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In writing about the potential avenues the Toronto Maple Leafs would explore to find defensive help during the off-season, looking to the KHL for a free agent was something that worked for the organization before and may be something they will try again.
An emphasis on talent recognition and player development became a important part of the Maple Leafs when Brendan Shanahan was hired as Team President, not only with the hiring of Mark Hunter but by expanding the scouting department and putting more effort into finding talent in Europe and Russia.
Toronto signed 21-year-old winger Nikita Soshnikov away from the now defunct KHL club Atlant in March 2015 and began wooing of Nikita Zaitsev in the summer of 2015, when the Leaf blueliner was entering the final year of his contract with CSKA Moscow.
With the KHL playoffs in full swing, players on teams that have been eliminated or who will be free when their season ends are looking at potential NHL options and since Toronto has started to become a friendly landing spot for Russian born players, it is possible that the Leafs may be looking for the next Zaitsev.
A name frequently mentioned is Metallurg Magnitogorsk blueliner Viktor Antipin. The 24-year-old native of Kazakhstan (home country of former Leafs forward Nik Antropov) is in his fifth KHL season and played for Russia in the 2016 IIHF World Championships last May.
A left-handed shot, the 5’11” 179 lb Antipin is a good skater and puck handler, plays on Magnitogorsk’s top defensive pairing, both special team units and is adept at both ends of the ice.
According to Sportsnet’s
Elliotte Friedman, Antipin is being heavily pursued by five NHL teams and the Buffalo Sabres may have the inside track, but they supposedly had that on Mike Babcock two years ago.
KHL insider Aivis Kalnins (@A_Kalnins) indicates that blueliner
Alexei Bereglazov(who also plays for Magnitogorsk) is getting attention from NHL teams as well.
Bereglazov is 22, 6’4”, 205 lb has the size and potentially the skating ability to play in the NHL.
Whether the Leafs are in on Antipin, Bereglazov or other KHL free agents, the plus side for going this direction is that most players would have to sign one-or-two year entry-level deals (depending on their age) and that would be a more economical option than dipping into a very thin unrestricted free agent pool and overpaying for a known commodity.
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The Maple Leafs were given the morning off on Tuesday prior to Tuesday’s match against the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, FL.
Head coach Mike Babcock is not expected to deviate from the lineup that played in Carolina on Saturday, which means Frederik Andersen will make his fourth straight start in goal and Martin Marincin will remain in the lineup, paired with Jake Gardiner.
The game is likely do-or-die for the Panthers, who trail Toronto by seven points in the race for the last Eastern Conference wild card spot.
With Roberto Luongo out, James Reimer will face his former team for the second time. Reimer has not fared well recently, losing his last seven games (0-6-1) and allowed six goals in his first start against Toronto on November 17.
Aaron Ekblad is also out with a concussion.
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