Observations:

April 2017 – Continuing its recent trend of signing undrafted international defensemen, New Jersey inked the 23-year-old Russian, who spent the past five years in the Kontinental Hockey League, to a two-year, two-way contract. At 6-1, 207, the large-framed, defense-first Dyblenko is not a prolific scorer. In 180 career KHL contests, he totaled 12 goals, 27 assists, and 150 penalty minutes. During 2016-17 with Moscow Spartak, he tallied four goals and seven assists in 51 games, amassing over 17 minutes of ice time and 51 PIM.

Physical yet mobile, he has a penchant for making big, crushing hits but can struggle with positioning. It will be interesting to see if his game translates well to North America. Likely to begin with AHL Albany. Kevin Wickersham

Fantasy Outlook: C-

Potential source of peripheral stats if he can crack the NHL roster.

Footage:

Dyblenko lays out Tianxiang Xia near the boards:

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Yaroslav Dyblenko bombing hit on Gilbert Brule:

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