The Hurricanes have inked goaltender Ruslan Khazheyev to a three-year entry-level contract, per a team announcement. The deal carries a cap hit of $845K, comprised of a $775K base salary and a $70K signing bonus each season. His minor-league salary is $82,500.
A fifth-round pick of the Canes last year, the 19-year-old Khazheyev has put up strong numbers in the high-scoring MHL, Russia’s top junior league, over the past two seasons. This season, he held down the 1A role for Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk, compiling a 16-5-2 record, 2.19 GAA, .927 SV% and two shutouts in 28 appearances.
The quick-moving 6’4”, 201-pound netminder also made his professional debut this season, stopping 23 of 24 shots he faced for Chelmet Chelyabinsk of the VHL, Russia’s second-tier pro league, in mid-February. Early on, he looks to be one of the better value pickups of last year’s draft, but he faces an uphill battle to break out of the eight other goalies under the age of 25 who are either under contract with the Hurricanes or on their reserve list.
Without an AHL affiliate in place for next season, it’s plausible that Khazheyev will spend the first year of his ELC back on loan to the Chelyabinsk organization, either at the KHL level with Traktor or the VHL level with Chelmet. He’ll be waiver-exempt for the life of the deal, barring the unlikely event he plays in 80 or more NHL games over the next three seasons. While he’s 19 at the time of signing, he’ll turn 20 before January 2025, making him ineligible for an entry-level slide. The contract will take effect next season and make him a restricted free agent in 2027.
I like his chances. Velmakin is competition to look out for in the next phase of their goalies moreso than any of Vondras, Quapp, Hamrla,