imagine the Russian winger on their team’s top line and hope he could bring some of the elite scoring ability he showed before bolting for the KHL in 2013. While it is still possible for him to play anywhere in the league, Bob McKenzie of TSN wanted to set the record straight on the requirements for Kovalchuk’s return. 
Since Kovalchuk is still on the Voluntary Retirement List (VRL) for New Jersey, he is able to sign a contract with only the Devils should he return, unless every single team in the NHL signs off on a contract with someone else. Though nothing is impossible, McKenzie (and we here at PHR) believe that getting the entire league to sign off is incredibly unlikely and isn’t the route for Kovalchuk into the league.
Instead, the 34-year old would need to sign with the Devils and then be traded to whichever team won the bidding, likely resulting in an asset for the Devils in return. The team cannot trade his rights while he is still on the VRL, meaning they would need to do a sign-and-trade should he expect to play for a different team. Of course, that would likely remove several teams from contention since the Devils would not want to watch Kovalchuk play on a rival squad.
Though he’s been away from the NHL for several years, Kovalchuk is still regarded as one of the top scoring wingers in the world and would draw significant interest if he was a normal free agent. Because of the New Jersey requirement however, it may sour some teams on the whole process, unsure of what exactly they’re getting and for how long. Though the NHL and KHL generally respect each other’s contracts, Kovalchuk has been involved in grey-area transactions before and likely doesn’t have all that many more elite-level years left anyway. It will be interesting to see who pursues him, or if it is the Devils themselves that bring him back into the fold. For a team that has trouble scoring goals, but has a lot of money tied up in their aging core, perhaps adding a player of Kovalchuk’s stature would be a last-ditch effort to create a contender in New Jersey with this group.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Kovalchuk Flirting With Return?
Per Elliotte Friedman, Ilya Kovalchuk is considering his possible return to the NHL. The star Russian winger left New Jersey following the shortened 2012-13 season, officially retiring from the NHL. His contract had 12 years and $77 MM remaining, ending a contract which had caused a massive headache for both the league and the Devils franchise. The initial Kovalchuk contract was determined to be cap-circumventing, one of many deals prior to the new CBA that placed extended years onto a player’s contract in order to bring the average annual cap hit down for the team. The re-organized deal was largely guilty of the same machinations, although it was accepted by league – but not before the Devils franchise was punished by losing a first and third (the former being eventually re-awarded) round draft pick. When Kovalchuk decided to “retire” merely a year after New Jersey had made the Stanley Cup Final, the contract was essentially cancelled. This was beneficial to both Kovalchuk (who looked to earn more in the KHL) and the Devils ownership (who were struggling financially), although the move was unorthodox and generally maligned. In the post-Kovalchuk era, New Jersey’s team identity was essentially lost, accompanied by the previous loss of Zach Parise and subsequent departure of GM Lou Lamoriello.
If Kovalchuk were to return, the stigma of his faux retirement will likely linger in the minds of NHL owners. If you sign the forward to an extended contract, what guarantee is there that he will honor it? The KHL will always be looming over financial negotiations, an extra competing factor general managers would be happy to do without. Then there is the matter of Kovalchuk’s age – he is now 34, and not quite in the prime years he was when he left North America. In his last (nearly) full season, the winger amassed a ridiculous 37 goals and 43 assists – but that was 5 seasons ago.
Nonetheless, Kovalchuk has proven overseas that he is still a very effective, dynamic star. This past season with SKA St. Petersburg, he collected 32 goals and 46 assists in only 60 games, helping to lead the squad to a Gagarin Cup title. His speed has not significantly decreased, and he looks just as deadly leading a forecheck or driving the net as he did in the States. Kovalchuk, a former Atlanta Thrasher star, had been criticized early in his career for his one-dimensional offensive play. But his greater focus on the defensive aspects of his game helped carry his underdog Devils to the Finals shortly before his departure. Although the KHL admittedly plays a game tailored more to goal-scoring and creativity, Kovalchuk has seemingly maintained some of those good two-way habits.
Regardless of your feelings on Kovalchuk as a player, he would instantaneously be in the conversation for top-5 winger in the league were he to return at anywhere near the same level. Long-term contracts may prove to be a sticking point for owners, but this is the sort of player that could inspire a sweepstakes of bidding and negotiations. He is still a game-changer with incredible offensive flair and consistent production – nearly every general manager would be wise to consider making an inquiry.
Kings Close To Deal With Swedish Defenseman Oscar Fantenberg
Generally, where there is smoke, there is fire, and over the past 24 hours the internet has been smoked out by rumors of the Los Angeles Kings inking Swedish defenseman Oscar Fantenberg to a contract. However, the team has yet to release anything official, nor has the deal been confirmed my a major mainstream media outlet. Thus far, the authority on the situation has been John Hoven, L.A. sports blogger and NHL Network Radio host, who reports that it is a done deal between the Kings and Fantenberg, but provides no other specifics. For now, the presumption is that the two sides are close and are hammering out the details.
The 25-year-old Fantenberg could be a promising signing for the Kings. The 6’0″, 200-pound blue liner made the jump to the KHL last season, after years of sustained excellence in Sweden, joining HK Sochi, and was selected as an All-Star in his first campaign and finished the year with three goals and 20 assists in 40 games. His 23 points led all Sochi defenders in scoring and was fifth-best on the team, not far behind star Andrei Kostitsyn. A good comparison for Fantenberg may be the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Nikita Zaitsev, who left the KHL last season at the age of 24 following a season where he scored 26 points in 46 games. The book on Zaitsev was that he played a smart, responsible two-way game and could also move the puck and shoot well, but needed time to develop a stronger physical game and to improve his skating. Zaitsev responded by playing in all 82 of the Leafs regular season games and recording 36 points. Similarly, Fantenberg has been lauded for his well-rounded game, both as a solid two-way player and reliable offensive contributor. The knocks have been, like Zaitsev, that he’s not afraid to play physical, but could get stronger and is a good skater, but could get faster. If Fantenberg can take the next step like his former KHL counterpart, the Kings could be looking at an everyday defenseman good for 30+ points in 2017-18 and beyond.
As is with many rumors of European signings at this time of year though, the deal is not yet set in stone and it may take some time for anything to be made official. Despite Fantenberg being 25 and having several years of pro hockey under his belt, the Kings do not have to wait out the upcoming Expansion Draft to make the signing, as players’ experience for draft eligibility is limited to their time in North America. However, with the Expansion Draft and Entry Draft looming, as well as negotiations with current players underway, the Kings and many other teams are simply taking their time with locking up European talent. The Islanders were recently rumored to be looking into their own former prospect, Swedish Hockey League star Johan Sundstrom, while many teams have surely begun to talk with top free agents from the KHL Champion SKA St. Petersburg, including Vadim Shipachyov and Nikita Gusev, but so far nothing official has come as a result. The Kings and Fantenberg seem closer than most, but any sort of confirmation is still being awaited.
New York Rangers Sign Alexei Bereglazov
As rumored, the New York Rangers have signed KHL defenseman Alexei Bereglazov. Bereglazov had recently confirmed that he would be heading to North America after this season, and the Rangers have long been linked—originally by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The (just turned) 23-year old defender will add another piece to the Rangers blueline and may step into the spotlight as soon as next year. His age means the entry-level deal can only be for two years, and it is likely that the deal starts next season since he would have to pass through waivers to be eligible for these playoffs.
Bereglazov is left-handed, but spend much of this season playing the right side for Magnitogorsk and could continue there for the Rangers. The big blueliner broke out somewhat this season, recording 19 points in 60 games, the most by a defender 24 years or under. His offensive upside is the big selling point, though he still struggles at times moving the puck quickly out of his own end. With the size 6’4″ to step into the NHL right away, he’ll likely break camp with the team and be given a chance to start 2017-18.
It is an interesting situation the Rangers find themselves in on defence, with Marc Staal and Dan Girardi still signed long-term but not performing well enough to deserve the $10MM+ hit their combined salaries cause on the cap. With the team seemingly wanting to go after Kevin Shattenkirk, and perhaps even re-sign Brendan Smith after his successful stint with the team, there isn’t enough money or ice time to go around. While Vegas could potentially pluck one of their problems away in the expansion draft—if they can get one of them to waive their NMC—it isn’t very likely. Instead, they may have to consider the very unattractive buyout option for at least one.
In any case, the Rangers have added some solid depth for nothing but an entry-level contract, bringing Bereglazov over away from the KHL. If he can have even a portion of the success that Nikita Zaitsev showed in Toronto this year, they’ve bought themselves another asset. At the very least, this shows the continued willingness of Russian-born KHLers to leave the league for the NHL, despite its recent Olympic decision. The pipeline continues to go both ways.
Pacific Notes: Tryamkin, Parsons, Kase
The Vancouver Canucks released a statement on the departure of Nikita Tryamkin, who left for the KHL earlier today. The team apparently offered a two-year deal to the young defender, but couldn’t persuade him to stay in North America. The full statement:
We are disappointed that Nikita chose to sign in the KHL, but also recofnize from what he told us in our exit meetings that this was a family decision first. He has a chance to be an impact player in the NHL and we offered him a two-year extension. But for now he is home and we will move ahead with building this team with other young players.
It is indeed disappointing for the Canucks, who had come to appreciate Tryamkin’s physical style on the back end as a possible future shutdown defender. Instead, they’ll have to hope that other defenders like Olli Juolevi, Jordan Subban and Troy Stecher develop like they expect. The Canucks will also likely hold one of the top few picks in this year’s draft, where they could look to acquire another high-end defender.
- The Calgary Flames may have been eliminated from the playoffs in part due to poor goaltending, but they have better days ahead in that position. The team announced today that Tyler Parsons will join Stockton for their playoff run after his London Knights were eliminated from the OHL postseason. As Darren Hynes of of Canadian Press points out, Parsons, Jon Gillies and David Rittich form a pretty promising young trio for the Flames. The problem is, none of them look ready to take over NHL duties next season.
- Anaheim has reassigned Ondrej Kase to the San Diego Gulls after eliminating the Calgary Flames last night, though he may return for round two. The Gulls will start their series with back-to-back games Friday and Saturday before five days off before game three. The 21-year old Kase had 12 points in 14 games for the Gulls this season.
New Jersey Devils Sign Yaroslav Dyblenko To Two-Year Contract
After the KHL took two defensemen back from the NHL this morning, the New Jersey Devils have stolen one back. The team announced that it has signed Yaroslav Dyblenko to a two-year entry-level contract. The financials of the deal were not released, but it is the longest deal possible for a player of Dyblenko’s age.
The 23-year old defenseman has played the last four years full-time in the KHL—with part-time duty before that—and logged just over 17 minutes of ice time in the most recent season. He’s never put up very impressive offensive numbers, recording just 39 points across 180 KHL games. The Devils must see something more in him, as he’ll now join their organization and try to crack the lineup next season.
Despite the NHL’s decision not to go to the Olympics, it doesn’t seem as though the Russian league will be able to keep much of their talent from leaving to play in North America. Vladimir Sobotka returned after terminating his contract early, and immediately signed a three-year extension with the St. Louis Blues. While some players like Tryamkin may decide to return, it will still be a two-way street with talent heading both ways. The Devils are one of the first to dip their toes into the KHL free agent pool, but there will be several more announcements throughout the next few weeks as the Gagarin Cup playoffs have come to an end.
Philip Larsen Signs Two-Year Deal In KHL
Just after the Vancouver Canucks learned that they’d lost Nikita Tryamkin to his old KHL club, the league announced that Philip Larsen has signed a two-year deal with Salavat Yulaev. Larsen was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, after playing just 26 games with the Canucks this season. He’ll be returning to the league in which he found so much success, scoring 36 points in 52 games during the 2015-16 season.
Larsen was acquired from the Oilers last spring, and signed a one-year deal with the Canucks hoping to become the powerplay quarterback he had been in Russia. Instead, tragedy struck when he was destroyed by a Taylor Hall hit behind the ice and had to leave the game on a stretcher. He would eventually return more than six weeks later, but played just a handful of games down the stretch for Vancouver.
Originally drafted in the fifth round by the Dallas Stars, Larsen has never been quite able to put together a full NHL season. His future always seemed to be overseas, either in the KHL or closer to his native Denmark. He spent his formative years playing in the Swedish Elite League, where he was first spotted by Dallas. While it’s not determined if he’ll ever return to the NHL, at 27 he’s found his niche in the KHL and could easily stay there. Unfortunately, Denmark will not participate in the 2018 Olympics in hockey, with their qualification stage being one of the toughest against both Slovenia—who eventually won the group and will play in Pyeongchang—Poland and Belarus.