2024-25 Prospects Thread: As We Wait For Alexander

[Nikishin al Gaib]

 

[chaz4hockey]

With RE: to the new RU Goalkeeper that we are signing...translation of a Russian article.....didn't know he is best buds with Svetch. Also, article suggests he has trouble with long distance shots < maybe needs contacts >:

Miftakhov is leaving for the NHL. Does he have a chance there and who will replace Ak Bars with?​

Kazan residents stay with one Bilyalov.

Ak Bars goalkeeper Amir Miftakhov will continue his career overseas. At the end of May, his contract with the Kazan club expires, after which he will sign an agreement with Carolina. At the same time, "Ak Bars" made a contract offer to the goalkeeper back in December, but Miftakhov wants to try himself in the NHL. In "Carolina", for example, his close friend, striker Andrey Svechnikov plays.

Read more about the situation with Miftakhov in the material "BUSINESS Online".

Amir Miftakhov / photo: ak-bars.ru

Does Miftakhov want to live in America?​

The news of Miftakhov's departure overseas was unexpected for many. Throughout the season, it was discussed that Artem Galimov or Ilya Safonov could leave for the NHL. There were no such conversations about Amir. They were ready to extend the agreement with him back in December, but Miftakhov himself did not want to do it. "A contract offer was made to Amir in December, but he decided to wait until the end of the season. Now there are several clubs in the NHL that want to sign it," Ak Bars general manager Marat Valiullin said at the final press conference.

Overseas, the rights to the goalkeeper belonged to "Tampa Bay", but now he is considered an unlimited free agent. That is, he can choose a team for himself. The most obvious option for Miftakhov's transition is "Karolina". The sources of our publication say that the leader of "Karolina" Andrey Svechnikov played an important role in the negotiations between the club and the goalkeeper. The second highest paid player of the "hurricanes" actively lobbied for the goalkeeper's transition.

Photo: ak-bars.ru
Svechnikov and Miftakhov are close friends. They always spend their vacation or time together in Kazan, when the leader of "Carolina" returns here after the end of the season. In addition, Miftakhov not only wants to try his hand overseas, but also to live in America. The goalkeeper has no problems with money and even if he signs a minimum money contract, he will have enough to live overseas. And the age - 25 years old - allows Amir to go overseas for a year, maybe even two. If it doesn't work out, he can always come back. Moreover, in a few years he will become an unlimited free agent in the KHL.

Are there any chances to play for Carolina?​

At the same time, Miftakhov had good chances for the role of the first goalkeeper in Ak Bars. The current season showed that he can compete with Timur Bilyalov for the place of the main goalkeeper. For most of the season, Miftakhov was the first number, but towards the end of the regular season he still lost the competition. One of Miftakhov's long-standing and key problems was affected - he has not yet learned to play stably and reliably at a long distance. In the playoffs, Miftakhov appeared in the goal only once - in the sixth match against Dynamo Moscow, he missed two goals after three shots and was replaced in the first period.

According to BUSINESS Online, Ak Bars considered options for the loan of Miftakhov to other KHL clubs. But the goalkeeper was set up for a trip across the ocean. Does he have any chance to break into the main team of Carolina? Everything looks good for him on paper.

Photo: ak-bars.ru
Now Carolina has three goalkeepers on contracts - Frederick Andersen, Pyotr KochetkovySpencer Martin. The latter's contract ends after the current season. They say that he can continue his career in the KHL. Andersen and Kochetkov are two main goalkeepers. In the regular season, the Russian played more - 47 matches against 22. However, It was Andersen who entered the playoffs as the main goalkeeper. Recently, the agreement with the Danish goalkeeper was extended for another year. Kochetkov's contract is valid for two more years.

On the one hand, the goalkeeper issue in "Carolina" seems to be closed. On the other hand, Miftakhov will definitely have a chance. The same Andersen is already 35 years old, and Kochetkov and Miftahov are peers. Most of the past season showed that Miftakhov is able to play at the level of the best goalkeepers of the KHL. This level should allow him to compete for a place in Carolina.

"Carolina" itself is good because even the third goalkeeper can easily get a chance to play several matches for the main team. In the regular season, the "hurricanes", for example, involved four goalkeepers at once: Dustin Tokarski played six matches, Martin played nine matches. Another question is, will Miftahov himself be able to take his chance? By the age of 25, he had never become the main goalkeeper in the KHL, although he had all the chances to do it in Ak Bars. He has not yet spent a single full season and more often was Bilyalov's replacement in Kazan.