Confirmed with Link: Nikita Novikov signs 3-year ELC

[Chainshot]

A couple questions about Nikita Novikov and his fellow Russians, if you please.

Does anyone think the signing of NN is an indication that Ryan Johnson has told the Sabres he plans to run out the clock? I see it that way. Talk me out of it. I want both of them.

No idea. They have no one on an ELC who is waiver exempt for the farm team right now with the graduations of Power and Samuelsson to the big club. I doubt they are just signing one guy. They need more - be it Johnson or others - to give them some cushion so they aren't pinched by potential waiver rules.

I did not read the recent 'Athletic' articles about the Sabres, and how they have taken steps to help the Russian players better adapt to North America (and NA hockey). May I request someone to fill me in?

It's mostly about Kisakov's journey to get to camp, then how he and Komarov (who had been drafted out of the Q) had Lyubushkin to greet them both at camp. It doesn't even touch on Novikov and Kisakov both coming out of Moscow Dynamo's MHL team, or being U18 teammates or being U18 teammates with Poltapov. But, it does dig into his breaking trail and how much work he's putting in and how they are trying to work him into the lineup around spending more time in the gym because he is so rail thin.

 

[Ehran]

A couple questions about Nikita Novikov and his fellow Russians, if you please.

Does anyone think the signing of NN is an indication that Ryan Johnson has told the Sabres he plans to run out the clock? I see it that way. Talk me out of it. I want both of them.

No. The Sabres would have signed both if they could. The Sabres organizational defensive depth isn't very deep. No where near the point where one signing would preclude the other.

I'm also convinced (no proof though) that the Sabres have known for a while that Johnson wasn't going to sign. The timing is coincidental. Novikov's (and other Russians) KHL contracts recently expired, so this is when they were going to sign NHL contracts.

 

[Fjordy]

Nikita could have easily signed a new contract with Dynamo and continued to play in the KHL, but he decided to try his hand at North America. As he said, this is his dream. Also, I think what Adams and Karmanos have done over the past few years also has an impact. Young players see that this is no longer the same Buffalo, that young players are developing, they are being worked with and given time to adapt.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

Looks like He got married! Saw it on his instagram story but I am such a pigeon idk how to post it on here. Maybe @Dingo44 can help me out?

 

[Dingo44]

Looks like He got married! Saw it on his instagram story but I am such a pigeon idk how to post it on here. Maybe @Dingo44 can help me out?

Looks like he did! Congrats to him and his bride!

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Ah, to be young and foolish

 

[Ralonzo]

"Now let us go to America so you can take half my stuff"

In all seriousness he seems like a man with a plan. I'd take a poor man's Simashev out of the 5th round.

 

[Matt Ress]

"Now let us go to America so you can take half my stuff"

In all seriousness he seems like a man with a plan. I'd take a poor man's Simashev out of the 5th round.

Looks like he'll be doing ok wherever he lives.

I think this kid is going to be good and I'm hoping we see him for a cup of coffee next season.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

According to his instagram story, he is in Buffalo...

 

[Chainshot]

According to his instagram story, he is in Buffalo...


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I wonder if his visa stuff is cleared up enough to be at Dev Camp since it is so close.

 

[allsilverdreams]

Wonder why he's in the hood

 

[The Blunder Years]

Wonder why he's in the hood

Lol that photo is taken right around Lafayette Square

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Wonder why he's in the hood

5 seconds from where New Years celebrations happen downtown, 1 minute from Larkin Square, but if he were further down Broadway maybe he wanted to see where 10 innocent souls lost there lives to hate and ignorance.

 

[MGIII]

5 seconds from where New Years celebrations happen downtown, 1 minute from Larkin Square, but if he were further down Broadway maybe he wanted to see where 10 innocent souls lost there lives to hate and ignorance.

That was on Jefferson, not Broadway.

 

[Matt Ress]

One of my favorites. This dude will be a Sabre

 

[joshjull]

Lol that photo is taken right around Lafayette Square

Yep, he’s right on the egde of Lafayette Square @ Washington and Broadway, looking up Washington. If he turned to his right he would be looking right at the library. Too his left is Lafayette Square.

 

[Gabrielor]

Apparently this kid has been very impressive at dev camp.

 

[Woodhouse]

I mean, Novikov played 60+ KHL games as a 19-y/o, even if it averaged to ~11 TOI, so he's one of the more experienced present at camp against higher competition.

 

[Matt Ress]

I mean, Novikov played 60+ KHL games as a 19-y/o, even if it averaged to ~11 TOI, so he's one of the more experienced present at camp against higher competition.

For some reason, I feel like he's generally over looked. I think he'll be a Sabre for a long time. Maybe it's just lack of exposure to the general public but that should change soon.

 

[HOOats]

I'm relatively high on Novikov, but from my viewing yesterday I saw a guy that's going to need to crank up the speed/agility significantly. Puck skills were of the "defensive defenseman" variety, shall we say.

 

[Matt Ress]

I'm relatively high on Novikov, but from my viewing yesterday I saw a guy that's going to need to crank up the speed/agility significantly. Puck skills were of the "defensive defenseman" variety, shall we say.

That's kind of how he projects to me. Not a ton of offensive upside but he'll jump into the slot from time to time. Decent first pass and skating with the obvious big frame and some physicality.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

That's kind of how he projects to me. Not a ton of offensive upside but he'll jump into the slot from time to time. Decent first pass and skating with the obvious big frame and some physicality.

He hits everything, people say

 

[Ralonzo]

He hits everything, people say

 

[Asymmetric Solution]

Kid is exactly what we need in the pipeline. Even if he projects as a 3rd pairing shutdown guy, I'll take that over a Bryson. Does he play both sides?

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

He hits everything, people say