Hurricanes Recall Ruslan Khazheyev
The Hurricanes have brought up some extra goaltending depth with their postseason set to get underway on Sunday. The team announced that they’ve recalled Ruslan Khazheyev from AHL Chicago. He’ll serve as Carolina’s third-string option for the time being.
The 20-year-old is in his first season in North America after signing his entry-level deal last year. Khazheyev was a fifth-round pick by the Hurricanes back in 2023, going 158th overall after a solid showing with Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk of the MHL. He spent last season with them as well before crossing the pond this year.
Khazheyev played in 20 games with the Wolves this season, posting a 3.49 GAA and a .876 SV%. He also made one appearance with ECHL Bloomington, allowing three goals on 15 shots.
Should one of Pyotr Kochetkov or Frederik Andersen go down due to injury, it’s unlikely that Khazheyev would be pressed into action. Instead, they’d likely promote one of Spencer Martin or Dustin Tokarski to serve as the backup, a role both had filled at times during the regular season. For now, those two will remain as the tandem in Chicago heading into the AHL playoffs that begin next week.
Hurricanes Sign Ruslan Khazheyev To Entry-Level Contract
The Hurricanes have inked goaltender Ruslan Khazheyev to a three-year entry-level contract, per a team announcement. The deal carries a cap hit of $845K, comprised of a $775K base salary and a $70K signing bonus each season. His minor-league salary is $82,500.
A fifth-round pick of the Canes last year, the 19-year-old Khazheyev has put up strong numbers in the high-scoring MHL, Russia’s top junior league, over the past two seasons. This season, he held down the 1A role for Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk, compiling a 16-5-2 record, 2.19 GAA, .927 SV% and two shutouts in 28 appearances.
The quick-moving 6’4”, 201-pound netminder also made his professional debut this season, stopping 23 of 24 shots he faced for Chelmet Chelyabinsk of the VHL, Russia’s second-tier pro league, in mid-February. Early on, he looks to be one of the better value pickups of last year’s draft, but he faces an uphill battle to break out of the eight other goalies under the age of 25 who are either under contract with the Hurricanes or on their reserve list.
Without an AHL affiliate in place for next season, it’s plausible that Khazheyev will spend the first year of his ELC back on loan to the Chelyabinsk organization, either at the KHL level with Traktor or the VHL level with Chelmet. He’ll be waiver-exempt for the life of the deal, barring the unlikely event he plays in 80 or more NHL games over the next three seasons. While he’s 19 at the time of signing, he’ll turn 20 before January 2025, making him ineligible for an entry-level slide. The contract will take effect next season and make him a restricted free agent in 2027.