Canucks’ Nikita Tryamkin Returning To KHL
The KHL has claimed their first NHL victim, as Vancouver Canucks’ defenseman Nikita Tryamkin has re-signed with his old KHL club for next season. After repeating their desire to bring back some of their homegrown talent, the KHL has succeeded by baiting Tryamkin back after just one full season with the Canucks. The 22-year old defender was a restricted free agent this summer, and looked like he could be a part of the Canucks’ blueline for a long time.
Drafted in the third round in 2014, Tryamkin was always a risk to return to the KHL as he had previously warned that he would leave North America should he not stay in the NHL all season. His contract even contained an out clause should the Canucks try to send him to the AHL, likely signaling a hesitation to dedicate himself fully to the North American game. It’s hard to blame the big defender, who will be returning to play for his hometown team in Yekaterinburg.
The 6’7″ defenseman was a surprisingly good addition to the Canucks blueline this year, dealing out big hits and moving around the ice with ease. While he obviously needed some polish to his game, he could have easily turned into a solid piece on the blueline. Vancouver will now go forward without him, though they will retain his rights and keep him on their reserve list should he ever wish to come back. It’s not clear how long the contract is for, but with his youth and relative success this year, a return is not out of the question.
The Radulov Factor: Signing KHL Talent
As the 14 teams who didn’t make the playoffs can certainly attest, there is a fine line between making noise and sliding to irrelevance. One look no further than the Colorado Avalanche to realize that one off-season of poor decisions and a bad string of luck can complete derail a season beyond salvage. A solid signing can put you right back into the mix. Stagnation can mean failure, and of course, loss of fan interest as well as precious revenue.
This off-season, with the UFA class looking more sparse than ever, teams will be hunting for NHL talent on cheap contracts. Many teams will seek the help of the undrafted NCAAer, and with good reason. However, Montreal’s tactic of paying a steep contract for a KHL superstar has paid dividends, through the season and now in the playoffs. Alexander Radulov had his fair share of nay-sayers, as his experience with Nashville didn’t go particularly well. And an anti-Russian, anti-European bias does always seem to sneak into the conversation whenever overseas talent is concerned. Artemi Panarin had plenty of suitors, to be sure, but even he was compensated less than what he realistically deserved. In his first season, the young star tallied 30 goals and 77 points on a line with Patrick Kane. Not much of an adjustment faze.
Let’s look at a trio of names that have been, or should be, tossed into the ring for teams’ consideration in the near future:
Jan Kovar (C) – Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Kovar has been mentioned from time to time for years, as an intriguing top forward for the star-studded Magnitogorsk. Talks to come over to the NHL have unfortunately never gotten particularly serious. Kovar scored 63 points in 59 games this past year, lead the Gagarin Cup playoffs with 25 points, and is still a decently spry 27 years-old. The Czech-born center is listed at only 5’10”, but as we have seen with Vladimir Sobotka, size isn’t always a deal-breaker. He is known for his solid shot and ability to create chances from very little. His playmaking abilities have only gotten better with age. Although his World Championship point totals aren’t fantastic, he would be a low-risk addition for any fringe team in need of offensive flair, or depth up the middle.
Evgeny Dadonov (RW) – SKA St. Petersburg
The former Florida Panther has been nothing short of phenomenal for SKA in the past year. During the team’s title run, the forward pulled off Datsyuk-ian moves with relative ease. He has previous ties to Carolina, and whatever they could offer should be matched by any other bottom-feeding team in the division – this player has the serious potential to burn defensemen for years. He could also be a complete bust, like he was his first time through. But the maturity that comes with multiple playoff runs and being trusted in a leadership role shouldn’t be under-estimated. Even in light of the NHL’s decision to avoid the Olympics, Dadonov is expected to strongly consider a return to the league. His pricetag may be an issue, however. Here’s hoping the cost isn’t a sticking point, because his remarkable creativity would be a welcome sight on NHL ice.
Emil Garipov (G) – Ak Bars Kazan
Yes, the goalie market is flooded with capable tenders already. Yes, you’ve probably never heard of this guy. Yes, no team has any rumored interest of late. But franchises struggling with goalie depth would be bonkers to not at least pick up the phone on this kid with the statlines he’s put up. At 25 years-old, Garipov is just hitting his prime years as a netminder. He kept his team afloat yet again with another strong showing in a KHL career that has been remarkably strong. His career save percentage is well above .930 and he survived an absolute barrage of shots last season with veteran poise. Garipov is technically sharp and he exudes a confidence that is well beyond his years. He also never quits on a play, which can be evidenced by scores of highlights such as these. Worst case scenario – you acquire a backup who struggles. But Garipov has shown flashes of next-level athleticism and focus which suggest that he could be capable of making the leap.
Of course, the Olympic situation complicates any potential KHL hoppers this summer. How much of a deterrent the Pyeongchang decision will be for Europeans remains to be seen, but as Radulov evidences on a nightly basis, the rewards for thinking outside the box can be great indeed.
Latest On Alexei Bereglazov
After being defeated in Game 5 of the KHL Finals and losing the Gagarin Cup to Ilya Kovalchuk and the rest of SKA St. Petersburg yesterday, Alexei Bereglazov can now turn his attention to a potential NHL contract. Igor Eronko of Sport-Express reports that the Russian defender will indeed head to the NHL next season, and repeats that the New York Rangers are the leading candidate for his services. The connection between the Rangers and the 22-year old had previously been reported by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Similar to Nikita Zaitsev last season, Bereglazov has been playing in the KHL for several seasons already, winning the Gagarin Cup last year and getting to the finals once again. His impact and importance increased this year though, playing almost 20 minutes a night during the regular season and registering a career-high 19 points. Unlike Zaitsev, who was almost fully developed when he joined the Maple Leafs last season at 25, Bereglazov still has more room to grow into his 6’4″ frame and could still see drastic improvement at both ends of the rink.
While the Rangers are the only team who has been currently linked, there will surely be other clubs in the mix for Bereglazov if he indeed decides to head to North America. A big, young defender who has offensive upside is exactly what every team is looking for, and though he still sometimes struggles moving the puck quickly up the ice he will likely improve over the next few years wherever he plays. For Magnitogorsk, where he currently plays, it would be a big blow to lose the young defender to the NHL after another big season.
Maxim Shalunov Ends Negotiations Due To Olympic Decision
While it’s still not clear how the NHL’s decision to forego the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang will affect the contract negotiations of certain free agents already in the league, it has now officially claimed its first victims overseas. In a piece from AFP published this morning on Yahoo Sports, the agent for Maxim Shalunov and Anton Burdasov has reportedly shut down negotiations with NHL clubs for next season due to their hope to suit up for Russia at the Games.
Shalunov was a fourth-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011, and was considering coming to the NHL as recently as February though it was admittedly still an outside chance. His breakout last year in the KHL was followed up by an even more successful campaign, scoring 37 points in 49 games this year. Burdasov on the other hand has no ties to any NHL club, but had 17 goals in 35 games for Omsk and added four more in the playoffs. At just 24 and 25 respectively, both would be attractive pieces to NHL clubs.
Now, when agents make claims like this it is always good to take them with a grain of salt, as it could easily be a negotiating tactic or saving face for a client who overestimated his market. Neither player would be a lock for the Russian Olympic team even if no NHL players went, making it a little suspicious. Their relative youth and strong play though does make it noteworthy, as each could have provided an interesting option to clubs next season.
Snapshots: Lyubimov, Beck, Devils, Foligno
Since the Olympic decision came down, details have continued to come out about Russian-born players and their desire (and pressure) to play in the Games anyway. We heard from Nikita Zaitsev on the matter yesterday, saying that it hasn’t changed his plans on staying in North America, but now one Flyers’ forward isn’t so clear. Roman Lyubimov, the former CSKA Moscow winger who signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia this summer and has suited up for 46 games told Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer that it will be a “tough decision” whether or not to return to the KHL next year.
Zaitsev of course has a huge contract extension waiting for him, while Lyubimov has been a healthy scratch for much of the year. The 24-year old forward likely isn’t sure of his place in the NHL after struggling this year and sometimes only seeing five minutes of ice time. He’s a restricted free agent at the end of the year, and if there isn’t a clear role for him in Philadelphia, it may just not fit for him anymore.
- Taylor Beck has been recalled by the New York Rangers for the first time since being acquired at the trade deadline. The 25-year old forward is having a huge year at the AHL level, with 63 points in 54 games. He’ll likely draw into the lineup as the Rangers give some key players the night off heading into the playoffs.
- The New Jersey Devils, on the other hand have sent both Steven Santini and Luke Gazdic back down to the Albany Devils as they prepare for the Calder Cup playoffs. The AHL Devils are in third place in the North division but haven’t actually locked up a spot just yet as Utica and St. John’s are right on their tail. With just five games remaining for the team before the end of the regular season, both Santini and Gazdic will help their chances of making it into the postseason.
- Marcus Foligno‘s season is over, according to John Vogl of the Buffalo News. The forward has been given a 7-10 day timeline on his knee injury, which will take him through the end of the year. Foligno set a career high in goals with 13 and has found a niche as a fast, physical presence in the league. His 279 hits rank fifth in the league and second among forwards behind only Matt Martin of the Maple Leafs. A restricted free agent in the summer, he’ll be looking for a slight raise over the $2.25MM he earned this season, and could earn a long-term deal if he agrees to a sub-$3MM salary.
- The Vegas Golden Knights have sent their only player to the Chicago Wolves on a professional tryout, as Reid Duke starts his journey into pro hockey. The Wolves have been long rumored as the future affiliate of the Golden Knights, and though this doesn’t guarantee that it is another hint that there is already a handshake deal in place. Duke should get used to his surroundings, as he’ll have a tough time cracking the NHL roster next year even if his name is already in the history books.
Snapshots: Zaitsev, Sobotka, Meier, Lorito
When the NHL announced its intentions to not attend the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympic Games, many Russian stars stood by their previous statements about heading there anyway. CSKA Moscow of the KHL even came out saying they would try to lure players back to Russia with the promise of the Olympics. Nikita Zaitsev, the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie was one of those players since he will technically still be a restricted free agent come the summer.
Zaitsev though is in the process of finalizing a huge extension with the Leafs, and told Chris Johnston of Sportsnet today that the Olympic decision won’t change his plans for staying in North America. “I think everybody wants to play for their national team, especially in the Olympics, but it’s not the right time to think about it right now,” he told Johnston. The 25-year old defender has represented his country at several international tournaments in the past, though never an Olympic Games.
- Both Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch and Andy Strickland of Fox Sports believe that a Vladimir Sobotka decision will be announced soon, after the news broke that he was discussing a multi-year contract extension with the team. Sobotka isn’t a superstar and never will be, but could give the Blues even more depth down the middle for a long playoff run. If he returns to the team this year, he’ll be honoring the one-year $2.725MM deal that was awarded by an arbitrator before heading to the KHL three years ago.
- Timo Meier won’t unpack his bags just yet, as Kevin Kurz of NBC reports he has been recalled by the team once again. Meier went down to the Barracuda yesterday to play in an AHL contest that he dominated, scoring two goals and flying all over the ice. He hasn’t been able to find that same finishing ability in the NHL, but remains one of the top prospects in the league because of his tremendous potential.
- Andreas Athanasiou may miss Saturday’s game for the Detroit Red Wings with an upper-body injury and, according to Ansar Khan of MLive, if he does the team will call up Matt Lorito from the AHL. Lorito has 54 points in 59 games this season but has still yet to crack an NHL lineup. The 26-year old has come a long way since playing in the OJHL as a youngster, unable to crack an OHL squad. Four years at Brown University and a grind in the AHL may culminate in an NHL debut on Hockey Night In Canada against the Montreal Canadiens.
Evening Transactions: Milano, Conacher, Paigin
The Columbus Blue Jackets have sent Sonny Milano back to the Cleveland Monsters after just one game. The top prospect was held scoreless again, and is still looking for his first NHL goal. Scoring 43 points in 59 games in the AHL, Milano has been a huge part of keeping them playoff relevant. After winning the Calder Cup last year, Cleveland is in danger of missing the playoffs completely should they not finish their strong in their last five games. Milano will likely be in the lineup tomorrow against the Milwaukee Admirals.
Here are some more moves around the NHL this evening:
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have called up Cory Conacher and Michael Bournival ahead of their important matchup against the Maple Leafs tomorrow. Both players have spent time in the NHL this season and will be used as insurance should Tyler Johnson or any other Lightning can’t go. As Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports, there were several players who wouldn’t have played last night under normal circumstances. That 4-0 loss at the hands of the Boston Bruins means that Tampa Bay must beat the Maple Leafs in regulation to have any real chance at making the playoffs.
- The Bakersfield Condors have signed Ziyat Paigin to an amateur tryout. The seventh-round pick of the Oilers played his third season in the KHL this season and has made his way over to the North American system. While he doesn’t have an entry-level contract just yet with Edmonton, this is a strong sign that he wants to transition away from the Russian league. Paigin broke out last year with 27 points in 33 games after being loaned to Sochi, but has had another underwhelming campaign with Ak Bars this year. A huge defenseman who is already 22-years old, Paigin is a very interesting prospect for Oilers fans to keep an eye on.
Vladimir Sobotka Terminates KHL Contract
After months of speculation, Vladimir Sobotka has agreed to a mutual termination of his contract with Omsk Avangard of the KHL ahead of the April 30th expiry date. He is now free to return to North America if he wishes to sign with the St. Louis Blues, and would be eligible for the playoffs this season. This is still not a likely scenario, as even playing a single game would burn the year he owes the Blues—Sobotka signed a one-year deal in July of 2014, before bolting for the KHL. 
The 29-year old center showed off in the KHL playoffs this year, scoring 10 points in 12 games while continuing to play a physical style. Even though he only scored 30 points during the regular season, he still could likely play an effective role on a Blues team that has turned around their season since firing Ken Hitchcock partway through. Now firmly in the playoff picture, the Blues are just playing to determine who they’ll face in the first round with the most likely scenario being the Minnesota Wild.
Sobotka was traded to the Blues back in 2010 from the Boston Bruins, and played four years for the team before his KHL departure in 2014. Now that there is a chance he may return to the NHL, he’ll have to play at least one season for the Blues before becoming a restricted free agent. The length of that season is up to the two sides, as whenever he returns he will be reinstated off the suspended list and resume the $2.725MM deal he agreed to. He is also eligible for the expansion draft, regardless of whether he burns that year now or later.
Terminating his contract early does add some smoke to the fire of his early return, but Blues’ GM Doug Armstrong has made it very clear in the past that he wouldn’t talk about Sobotka until he was back on North American soil. Losing the asset after just a few games would be unfortunate, but with the Blues looking again like they could make some noise in the playoffs, perhaps his addition could put them over the top.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Snapshots: Olympics, Gabrielle, Hemsky, Meier
If you thought the Olympic story was over after the league announced yesterday they would not participate in the 2018 Winter Games, you were wrong. Almost every player around the league was asked about their stance on the tournament, and some of the strongest opinions once again came from Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. When Ovechkin was pressed, he repeated his intention on attending the tournament whether the NHL allows him to or not. “Somebody going to tell me don’t go, I don’t care, I just go” Ovechkin told Chris Johnston of Sportsnet before going on to say he believes the NHL is bluffing.
There is chance the NHL will install fines or suspensions for players who do go, and Rick Westhead of TSN reports that Donald Fehr, the head of the NHLPA, is already telling agents that he expects the NHL to try and stop them in one way or another. Westhead expects the players’ union to fight any such “impromptu rule” though.
- The Boston Bruins may get a closer look at prospect Jesse Gabrielle soon, as Mark Divver of the Providence Journal reports that the Prince George winger will join the AHL Bruins as soon as this weekend. Prince George was knocked out of the WHL playoffs after another solid season by Gabrielle. He spent time with Providence last spring before heading back to junior, but next year will likely play all season in the AHL. The young winger has offensive upside and an in-your-face style that Bruins fans both love and expect from their young players.
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News gives us an explanation on the Justin Dowling transaction carousel, reporting that Ales Hemsky will be out for the remainder of the season. The Stars had thought he was ready to return to the lineup, but instead he will sit out the last few games and head into the summer as a pending unrestricted free agent.
- Despite sending Timo Meier to the AHL yesterday, Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News reports that he has been brought back up by the team today. It must have been a cost-saving measure, though the point still stands that Meier has struggled to get quality chances despite racking up shots on net. The youngster will look to break his goalless drought if he gets back into the lineup.
- Flyers’ prospect German Rubtsov won’t be getting any more time on the ice this year, as he has been shut down following hand surgery to repair a broken bone. The young forward had 22 points in 16 games since coming over from the KHL in January. He signed his first entry-level contract a month ago, and looks like a can’t miss prospect for the Flyers going forward.
Oilers Notes: Hart Trophy, Lander, Hall
The Edmonton Oilers may have lost a big game to their division rivals in Anaheim last night, but it was a big night for their captain, Connor McDavid.
McDavid scored a goal and three points to increase his lead at the top of the scoring race. He now has 85 points in 73 games, which is four points more than Sidney Crosby has, albeit in 66 games. Brad Marchand and Patrick Kane each have 80 points in 73 games.
While he’s leading the scoring race, a bigger question is where he’s at in the MVP race. While Cam Talbot has been superb for the Oilers this season, there’s no question that McDavid is the main reason for the team’s rise up the standings. The Oilers surpassed last season’s win total in mid-February, and have improved their goal differential by 63 goals. They finished in 29th last season, and are currently sitting in a divisional playoff spot this season. The biggest difference between this year and last? McDavid is healthy and arguably tied with Crosby for the title of best player in the NHL. Winning the scoring race would clear things up; in the past five years, the Hart has gone to either the Art Ross or Rocket Richard winner four times.
If McDavid does end up winning the Hart Trophy for league MVP, he will be the first Oilers player to win a major award since Andrew Ference won the King Clancy Award for off-ice leadership in 2013-14. McDavid would be the first Oiler to win an award for on-ice play since 1989-90 when Mark Messier and Bill Ranford took home the Hart, Lindsay, and Conn Smythe.
- Oilers minor-league centre Anton Lander has signed with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL for next season, according to KHL insider Aivis Kalniņš. A former second-round, Lander has struggled at the NHL level with just 35 points in 215 games. His only sustained success was back in 2014-15, when he scored 20 points in 38 games. But in the AHL, Lander is dominant. He has 22 goals and 46 points in 31 games this season for the Bakersfield Condors. The deal will be announced after the AHL season ends, and will make Lander one of the highest-paid imports in the KHL according to Kalniņš. Back in October, we reported on the top KHL salaries, and the highest-paid import on the list was Stephane Da Costa who makes approximately $1.3MM USD. That range would be a nice raise over Lander’s current contract which pays him $990K. It seems unlikely that the Oilers will tender Lander a qualifying offer in the spring.
- Taylor Hall may not be in Edmonton anymore, but he can’t escape the questions about his former team. Hall was asked today if he would watch and cheer for the Oilers in the playoffs. His answer? “No.” After six bottom-ten finishes with the Oilers, Hall once again finds himself at the bottom of the standings with the Devils while his former team is going to make the playoffs. Sportsnet’s Luke Fox quoted Hall as saying the situation has “a weird dynamic. You’re happy for your friends, that they’re doing well and they’re going to experience the playoffs, but you can’t help but be a bit jealous.”