Absolutely agree with this unless he'd be able to be essentially guaranteed an NHL slot in a year in which case that is probably the better move. But yeah KHL>AHL easily. The Canes and Rod aren't really the type of team to do that anyways but I think we could honestly slot him in on the 3rd pair left side as soon as this season and would be very happy with his play there.
Well, it's kind of a moot point anyway since he's under contract with Spartak for 2 more years, and I can't see them terminating that as they'd be losing a big player for them. Additionally, Chatfield/Kean on 1st pair?? You're just making Slavin a full-time baby-sitter then, and I'd honestly probably rather have TDA 1st pair in that case. As cautious as he is with forwards, i can't see Rod just handing 1st pairing ice to either of them either
Which is for the best. We’re hyping him a little too strong as a group. This kid is raw and it’ll be fine for him to develop a little bit more before even going to the AHL.
I was meaning from a personal standpoint he isn’t coming over but that too
I really hope he'll be allowed to make it to the NHL on schedule
What is "on schedule" for a KHL playing prospect? I'm not worried about him being able to come over in the time frame that the Ukrainian conflict is likely to last.
I am somewhat hopeful that he could be ready to come in and step right into the NHL squad in the 2024-25 season. I know his KHL contract runs beyond that, but he's quickly reaching the point where he doesn't have much more to prove over there and there isn't much more room to grow.
It can't go much beyond a year longer as an active conflict like it is now. Either the West loses their interest and pulls their support which cripples the Ukrainians, or Putin runs out of the necessary equipment to stop the Ukrainians. The loss rate of the heavy weapons and precision munitions on the Russian side is unsustainable over much more than a year. And that doesn't even count the human cost on their side (not that Putin gives two shits about that). It either ends with Ukraine negotiating when the West gets tired (I see that in another election cycle), when the Russian military/industrial capacity to keep up with losses fails (I see that in less than 12 months), or when Russia escalates using nuclear weapons (I see that in six months or less when Ukraine takes Kherson and then puts Russia's Crimean positions under their fire control). All three of those occur well before his contract is up.
I don't mean this as a criticism but ending that paragraph with that bolded sentence is like Internet Hall-of-Fame level stuff.
Nah. Just sign him to a 1 year ELC where 1 year is eaten the year he signs it, after the KHL season ends. Just like Sorokin. Then we have his rights to sign to a bigger deal afterwards
I mean I'd love for that to happen but he'd still probably be taking a major pay cut for that 1 season, and if he struggles and doesn't play well his rookie season who knows how much he would get paid on a new contract. It will come down to how much he values playing in the NHL.
