Updates on Sens prospects, Athanasiou and Wilson heating up, and a look at prospects in the KHL
Ottawa Senators prospect Nick Paul scored his first career NHL goal last night. Paul currently projects as a bottom six forward, but has potential upside of a Jarome Iginla or Jamie Benn type player. I am not suggesting he will have a Hall of Fame career, or lead the NHL in scoring, simply that he has the ability to play a top line powerforward scoring role with 30 goal potential.
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The Ottawa Senators have also agreed to terms with prospect Chris Wideman on a two-year $1.6 million contract extension. Wideman was the AHL defenceman of the year with 61 points, and has five goals this season in the NHL which ranks third among NHL. The signing prevents Wideman from becoming a UFA this summer.
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Detroit Red Wings prospect Andreas Athanasiou delivered this game winning shootout goal last night.
{source} <blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">With the game on the line, Andreas Athanasiou comes up clutch for the <a href="https://twitter.com/DetroitRedWings">@DetroitRedWings</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CBJvsDET?src=hash">#CBJvsDET</a><a href="https://t.co/UMeirZUlQA">https://t.co/UMeirZUlQA</a></p>— NHL (@NHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/702340065612017664">February 24, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Athanasiou has four points in his last ten games since being recalled to the NHL. He has been playing limited minutes averaging 8:45 to date on a line with Tomas Jurco and Gustav Nyquist.
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18.14% |
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11.75% |
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7.61% |
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4.77% |
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Pittsburgh Penguins rookie Scott Wilson has been heating up lately with three goals in the last three games. Wilson now has four points in 15 games while adding 27 hits 22 shots and a plus -1. Prior to his being recalled from the AHL, Wilson was second in AHL goal scoring with 22 in 34 games. Wilson could be making a push to stick on the Pens NHL roster for the balance of the season and is worth adding to your deep keeper leagues.
{source} <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WATCH: Scott Wilson scores his first career <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL">@NHL</a> goal to pad <a href="https://twitter.com/penguins">@Penguins</a> lead: <a href="https://t.co/PvqIpu6Qzj">https://t.co/PvqIpu6Qzj</a> <a href="https://t.co/vUQ0Un2OJb">pic.twitter.com/vUQ0Un2OJb</a></p>— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLonNBCSports/status/700504095958781953">February 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Looking at the KHL, prospect Anatoly Golyshev who was great for Russia at the 2015 WJC and had a memorable moment during the KHL skills competition with his Robin Hood shot could be the Next Artemi Panerin. Golyshev currently has 25 goals and 44 points in 56 games with Avtomobilist, unfortunately he has resigned with his club through 2019, so the 21 year old will remain a name to remember for three more years.
The Anaheim Ducks prospect Andre Petersson is a prospect to keep an eye on. Petersson, a 2008 fourth round pick of the Ottawa Senators, has 22 goals and 44 points in 45 games with HK Sochi in the KHL. The 25 year old currently is an NHL after thought but his career AHL totals of 105 points in 142 games are decent, and his KHL points are considerable. He is a long shot at best, but perhaps not a complete write off in terms of fantasy value.
New York Rangers prospect Pavel Buchnevich who is a 2013 75th overall pick is having a strong year with 16 goals and 37 points in 58 games split between SKA St. Petersburg and Severstal. The Rangers prospect pool is shallow and they would love Buchnevich to begin his North American career next season.
Sergei Shumakov is a 6’0” 196 pound undrafted 23 year old winger. He is having a career year with 20 goals and 33 points 59 games with Sibir Novosibirsk. Shumakov is best known for this spectacular lacrosse-style shootout goal.
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Shumakov also made the highlight reels with this between the legs goal
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Shumakov has NHL level skills and size and could be a coveted player by NHL GM’s. He was the player of the week on February 15th with four goals and a plus-2 rating in two games. Finding contract info on KHL players is difficult to find and the NHL recognizes KHL contracts, meaning he needs to be a free gent to sign an NHL contract.
One well known KHL pending free agent is Nikita Zaitsev. It is also one of the worst kept secrets that Zaitsev plans on signing in the off season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Zaitsev is a 24 year old, 6’2” 196 pound right shooting defenceman. Zaitsev is a two-way player with eight goals and 26 points in 46 games with a plus -21 rating for CSKA Moskva. Zaitsev may need some seasoning in the AHL with the Marlies adjusting to North America and smaller ice before he makes an impact in the NHL.
Looking for a goalie from the KHL? New York Islanders prospect Ilya Sorokin is having a monster season posting a 1.06 GAA and .919 save percentage in 28 games with CSKA Moskva. Sorokin was a 2014 third round pick by the Islanders and won the Silver Medal with Russia at the 2015 WJC.
Another netminder to put on your watch list is undrafted 20 year old Denis Kostin. In 17 games with Avangard Omsk, Kostin has a 1.81 GAA and a .929 save percentage. Kostin won the Silver Medal at the 2015 WJC as well and was twice named KHL rookie of the month last season