It didn’t work out for Alexei Bereglazov and the New York Rangers, and today the two sides have come to an agreement to end the relationship. Agent Dan Milstein announced on Twitter that Bereglazov has been placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a mutual contract termination. Bereglazov, who was already loaned to the KHL earlier this season, will play in Russia in 2018-19.
Signed last summer to a two-year entry-level contract, Bereglazov never got a sniff of action in New York. Instead, after just 13 games in the AHL he forced a loan back to Magnitogorsk with his European Assignment Clause. He’ll now have to look for a new contract in the KHL, but likely won’t have much trouble. The 23-year old is a useful defenseman that can use his reach to shut down rushes quickly, and even contributed 19 points in his last full KHL season.
Technically Bereglazov could sign with another NHL team after his contract is terminated, but that seems unlikely at this point. It’s hard to imagine there would be another team willing to give him a role in the NHL right away, meaning it would just be much of the same story. Instead, this may be the last we hear about Bereglazov in North America at least for a few seasons. There’s no telling what the future holds, as he’s still young enough to continue developing.
Is this another example of players feeling they automatically are entitled to an NHL roster spot or is it an example of a GM promising players things they can’t control? Unreal to see Shipashlev (sp?) from Vegas and now this guy….