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KHL To Implement Salary Cap Floor

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The KHL’s Board of Governors was busy this weekend, discussing and ultimately deciding on a number of major issues. The league approved the use of “smart puck” tracking technology, distributed television revenue to each team, and formally open up investigations into both a new playoff format as well as rules pertaining to player loans. However, the biggest decision came in regard to a touchy subject in the KHL: competitive balance. The league has officially announced that they will introduce a salary cap floor, beginning in the 2020-21 season.

A group consisting of representatives from all 21 NHL teams received a majority vote to implement a salary cap floor, which should act to combat the KHL’s problem with powerhouse clubs. The league already has a salary cap structure with an upper limit of 900MM rubles, or about $14MM, but few teams have the funds to build their rosters right up against the cap. Without any floor to speak of, the cap only marginally assisted with competitive balance, as many teams who felt overwhelmed by the talent of teams like CSKA Moscow, SKA St. Petersburg, and Ak Bars Kazan would instead field low-money rosters in an attempt to maximize their profits in what they felt would be an inevitable losing season.

From now on, that will no longer be an option. The top teams will continue to spend to the cap, but the rest of the league will now have to build more competitive rosters. In it’s first season, the salary cap floor will be set at 30% of the cap ceiling, or 270MM rubles. This is only about $4MM, but is just the first step toward a more balanced KHL. Over the following three years, the floor will move to 35%, 45%, and finally 50% in 2023-24 and beyond. Team that fail to reach the salary cap floor will be punished with financial penalties the first two times they fall below the minimum team salary and upon the third instance will receive a postseason ban.

As it relates to the NHL, a salary cap floor in the KHL will mean there is more money to go around in the competitor league. The financial status of the KHL still pales in comparison to the NHL, but a required minimum payroll for 21 KHL teams (and counting) is sure to produce more scenarios where a jump to Europe is more appealing than a two-way contract. It could also encourage homegrown Russian players to stay in the KHL longer, as the pay discrepancy may not be as large. At the end of the day, the KHL salary floor won’t have a substantial immediate impact on the NHL’s flow of talent beyond a few specific situations, but if it succeeds in improving the competitive balance in the KHL, the league’s popularity could increase which would be felt across the hockey world.

Pavel Zacha Linked To KHL

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1:20pm: Devils GM Ray Shero certainly isn’t concerned with the reports about Zacha and the KHL. The executive spoke to reporters including John Wawrow of the Associated Press and explained that if Zacha wants to go to the KHL “it’s a long way back to the NHL.” Shero still hopes to sign Zacha for this season, but is quick to point out that the Devils own his rights regardless.

8:30am: Though their offseason has focused on other things, the New Jersey Devils are another one of the teams around the NHL with an unsigned restricted free agent just a few days before training camp opens. Pavel Zacha is still without a contract, and he may not be getting one from the Devils anytime soon. Igor Eronko of Sport-Express passes on a report that Zacha has agreed to terms with Avangard of the KHL. There has been no official announcement from either side at this point, but losing Zacha to the KHL would be a big disappointment for a Devils team that has plans to contend for the playoffs this season. As a restricted free agent that received a qualifying offer, his rights would be retained by New Jersey.

Of course, it is very important to note that until a deal is actually signed—not just agreed to—Zacha could very well still end up in New Jersey. The 22-year old doesn’t have a ton of leverage in his negotiation after struggling to put up big offensive numbers and even seeing some time in the minor leagues last season. Originally selected sixth overall in 2015, the Czech forward has recorded just 76 points in 201 NHL games, though did post his career-high in goals last year with 13. Dealing with injuries and inconsistencies over his first three seasons, it seems likely that the Devils wouldn’t be offering a very lucrative deal for Zacha.

The fact that he is not arbitration eligible yet means there are only a couple of ways for this to end, and no real deadline other than December 1st. That’s when Zacha would become ineligible to play in 2019-20 should he not have an NHL contract filed with the league. Dropping a hint by agreeing to terms in the KHL may push a negotiation along, or it may be simply that Zacha intends on playing overseas this year to get his game back on track.

The Devils have added Wayne Simmonds, Nikita Gusev and Jack Hughes to their forward group (among others) this season, making it even tougher for players like Zacha to crack the top-six and powerplay units moving forward.

Kerby Rychel Signs In KHL

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It hasn’t been a very successful offseason for Kerby Rychel. First the Calgary Flames decided not to issue him a qualifying offer which made him an unrestricted free agent, and then he had to settle for a one-year deal in Sweden in late July. Just a month later Rychel parted ways with Orebro HK due to “personal reasons,” leaving him a free agent without a team once again. Now, Igor Eronko of Sport-Express reports that Rychel has signed a one-year deal with Neftekhimik in the KHL.

Rychel, 24, was a first-round selection by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013 but failed to ever make a real impact at the NHL level for the club. After several years developing him in the minor leagues—including a Calder Cup championship with the Lake Erie Monsters—he was flipped to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016 for Scott Harrington. The Maple Leafs never even gave him a single game in the NHL before trading him again to the Montreal Canadiens, where he suited up just four times. Last season Rychel spent the year almost entirely with the Stockton Heat, scoring 43 points in 57 games.

There has always been the potential of a top-level power forward in Rychel, but things to this point just haven’t worked out. In 43 NHL games has just 14 points, though his AHL numbers are much more respectable. In the KHL he may get a bigger offensive opportunity, but Rychel will need to commit himself to improving his fitness and dedication at both ends of the rink if he is to ever get another sniff at the NHL.

Prospect Notes: Merkley, Karlberg, Chudinov

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When the OHL’s Peterborough Petes released their training camp roster last week, star defenseman Ryan Merkley was suspiciously absent. The San Jose Sharks 2018 first-round pick was only acquired by the Petes midway through last season and was expected to play a major role for the team this year. However, that won’t be the case. Merkley’s agent, J.P. Barry, relayed to Mike Davies of The Peterborough Examiner that he has been informed that Peterborough is working to trade Merkley and do not plan to begin the season with him on the roster. Petes GM Mike Oke confirmed as much, telling Davies that “We’ve decided we’re going to go in a different direction. Finding another opportunity for Ryan would probably be best for everybody… [W]e just felt it wasn’t the right fit.” Oke stated that no specific incident led to the team’s decision on Merkley, but this is hardly the first time that the young blue liner has worn out his welcome. A player that has continuously been followed by rumors of immature behavior and poor sportsmanship, Merkley was thought to have been initially traded to Peterborough from the Guelph Storm under similar circumstances. These personality concerns also likely played a factor in Merkely’s drop to No. 21 overall last year, as his offensive ability might have otherwise warranted a higher draft slot. Nevertheless, the Sharks remain committed to their prospect defender and Oke and Barry are certain that Merkley is still a valuable commodity in the OHL. In fact, the Petes expect to get a similar package back in a trade as what they gave up for him: a top young player and a package of high picks. Merkley is a talented player – he has recorded 193 points in 188 career OHL games – and will get a fair shake at Sharks training camp, but his defensive ability still needs work and he will almost certainly end up back in the OHL this season. The question is with who and whether his continued behavioral issues will follow him to his next stop as well.

  • Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Marcus Karlberg will also be playing somewhere different this season. The 19-year-old forward, a 2018 third-round pick, has been loaned to a new club for the 2019-20 season. AIK of Sweden’s second-tier pro league, the Allsvenskan, announced that they have acquired Karlberg’s services from Leksands IF for the coming season. Karlberg was a near point-per-game player for Leksands’ U-20 SuperElit team early last season before being promoted and recording 11 points in 44 games in the Allsvenskan. Karlberg had clearly outgrown the junior level, but with Leksands earning a promotion to the SHL, the team was likely wary of moving the young forward to Sweden’s top pro level. Karlberg’s growing ability is obvious – he is a fast, hard-working forward who doesn’t let his small frame limit him – but remaining in the Allsvenskan for another year is likely a better developmental move. AIK hope that he can break out and perhaps contribute to another promotion-worthy campaign.
  • While he can barely be considered a prospect anymore, Russian defenseman Maxim Chudinov is already back to impressing in the KHL. Likely one of the best players in the world never to try his hand at the NHL, Chudinov still remains Boston Bruins property as a 2010 seventh-round pick. The 29-year-old rearguard has been playing in the KHL since even before the Bruins took a flier on him and has become well-known for his top two-way play and even more so for his howitzer of a shot. Chudinov put his slapper on display in the KHL’s season opener yesterday, scoring from behind his own blue line. Amazingly, this is the third time in this calendar year alone that Chudinov has accomplished that unthinkable task. A multiple-time Gagarin Cup champion and KHL All-Star, it’s possible that Chudinov could finally decide he wants a new challenge in his career and the Bruins would surely welcome him with open arms, despite their depth on defense. However, with his 30th birthday arriving this season, it’s more likely that Chudinov will simply remain a “what could have been” for NHL fans.

Snapshots: CBA Talks, Scherbak, Kane

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The NHL’s recent decision to decline their early opt-out clause from the current Collective Bargaining Agreement was a step in the right direction to labor talks, but there’s still work to be done, with the NHLPA next up to make a decision. Fortunately, it seems both sides are open to doing whatever it takes to avoid a work stoppage. The Hockey News’ Ken Campbell reports that both sides seem willing to extend the players’ union’s upcoming September 15th opt-out deadline to allow for talks to continue. Campbell writes that negotiations on a CBA extension are well on their way and neither side wants to see progress stalled by a deadline. He believes that the NHLPA could be given a few extra months, perhaps into early 2020, before they would have to make a decision on their opt-out clause. An extension on that deadline could give the talks enough time to lead to an agreement on a CBA extension, pushing the current expiry date from 2022 to 2025. It would also be an act of good faith on the part of the owners, who clearly stand to benefit more from an extension on the current CBA than do the players, who continue to be frustrated by escrow terms. With two weeks to go until that existing deadline, an official announcement on a possible deadline extension should be coming sooner rather than later, if it does in fact happen.

  • Rumors emerged yesterday that former NHL forward Nikita Scherbak had not done enough in training camp and the preseason with the KHL’s Avangard Omsk and that his recently-signed contract was in jeopardy of being terminated. However, the KHL regular season began today and Scherbak was in the lineup as Omsk snapped a nine-game losing streak against rival CSKA Moscow. Granted, in a match-up chock full of former NHLers, Scherbak only served as a substitute for Avangard and played little role in the win. He has a ways to go to earn the trust of Bob Hartley, also an NHL vet, but TVA’s Renaud Lavoie reports that, for now, the team does not plan to buy out his contract. Scherbak signed a three-year, $3.6MM contract with Omsk in June after dropping from 26 NHL games in 2017-18 to just eight last season. A 2014 first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens, Scherbak failed to produce at the NHL level over four pro seasons, recording eight points in 37 combined games with the Habs and Los Angeles Kings, and took his very first opportunity to return to Europe. Considering how things have gone thus far in the KHL, it seems unlikely that the 23-year-old will ever make his way back across the Atlantic.
  • Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane is being honored for his achievements well before the end of his career. Ryan Pyette of The London Free Press reports that Kane will have his number retired by the OHL’s London Knights this season. GM Mark Hunter confirmed that Kane’s No. 88, the same number he wears in the NHL, will be lifted into the rafters in London on January 17th. Kane, now 30, only played one season with the Knights, having graduated from the U.S. National Team Development Program. However, in that illustrious 2006-07 campaign, Kane put up unthinkable numbers, recording 145 points in just 58 games (2.5 points per game), and another 31 points in the postseason. His efforts made him an easy choice for the Blackhawks with the first overall pick in 2007. Kane becomes the ninth player to have his number retired by the storied junior franchise, joining a list of other familiar NHL names like Rob Ramage, Dino Ciccarelli, Darryl Sittler, Brendan Shanahan, Brad Marsh, Rick Nash, Dave Bolland, and Corey Perry.

Minor Transactions: 09/01/19

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We’re now into September, but little has changed on the free agent front. Many prominent players, RFA’s and UFA’s alike, remain unsigned, but the NHL markets remain silent. However, minor league teams, foreign clubs, and college programs continue to make make moves in preparation for the coming season. With quite a few to report this morning, keep up with further moves throughout the day:

  • Teemu Pulkkinen won’t be making an NHL comeback attempt this year. And he won’t be playing in Switzerland either. The 27-year-old forward, a Detroit Red Wings draft pick who played in 83 NHL games over five seasons in North America, signed with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL last summer on a one-year deal. After leading the team in scoring, Pulkkinen shopped himself to all of the major league and ended up signing with Lausanne of the Swiss NLA. However, the Finnish winger has opted to stay in Russia instead. Dinamo Minsk have announced a one-year extension with their top forward, saving what little offense they had from last season after finishing 20th in scoring out of 25 teams. A very effective AHL player, as well as KHL player now, another year abroad does not rule out Pulkkinen eyeing a return to the NHL ranks in the future.
  • Patrick McGrath has played exclusively in the AHL over the past three seasons, but this fall he will have to earn his spot at that level. The 26-year-old undersized energy forward has made a living as a role player with his hometown Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in recent years, but failed to record a single point last season in 24 games. With a lacking market as a free agent this summer, McGrath has settled for an ECHL contract with the Utah Grizzlies, the team announced. However, McGrath will also get the chance to try out for their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. If the Eagles need a role player of McGrath’s ability, he would at least provide considerable experience to the team after six seasons of minor league hockey.
  • Goaltender Jake Paterson won’t be afforded the same opportunity. A third-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2012, Paterson has struggled throughout his pro career. Through four seasons, the 25-year-old has player the majority of his games in the ECHL in each campaign. Now, it appears he may be at the “AA” level permanently. After his NHL entry-level contract expired two years ago, Paterson managed to find AHL contracts in each of the past two seasons, but now he has signed with the ECHL’s Allen Americans, the team announced. At least he won’t be alone though; Allen has also added fellow AHL vet Shawn O’Donnell. O’Donnell, 31, actually played in 53 games with the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack last season, but age and inefficient scoring has him settling in the ECHL.

Anton Burdasov Drawing NHL Interest

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Teams around the NHL are always looking to find a player for free. Maybe he was overlooked coming out of junior because of his height, or he wasn’t given an offensive opportunity at his smaller NCAA program, but anywhere they can find excess value—or even just a chance of it—teams are ready to pounce. The KHL is one of those locations and teams are continuously scouring the depth charts of Russian teams to find someone who could contribute at the NHL level. He doesn’t need to be the next Artemi Panarin, but if he can play at all there will be a team with interest.

That’s the case for Anton Burdasov, whose name was brought up today by Igor Eronko of Sport-Express and is apparently talking to three teams in the NHL. Eronko believes one of them is Edmonton, but doesn’t give any indication of the others. A report out of Russia earlier this year also linked him the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers. Burdasov indicated almost a year ago that he would be interested in heading to the NHL once his contract in Russia expired, and now that it has it seems as though he’s ready to follow through on his word.

Burdasov, 28, represents an interesting case. He’s played in the KHL for a decade now, but before last season had never scored more than 17 goals in a single season. In fact, his 89 goals and 176 points in 386 regular season games isn’t all that impressive when compared to some of the other Russian players who have tried and failed to make an impact at the NHL level. Burdasov is mostly known for his hard wrist shot—something Eronko points out would fit well with the Oilers’ playmakers—and has history playing with top players like Panarin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Nikita Gusev. He was even teammates with Vladimir Tarasenko for a season before the St. Louis Blues star came to the NHL.

If Burdasov does intend on coming to the NHL, he certainly put up an interesting season for scouts. Not only did he record the most goals of his career with 19, but he also led all KHL players with 114 penalty minutes. Just like with any player who hasn’t suited up in the NHL there’s no way of knowing if he’ll make an impact, but it seems as though someone is about to give him a shot.

Andrei Markov Joins Octagon Hockey

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Serious about a return to the NHL this season, veteran defenseman Andrei Markov has hired Allan Walsh of Octagon Hockey as his new agent. Markov is training in Florida looking for an opportunity to resume his career in North America after two years in the KHL. Earlier this month the 40-year old explained he would love the chance to play once again for the Montreal Canadiens, but is looking at all his options.

Markov infamously represented himself in negotiations with the Canadiens in 2017 before leaving for the KHL, after former NHL player Sergei Berezin was decertified by the NHLPA. That negotiation broke down with some bitterness but it appears as though Markov is looking to take a different tack this time around. Walsh is one of the most successful agents in the hockey world and represents some of the top players in the entire league.

The question now is whether Markov has anything left to give to an NHL organization. With 990 games under his belt with the Canadiens across 16 seasons he definitely fills the experience quota, but there’s no telling whether he can still keep up with the NHL pace of play. Markov’s skating ability had slowed considerably even before he left for the KHL but thanks to a sharp mind and elite positioning he was still able to provide the Canadiens with quality minutes. In his final two years in Montreal he totaled 80 points in 144 games.

Last season in the KHL however, things seemed to catch up with him. Markov recorded just 14 points in 49 games for Kazan Ak-Bars despite still averaging more than 21 minutes a night. With just a few weeks left before training camp opens it will be interesting to see if he’s will to take a professional tryout in order to prove he can still compete at the NHL level.

Bill Guerin Planning To Meet Kirill Kaprizov

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Bill Guerin has plenty on his plate after taking over as general manager of the Minnesota Wild just a few weeks from training camp, but Michael Russo of The Athletic reports that one of the first things he did was call the agent for prospect Kirill Kaprizov to set up a meeting in Russia. Kaprizov was drafted by the Wild back in 2015 but has had an extremely complicated relationship with the organization since and has continued to play in the KHL. Former Wild GM Paul Fenton set up a similar visit in 2018 when he took over from Chuck Fletcher.

Kaprizov, 22, is considered one of the best offensive players currently outside of the NHL. The undersized forward scored 30 goals and 51 points last season for CSKA Moscow, his third consecutive season with at least 40 points. While there’s no guarantee that he would find success in North America, he has long been one of the most intriguing prospects in the game and one that Guerin and the Wild would love to get their hands on.

After all the meetings, negotiations and confusion, perhaps there is a resolution in sight between Kaprizov and the Wild. His contract with CSKA expires in April of 2020 and he has expressed an interest in coming over—though it hasn’t been an enthusiastic guarantee to be sure. Guerin will now be the third Wild GM to try and convince Kaprizov that he belongs in the NHL. The Wild will retain his exclusive draft rights indefinitely.

Dmitrij Jaskin Signs In KHL

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Thursday: Dynamo Moscow has officially announced the contract, bringing Jaskin back to Russia for the 2019-20 season.

Wednesday: The Washington Capitals decided not to issue a qualifying offer to Dmitrij Jaskin at the end of the season, making him an unrestricted free agent and able to sign with any team he chooses. It now looks like that choice won’t be in the NHL, as Igor Eronko of Sport-Express reports that Dynamo Moscow of the KHL have acquired Jaskin’s rights and are expected to sign him to a one-year contract.

Jaskin, 26, ended up playing just 37 games for the Capitals last season and found himself out of the playoff lineup altogether. Head coach Todd Reirden voiced his displeasure with the forward’s play at points, explaining a healthy scratch by pointing to his lack of versatility. It’s that lack of versatility that may have ended Jaskin’s NHL career for now.

Originally selected in the second round of the 2011 draft, it quickly looked as though the St. Louis Blues may have found a steal after Jaskin took the QMJHL by storm in 2012-23. Scoring 46 goals and 99 points in 51 games, he showed off a power forward ceiling that had scouts drooling. Unfortunately that kind of offensive opportunity rarely presented itself as he was trying to break into the NHL, and Jaskin didn’t seem to fit properly in the bottom-six. After several relatively disappointing seasons with the Blues, he was nabbed off waivers in October of 2018.

In Russia, perhaps he’ll get that chance to reclaim his place as a top offensive player beside talent like Vadim Shipachyov. There’s still lots of time to get his career back on track and an NHL return may not be out of the cards at some point.

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