They aren’t concrete in that they can’t be broken…. But he’d have to buyout the remaining year on his contract prior to signing with the Avs. Given his status in the KHL, his dad, and the tensions… I’d be shocked if he can get out of the deal this year. I’d be mildly shocked if he doesn’t sign an extension in the summer.
Like most Russians, he has zero desire to play in the AHL. Avs didn’t give that guarantee (they really don’t for most any player… see Aman this summer), so he didn’t sign. Will be the same song and dance next go round if he doesn’t sign an extension. The it is big there. His dad’s status and his play this year would make it ripe for Nikolai to get a hearty raise in exchange for staying another couple years.
I think it also depends on if he will be offered some out clause, so he could leave like if he is in the AHL by November of that season. That was the issue with Zhuravlyov - he didn't have it and things ended not in the greatest way.
The Avs haven’t been willing to include that for really any European prospect (I think Rants had one). They really prefer to sign the players and count on them for the year in NA. Makes building the Eagles much easier for the front office and they can move players up and down. I don’t agree with that practice, but it is one they tend to stick to. It could change (Avs have shown they can make changes), but I don’t see it for Kovolenko.
So take development out, but the fault is development?
They gave him a game… then this year he’s been in the minors. That isn’t a promise…
I'm not sure what exactly happened while he was with the Eagles, but he clearly didn't like it there (I guess having a bad English and having a baby born recently could add some stress), so apparently he asked for the loan back to the KHL, but was denied. He didn't have that clause in the contract, therefore he couldn't force it, so he just left voluntarily and was suspended by the Avalanche. I guess his agent at that time didn't support that decision, so then he changed his agent to Dan Milstein and Milstein was able to settle things to terminate the contract before the KHL deadline, so Zhuravlyov could sign and play there.
This borderlines on political but didn’t Russia “close” the border for people to leave?
No... there are plenty of people that have left Russia over the past few months. Just look at the Russians who in in their first year in NA.
I think he is referring to the recent news that since January 9th Russia would be closing the borders for males of a certain age, unsurprisingly those news resulted to be fake (unfortunately it is a usual thing in the times like these),
I don't disagree, but the top NCAA free agents tend to get spots/playing time promises much more than players from other leagues and one of the main stipulations of attracting them in the first place.
With Zhuravlyov it should be noted that he wasn't that good in the KHL and in the summer he actually told that he understands that he should play in the AHL for the time being. But I guess even in terms of the AHL the 'expectations vs. reality' thing kicked in again, also I think it was noted that his English is bad even for a Russian hockey player - not easy to be comfortable when you don't understand much of what the coach is saying.
But they also didn't keep him in the NHL too long when it became apparent he needed work. Would Kovalenko agree to moving down to the AHL in order to hone his NA game if necessary?
I know other posters here love him, but Behrens has never wowed me like someone like Lane Hutson who is a decently similar prospect has. He's smart and a good puck mover, but I don't see a high end prospect personally. As an NHL projection, I see a third pairing puck mover or someone who needs a really steady and ideally much bigger partner if he's on your 2nd pairing. Comp - maybe Matt Grzelcyk is the best I can think of.
So, for instance, in your view if we moved Girard for forward help or futures to open cap space, would he be perfectly capable of nailing down that #5 spot who can play up on the second pair as long as Manson's the other guy?
