BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – For a second time in two months, the New York Rangers have placed a Russian born defenseman on unconditional waivers in order to terminate their contract.
Last month, Alexei Bereglazov was cut loose and on Thursday, after clearing waivers, it was Sergey Zbrovskiy. He wasn’t available long as he signed a two year deal with HK Sochi (Russia-KHL).
This is part of the plan the Rangers have had since announcing their rebuilding plans in February. They are starting to clear contracts and personnel space as they enter the NHL Draft this weekend and free agency period that begins on July 1st.
The moves that are happening and will be happening over the course of the next few days will alleviate the glut of defenseman as several new names will be coming on board.
Zbrovskiy played ten games with the Wolf Pack on injury recalls. He had no points, earned 10 PIM and was a plus-one. He spent most of the year with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, who were the Pack’s (ECHL) Double AA affiliate. While there, Zbrovskiy skated in 47 game amassing 17 points on 5 goals and 12 assists. He was a minus-10.
The Russian d-man is a former third round pick (79th overall) in the 2015 draft. He came to the organization after playing at Regina (WHL) for three seasons under the tutelage of former Wolf Pack coach, John Paddock.
___________
The AHL-to-Europe list added five more names this week.
The Sound Tigers lost goalie Kristers Gudlevskis, who heads back home to play for Dynamo Riga (Latvia-KHL). Charlotte says goodbye to Sergei Tolchinsky who signed with CSKA Moscow (Russia-KHL). Two players are heading to the KHL to play for Barys Astana (Kazakhstan). The two players are RW Patrice Cormier (Manitoba) and Curtis Valk (Springfield), who dominated the Wolf Pack over the last two years.
Another Springfield Thunderbird who split the year with Florida (ECHL), and who just played in the Kelly Cup Final, Matt MacKenzie has left to sign with HC Bolzano (Italy-AEHL).
Those moves make it 30 players and one coach to make the move East. So far, 17 AHL teams have lost at least one player.
One more collegian has left school to sign in Europe.
Landon Smith of the Quinnipiac University Bobcats (ECACHL) signed with Karlskrona HK (Sweden-Allsvenskan) making 20 collegians that have signed in Europe.
Bo Brauer of Notre Dame (Big 10) signs a contract with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) making 206 total collegians to sign pro deals in North America and Europe. Two others have transferred to Canadian colleges since the US college regular season ended.
Ex-Sound Tiger defenseman, Cole Jarrett, leaves the Belfast Giants (Northern Ireland-EIHL) to play with the Braehead Clan (Scotland-EIHL).
One player thought to be heading to Europe was Utica goalie Richard Bachman, however, he decided to stay and signed a nice deal to stay with the Comets.
Vancouver signed Bachman to a two-year, two-way deal earning him $650K at the NHL and $275K if he plays in the AHL in the first year. He makes $700K in the NHL and the same $275K for playing in the American League in the second year.
Former QU Bobcat goalie, Mike Garteig, is now fifth on the Canucks goalie depth chart. He sits behind Jakob Markstrom, ex-Sound Tiger, Anders Nilsson, prized prospect, Thatcher Demko, and Bachman. Toss in the team is paying off $800K per year of Roberto Luongo’s deal until 2021. Seems like it would make sense for Gartheig to look to get a better deal where he’ll get playing time in the AHL at another organization after he was migrating between Utica, Alaska and Kalamazoo the last two years.
While hockey has ended here, the regular season is underway in the Southern Hemisphere.
In the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) the top team currently is the CBR (Canberra) Brave that are led by former UCONN Husky, Trevor Gerling. In eleven games of their short thirty game season, Gerling has nine goals, 16 assists (25 points) which is good for third best in the AIHL. The Brave have a record of 9-2-0-0 for 27 points.
Cheshire native, Rob Malloy, is playing in his sixth season in the AIHL. He’s only played in just nine games and has four assists. Malloy is presently on the injured list for the fourth place Newcastle North Stars (4-4-0-2-2 18 points).
In New Zealand, the NZIHL defending Birgel Cup champion, the Southern (Queenstown) Stampede are coached by Adam Blanchette (Berlin) a Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack alumni like Malloy.
Related
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
PREGAME: WOLF PACK HOPE TO BUILD ON WIN OVER B’S
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins meet tonight for Game 2 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinal series at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m., and coverage…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
PREGAME: WOLF PACK HOPE TO BUILD ON WIN OVER B’S
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins meet tonight for Game 2 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinal series at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m., and coverage…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…