Toronto’s Egor Korshkov To Be Loaned To KHL
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Egor Korshkov may be on the team’s postseason roster, but he is unlikely to see much action. The young forward is under contract for 2020-21 as well, but the same goes for his likelihood of suiting up for the Leafs. As a result, Korshkov may be in need of an early start to his season and possibly a prolonged place to play at a high level. According to multiple sources, that is expected to be the KHL.
Russian news source Sport24 first reported that Korshkov was planning to sign a contract with HC Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, the same organization that he played for during the seven years prior to his jump to the NHL. However, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman corrects this report, noting that Korshkov will be loaned rather than having his contract terminated in favor of a KHL deal. This will leave open the option for Korshkov to play for Toronto at some point next season.
Korshkov, 24, played in just one game with the Maple Leafs this year and saw only about ten minutes of ice time. However, he made the most of this debut by recording a goal. The big right wing is a natural scorer who excels around the net. He recorded 16 goals and 25 points in 44 games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies this season and very well might have seen more NHL action if not for the league’s pause. There is upside to Korshkov’s game and this loan does not imply that he does not have a future in Toronto. However, with the Maple Leafs deep up front and the questions surrounding the 2020-21 AHL season, a return to the KHL could be the best bet for Korshkov.
Nils Hoglander Loaned To SHL
After wowing the hockey world with his incredible skill, Nils Hoglander didn’t have to wait around long to sign his first NHL contract this spring. The Vancouver Canucks signed Hoglander to a three-year entry-level contract in April, with the intention of bringing him to training camp for the 2020-21 season. Unfortunately, that training camp will now be delayed, meaning Hoglander would be waiting around for months during his most important development period. To solve that problem, he has been loaned to Rogle in the SHL where he will compete until the NHL training camp opens in mid-November.
Hoglander, 19, was a second-round pick in 2019 by the Canucks, but quickly started to generate hype thanks to his highlight-reel lacrosse-style goals in both the World Juniors and Swedish league play. The 5’9″ forward has incredible skill with the puck and finished with 16 points in 41 games for Rogle last season. While that number doesn’t jump off the page, it’s important to remember he was just an 18-year old playing against professionals at the highest level in Sweden.
Whether he can bring the same sort of jaw-dropping talent to Vancouver isn’t clear, but getting him skating and training is obviously a priority. These types of loans will be common as teams try to keep their prospects on a strong development path. Obviously, Hoglander also doesn’t have an NHL roster spot locked up when the 2020-21 season comes back, meaning they’ll have to make another decision on where he will play. His entry-level deal includes a European Assignment Clause, meaning he could force his way back to Sweden if sent to (or left in) the minors at a certain point.
Ivan Lodnia Loaned To KHL
The Minnesota Wild have decided to loan prospect Ivan Lodnia to the KHL for the 2020-21 season, according to his agent Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey. Michael Russo of The Athletic confirms that Lodnia will play the entire season in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk, instead of returning to North America when the 2020-21 NHL training camps open.
Selected 85th overall in 2017, Lodnia has spent the years since playing in the OHL where he was the leading scorer for the Niagara IceDogs in 2019-20. The two-way winger scored 62 points in 41 games and will now have to try and take his game to the professional ranks. During a six-game try-out with the Iowa Wild in 2018 he failed to record a single point and now he’ll have to wait an entire season to get another chance in the AHL.
Lodnia, 20, signed his entry-level deal with Minnesota back in 2017 and saw it kick in for the 2019-20 season. He’ll burn the second year playing in the KHL, though technically the team could recall him at some point if they felt it necessary. If not, that means he’ll have just one year of North American pro hockey under his belt when he goes into negotiations as a restricted free agent in the summer of 2022, not exactly a position of leverage for the young forward.
Edmonton Oilers Loan Theodor Lennstrom To SHL
The Edmonton Oilers have already made a decision on another prospect, loaning Theodor Lennstrom to the SHL for the 2020-21 season. Lennstrom will return to Frolunda, one of the league’s top programs, where he played last season.
Notably, the 25-year old defenseman is only signed for one season after inking a one-year entry-level contract in April. Should he spend the whole year with Frolunda, he would be a restricted free agent able to sign a new deal with Edmonton. That fact, however, may suggest that the Oilers will recall him from the SHL at some pint to re-join the team in preparation for the 2020-21 NHL season which is expected to begin in December. A move like this would just give him a chance to play games in the interim.
If not, and he spends the whole season there, the Oilers will be in a situation where they can extend him a qualifying offer or work out a longer-term deal. Undrafted, Lennstrom has slowly worked his way through the Swedish professional system and this year took home the Champions League title with Frolunda. An excellent skater, he was expected to push for an NHL depth role to give the Oilers a little more speed on the back end.
Florida Panthers To Loan Vladislav Kolyachonok To KHL
Florida Panthers defensive prospect Vladislav Kolyachonok is headed home to Belarus, at least for the time being. Dinamo Minsk of the KHL has announced that they have come to terms on a contract with Kolyachonok for the the 2020-21 season. This would indicate that the Panthers have agreed to loan the young defenseman overseas, as Kolyachonok signed his entry-level contract with the club earlier this season.
Kolyachonok, 19, is the best prospect out of Belarus in some time. A second-round pick of the Panthers in 2019, Kolyachonok was the highest-selected Belarussian since 2003 and the first player from his country to be selected earlier than the fourth round in that time as well. An aggressive two-way defenseman who is known for his fast tempo and intensity, Kolyachonok made great strides in his game this season, both improving his offensive ability and solidifying his defensive game while starring for the OHL’s Flint Firebirds. While the teen blue liner could return to the junior ranks this season, it could be that Florida saw so much growth this season that they think continuing to challenge Kolyachonok by letting him face pro competition could be the better route.
Philadelphia Flyers Loan Maksim Sushko To KHL
Like the New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers before them, the Philadelphia Flyers have decided to send one of their prospects over to the KHL. Maksim Sushko has been loaned to Dynamo Minsk, giving him the chance to play right away instead of waiting for the eventual 2020-21 season here in North America.
Sushko, 21, was a fourth-round pick of the Flyers in 2017 and spent the 2019-20 season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Belarussian winger recorded 11 goals an 21 points in those 53 AHL contests and will now continue his development overseas.
This option, of sending a player to the KHL to get him into game action, will likely be taken by several teams around the league as they try to figure out how to best serve their prospects. Sushko will still be under contract with the Flyers through the end of the 2021-22 season and can be recalled if the AHL season does get underway. In fact, this may actually give him a leg up on the rest of the AHL competition whenever that training camp does get underway.
Devils Loan Yegor Sharangovich To The KHL
With the pandemic delaying the start of the 2020-21 season, some teams are trying to make arrangements for their prospects to play elsewhere. The Devils are one of those as Dinamo Minsk of the KHL announced that they have reached an agreement with New Jersey that allows prospect Yegor Sharangovich to start next season with them.
The winger is no stranger to the Belarusian program as it is his hometown team and he spent a season with them in 2017-18. He did well enough with them to convince New Jersey to use a fifth-round pick on him (141st overall) to secure his NHL rights in the 2018 draft.
The 22-year-old has spent the last two seasons with their AHL affiliate in Binghamton where his offensive progression has been limited. Sharangovich managed 10 goals and 15 assists in 57 games this season which represented an improvement on his 17 points (9-8-17) in 68 contests in his rookie year. However, he’ll need to take a big step forward on the final year of his entry-level deal to get an NHL opportunity.
Going this route certainly won’t hurt his chances. Sharangovich will get the opportunity to get into playing shape during the KHL season which should give him the chance to hit the ground running when AHL training camp eventually opens as Minsk has already committed to allowing him to return to North America. If the AHL season winds up starting around the same time the NHL is projected to start, he’ll have more than two months worth of games under his belt by then.
Edmonton Oilers Loan Dmitri Samorukov To KHL
After reports surfaced last month that the Edmonton Oilers had approved of a plan for Dmitri Samorukov to seek out a contract in the KHL, the team has officially loaned him to CSKA Moscow for the 2020-21 season. Samorukov will play for the Russian powerhouse and try to continue his development before the Oilers make a decision on future seasons. Mark Spector of Sportsnet reports that Edmonton GM “fully expects” the prospect back in North America “if he is deemed ready.”
Samorukov, 21, had a very up-and-down start to his professional career, recording 10 points in 47 games for the Bakersfield Condors. Last month when the talk of heading to the KHL came up, his agent Pat Morris explained why they were going down that route:
He wants to play. He doesn’t want to lay dormant for 8-10 months in this current situation. And he, unlike some other players, has this option. We’re exploring it long and hard.
For players that won’t be included in the upcoming playoff tournament, there could be a very long layoff before they see game action again. For a 21-year old prospect trying to make a name for himself, that development time is crucial.
The 6’3″ defenseman was the 84th overall pick in the 2017 draft and had an outstanding 2018-19 season with the Guelph Storm, showing his offensive upside. That upside didn’t get a chance to shine for Bakersfield, but it may for CSKA who are always among the top teams in the KHL.
Samorukov’s entry-level contract is scheduled to expire after the 2021-22 season.
Lias Andersson Will Not Return To Rangers For Postseason
Disgruntled New York Rangers prospect Lias Andersson is apparently still upset with his NHL club. The 21-year-old forward was loaned to the SHL’s HV71 in his native Sweden in late January after he had requested a trade out of New York in December. However, after a lengthy amount of time apart, the Rangers decided to offer Andersson a spot at training camp and on their playoff roster, according to the New York Post’s Larry Brooks. However, Brooks reports that a source told the Post that Andersson has declined this invitation and will remain in Sweden. This could very well be the last straw for the Rangers and Andersson.
Andersson, the seventh overall pick in 2017, has openly expressed his displeasure with his role in New York and it eventually led him out of town. The problem is that the talented forward does not have the numbers to back up his argument. Yes, Andersson is a skilled player who flashed incredible offensive ability in the SHL at a very young age and was worthy of his draft slot. However, in three seasons in North America the young center has recorded just nine points in 66 NHL games and 39 points in 74 AHL games. The production simply has not matched the hype and few would fault the Rangers for using Andersson sparingly while they wait for his talent to catch up with the pace of NHL play.
Unfortunately, it now seems like the Rangers are unlikely to see Andersson reach his potential (if he ever does). With bridges all but burnt, Brooks expects that he will remain in Sweden until he is traded. However, The Athletic’s Rick Carpiniello does point out that Andersson is under contract with New York next season and the Rangers will have the final say as to where he plays. Regardless, that is unlikely to be the Big Apple. It’s all hands on deck for the Rangers, one of the more unlikely playoff teams in the NHL’s expanded postseason, but when Andersson is needed the most, he has opted not to answer the bell. For a player lauded for his work ethic and leadership ability in the draft process, Andersson has failed the Rangers at every turn and they likely face little choice now but to try to get a fair return back for the troubled prospect.
Dmitri Samorukov Nearing A Deal In The KHL
Dmitri Samorukov’s first foray into professional hockey had some tough moments and it appears he’s looking for a change of scenery. As first reported by Sport-Express’ Michael Zizlis and since confirmed by Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, Samorukov is closing in on a one-year deal with CSKA Moscow that would see him play there on loan from the Oilers for next season. Edmonton GM Ken Holland is aware of the plan and has given his approval.
Samorukov’s agent Pat Morris indicated that the current playing landscape in the NHL is playing a factor in this decision:
He wants to play. He doesn’t want to lay dormant for 8-10 months in this current situation. And he, unlike some other players, has this option. We’re exploring it long and hard.
While Edmonton will be participating in the play-in round against Chicago, it would take several injuries for the 20-year-old to get a look in their lineup. His last AHL action came back in early March before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the schedule and eventually resulted in the cancellation of the remainder of the season and playoffs. While there’s no firm timeline on when the NHL or AHL 2020-21 seasons will begin, it’s looking like December or January could be the options. That’s a long time for any prospect to sit.
Samorukov had two goals and eight assists in 47 games with AHL Bakersfield this season and he may have an opportunity to make an immediate impact with CSKA. Veteran blueliner Nikita Nesterov is drawing NHL interest while Montreal prospect Alexander Romanov has already agreed on his entry-level deal; former NHL defender Alexei Marchenko has signed with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl so there are certainly some vacancies to be filled. A chance to get some guaranteed action (with the KHL schedule still on track to start in September) on a quality team may very well be the best move for his development next season.