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The San Jose Sharks are reportedly set to sign KHL goaltender Alexei Melnichuk, according to Sport24.ru.

Melnichuk is a 21-year-old undrafted goalie who split this season between the KHL and VHL. He’s spent his entire career in Russia, up to this point.

He’ll certainly be a welcome addition for the Sharks, who struggled in net this season. Here are how Melnichuk’s stats in different leagues compare to those of other Russian NHL goalies, when they played in that league at the same age:


MHL (at 17 years old)
- Vasilevskiy: .931 SV% (27 games)
- Shesterkin: .920 SV% (15 games)
- Samsonov: .918 SV% (18 games)
- Melnichuk: .915 SV% (15 games)
- Sorokin: .914 SV% (27 games)

MHL (at 18 years old)
- Shesterkin: .947 SV% (23 games)
- Vasilevskiy: .930 SV% (27 games)
- Melnichuk: .924 SV% (17 games)

VHL (at 19 years old)
- Shesterkin: .943 SV% (8 games)
- Melnichuk: .935 SV% (19 games)

VHL (at 20 years old)
- Shesterkin: .954 SV% (25 games)
- Melnichuk: .924 SV% (30 games)

KHL (at 21 years old)
- Shesterkin: .937 SV% (39 games)
- Melnichuk: .930 SV% (16 games)
- Sorokin: .929 SV% (39 games)
- Bobrovsky: .919 SV% (35 games)


While Melnichuk's stats aren't leading the way, he’s certainly keeping up with some of the top Russian goalies. In the KHL this year, he had a higher save percentage than both Sergei Bobrovsky and Ilya Sorokin did when they played in the KHL at 21 years old. Melnichuk did only play about half as many games as them, though his other stats throughout his time in Russia compete fairly well with the likes of Ilya Samsonov and Ilya Shesterkin as well.

This looks like it could prove to be a pretty excellent signing for the Sharks. Whether Melnichuk starts as the Sharks’ backup or in the AHL remains to be seen and perhaps his performance in training camp could dictate where he ends up. I think it’s likely he’s in the AHL to start, though with Aaron Dell’s contract expiring, it would make for a good fit if he was ready to make that jump.


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