Russian defenseman Egor Yakovlev has put pen to paper on a one-year entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils.
It's been just under a month since Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the 26-year-old was expected to sign…‹ with the team.
Apparently, the move has been a long time coming.
Yegor Yakovlev: #NJDevils have scouted me for 3 years. They really wanted to see me in the team. That's why i chose New Jersey and I'm really happy to join the organization. I know they play a fast smart hockey and I like it
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) May 19, 2018
Over the last two seasons Yakovlev tallied 31 points in 91 games while playing steady minutes for SKA St. Petersburg, annually one of the top teams in the KHL.
Those totals don't pop off the page by any means but his average NHL equivalency (NHLe) over that span was 19.2.
This past season 19 points would have ranked him 4th among Devils blue liners behind Will Butcher, Sami Vatanen, and Damon Severson.
Sports-Express' Igor Eronko tweeted out a quick scouting report of Yakovlev.
Very mobile good skating D with a good first pass
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) May 19, 2018
Obviously, Yakovlev's totals are not those of a dynamic defender but if he can skate, help the Devils break out of their own zone, and defend a little, he should have a decent shot at making the team out of camp – especially given their lack of quality on the left side.
If not anything else, he'll help out a Binghamton team that could certainly use it. There's no risk in a signing like this.
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