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Shane Starrett

Minor Transactions: 10/20/20

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While NHL teams continue to fill out their rosters and prepare for the 2020-21 season, minor and European leagues also are working on new contracts. We’ll keep track of some of the newsworthy minor transactions right here:

  • Shane Starrett has been signed by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to an AHL contract after becoming a Group VI unrestricted free agent. Starrett’s last two contracts were with the Edmonton Oilers, who he joined in 2017 after staring for the Air Force Falcons. The undrafted goaltender had an .874 save percentage in 14 appearances this season.
  • Nail Yakupov is on the move, though it’s not back to North America. The 2012 first overall pick has been traded in the KHL from Amur Khabarovsk to Avangard Omsk, in exchange for monetary compensation. Yakupov had just one goal and seven points in 15 games for Amur.

Edmonton Oilers Re-Sign Brad Malone, Shane Starrett

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The Edmonton Oilers have inked a pair of minor league free agents, signing Brad Malone and Shane Starrett to one-year extensions. Malone was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Starrett was headed for RFA status and was eligible for arbitration.

Malone, 30, has been part of the Edmonton organization for the past two seasons, spending the majority of his time in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors. He has been an integral part of the AHL squad, and showed his experience with 13 points in 10 playoff contests this year. Though he amazingly has exactly zero points in 23 NHL games for the Oilers, Malone will serve as inexpensive center depth for the club while almost certainly seeing regular action in the minors.

Starrett meanwhile is a 24-year old goaltending prospect that joined the Oilers in 2017 after finishing his sophomore season at the Air Force Academy. The 6’5″ 220-lbs netminder posted a .918 save percentage in 42 appearances for Bakersfield, recording a tidy 27-12-2 record during the regular season. Starrett’s re-signing is a testament to the Edmonton development team, as he is an ECHL alumni finding success at the higher level.

Still, it is not exactly clear where Starrett will land when the season rolls around. The Oilers also have the younger Stuart Skinner and Dylan Wells in the organization, who both spent considerable time in the ECHL this season and may need a bigger challenge. Both represent mid-round picks that the team needs to continue to develop, while there is also the oncoming Olivier Rodrigue who will finish his junior career after the upcoming season. Edmonton is looking for an NHL upgrade instead of just a backup to Mikko Koskinen, meaning there is likely no room in the NHL for Starrett at this point. At the very least, the team can be happy they’ve created some legitimate prospect depth at the goaltending position.

Edmonton Oilers Sign Paigin, Starrett To Two-Year Contracts

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Even though the season is over, the Edmonton Oilers front office is still hard at work. The team has signed both Ziyat Paigin and Shane Starrett to two-year entry-level contracts. Paigin was brought in on an amateur tryout from the KHL last week, while Starrett has just finished up his sophomore year with the Air Force Falcons of the NCAA.

Paigin, 22, was the Oilers’ seventh-round pick in 2015 and proceeded to break out in the KHL after being loaned to Sochi. His 27 points in 37 games for that club looked exceptional when paired with his 6’6″ frame. Back with Ak Bars this year, he fought through injuries and inconsistency to an underwhelming campaign, which may have spurred a move to North America. In a recent interview with Sport-Express (and translated by The Hockey Writers), Paigin seems to hint that he didn’t see much playing time with Ak Bars because he wouldn’t agree to a contract they had offered earlier in the year. The big defenseman was also questioned on his fitness, something that he’s worked very hard at recently.

Edmonton must think he can answer those questions, as he quickly signed a two-year deal with them. After “studying the roster”, Paigin thinks he can make an impact in the NHL at some point, and the Oilers hope he can as well. His intimidating physical presence could be a big help do their defense corps down the line, and his ability to shoot the puck and keep up with skilled players should help his transition to the North American game.

Starrett on the other hand is an undrafted goaltender who has put up two straight excellent seasons in the NCAA. Recording save percentages of .924 and .925, the 6’5″ goalie looks like a classic late-bloomer who has professional potential. Starrett actually participated in Chicago Blackhawks camp last summer but has gone to Edmonton where he’ll compete with Nick Ellis for the AHL job next season. While Cam Talbot remains the franchise goaltender, the Oilers will try to build a pipeline of talent they can use in net as they try to compete for the next decade with Connor McDavid. Remember, Talbot is already 29 years old and will hit free agency following the 2018-19 season.

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