Free agency is never truly over. NHL executives keep an eye on impending free agents all year long and will take any opportunity to create a positive impression on a possible target. It’s no different when it comes to foreign talent, as recently demonstrated by Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas. KHL insider Igor Eronko reports that while scouting in Russia recently, Dubas met with two recognizable KHLers who are set to hit the open market next summer: Mikhail Grigorenko and Nikita Nesterov. Grigorenko, 25, was a first-round pick of Buffalo in 2012 who played over 200 games with the Sabres and Colorado Avalanche before returning home to Russia in 2017. The power forward was a top-ten scorer in the KHL last season and helped to lead CSKA Moscow to a Gagarin Cup title. He’s picked up right where he left off this season, recording 15 points through his first 16 games, and is likely to be highly sought-after by both KHL and NHL clubs this off-season. Nesterov, 26, is Grigorenko’s teammate for CSKA, coming over with him in 2017 after three NHL seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens. Nesterov is a reliable defensive defenseman, which can often be hard to find in the KHL. He has played an important role for Moscow over the past two years, even if he doesn’t frequent the score sheet. Both Grigorenko and Nesterov are core pieces for CSKA and the team will not let them walk away easily. However, that didn’t stop Dubas from doing his due diligence on the duo in case they do become available. The Maple Leafs have been successful of late in prying talent from the KHL, including the likes of Par Lindholm, Igor Ozhiganov, and now Ilya Mikheyev. He appears to be readying himself for another run at Russia’s elite this summer.
- While most only think of Sergei Zubov as a former NHL defenseman, and soon a Hockey Hall of Famer, he has continued his hockey career overseas as a coach. After hanging up his skates in 2010, Zubov joined the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg as an assistant coach in 2011. He spent five years as an assistant with St. Petersburg and CSKA Moscow before being named head coach of HK Sochi ahead of the 2017-18 season. In two plus seasons, Zubov did not have as much success from the bench as he had on the ice in his playing career. Sochi qualified for the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, but in both years they finished with a negative goal differential, last season they finished below .500 in the regular season, and they were bounced easily in the first round to end both postseason efforts. With just five wins in their first 17 games to begin this season, Sochi has opted for a coaching change. The KHL announced that Sochi has fired Zubov, who will now be left to look elsewhere for coaching work. Perhaps when he is in Toronto for Induction Weekend in November there will be NHL executives with interest in speaking to him about a full-time return to North America. A world-class talent on defense, it’s hard to imagine Zubov staying unemployed for long if he wished to continue coaching.
- Former New York Islander David Ullstrom is on his way out of the KHL. After spending last season with the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners, under contract with the Arizona Coyotes, Ullstrom returned to Europe this season, signing with Dinamo Riga of the KHL. However, he has already parted ways with Riga after playing in just eleven games. EHC Biel-Bienne of the Swiss NLA has scooped up the free agent forward, announcing that they have signed Ullstrom to a one-year contract. Ullstrom, 30, spent three seasons with the Islanders organization from 2010 to 2013, recording 13 points in 49 NHL games. While his ability was always apparent, the Swedish power forward struggled with puck security and decision-making, leading to a lack of trust at the top level. He has gone on to find success in the KHL and SHL in recent years, but never to the extent expected of him when he was a prospect. Ullstrom performed well with Tuscon last year, recording 23 points in 29 games, and some questioned his decision to return to Europe. He was never recalled by Arizona, but had his foot in the door with the organization. An NHL return seems unlikely now, but a strong season could get him back into AHL or even two-way contract consideration. He likely hopes that his first foray into Swiss hockey will produce a career season and possibly a multi-year deal, as he has played for nine different teams in the seven years since he left the Islanders and has never once spent more than a season and a half in one spot.
“Par Lindholm, Igor Ozhiganov, and now Ilya Mikheyev.” Only Mikheyev still with the Leafs (for the time being). It’s nice to find players from the KHL, but it’d be better to be able to keep them for awhile, if they’re the real deal.
Mikheyev good 3rd liner for awhile if he can contribute offensively and get better on special teams in power play and penalty killing. Hope he makes it looked good when I seen him playing for the Leafs on satellite.
Gerald,
I saw a little bit of him in preseason on tv and wasn’t impressed. A friend of mine told me about him and which each passing game he looks that much better to me. Getting used to the ice size, culture etc. Having a 3rd scoring line will definetly benefit the Leafs going forward.
Bring Zubie back to Dallas
How is Grigorenko a “power forward”? He had 28 hits in almost a full season in the NHL. Because he’s 6’3”? Was a time when “power forward” was used to described guys like Keith Tkachuk, Wendel Clark, Brendan Shanahan, Cam Neely etc. Big difference between those guys and today’s version of “power forward”. Only ones that come to mind now are the Tkachuk brothers and maybe Wayne Simmonds. Today’s NHL players are a bunch of ballerinas with equipment on. Hopefully Doofus doesn’t go anywhere near these two Russian peaches.
for a short reign Detroit’s Tomas Holmstrom was the epitome of a power forward, add in the likes of Shane Doan, thou qualified as a grinder I would thou never a big scorer has to be Tie Domi as my favorites. the others are at the head of class in that category as a power forward,
Doan is another one, you’re right. Gary Roberts, Shane Corson. The list could go on and on. I loved Tie growing up but I still have Wendel as my all time favourite.
Doofus now that’s harsh! Would you drop the gloves with any of the Tkachuk’s or Simmonds , wouldn’t think so !
Yeah I honestly can’t stand the guy. I have worse names for him but probably won’t pass the moderators standards on here. Ha!
Actually another guy I really like is Tom Wilson. Plus the game the way it should be played.
yeah I would probably get flagged myself, not a fan of haters of any kind whomever they are bashing. so will refrain myself from making a statement towards biased haters. and their comments.
Thanks twinkle toes
Take a long walk off a short pier, next time you call someone twinkle toes they might do a tap dance on your head, remember that hater
Bahahahaha. Yeah easy there keyboard warrior. Maybe you shouldn’t be such a wuss and get your thong in a twist when someone says something about someone on a comment site, that has nothing to do with you. Don’t be so righteous.
as a true hockey fan , I see so much hatred towards their own favorite teams and their GM’s , and other team GM”s , you know all teams have problems, GM’s have a tough task dealing with contracts, salary cap, and many other team dealings and workings, don’t always agree with moves my favorite team in Chicago GM , but I don’t bash him , or in some ways other team GM’s , never been a rightgeous person, toward anyone but on most disagreements I don’t call no one names , but maybe I can look over that maybe I overreacted , I was just making a statement should have clairifyied it. will think as you said before hand hell more worse people on here than yourself, so you have to take that into account, not sure of your favorite team but I wouldn’t bash them may not agree with moves or signings by any team , this is Hockey Rumors not Wrestle Mania, if we got off on wrong foot , will be first to say on my part I was wrong, Have a good day.
Well I do appreciate your reply and explanation. Was very big of you. The reason I dislike Dubas is because of the insistence of building a team one way and one way only and not realizing it takes a blend of players with different skill sets to win. I’m obviously frustrated that I’m likely to see an early playoff exit for my team, and that next year may be even worse with a number of UFA defensemen which they likely won’t be able to re-sign. I look at teams like STL and BOS with envy in that they are built for playoff success not just regular season. Personally I think our GM is wrong in some of the moves he made, including in some of the contracts he’s paid out. I also dislike Babcock and his coaching style so there’s blame there, too. Anyway, all good between us and have a good day as well.
And further, I apologize for my snarky remark as well.
I do appreciate your apology, since being a Chicago fan thou from Tennessee , I can relate , with your frustration of what has happened with several aging players that carried the team for many years and was part of a winning times that hadn’t happened in many years, and salary cap they are limited just like many teams including your team. I enjoy talking about hockey but if you’ve read not just my comments, there are a few on sight that just like to get under your skin not just their remarks on this team, this general manager , by their remarks and cussing and threatening cause that don’t like what you have to say in response, been lots of times I don’t even message on forum because of it but there is some , repeat some , that are good people again thanks , always hard for me to humble myself when I know I am wrong or make mistakes, and I accept your humble apology.