Player Discussion Victor Antipin - Sports.Business-gazetta speculates he is going back to KHL

[La Cosa Nostra]

If Antipin comes anywhere close to how Zaitsev played in his first year after leaving the KHL then that would be a gigantic boon to the blue line. I'd be happy if he developed into a solid and steady second pairing dman. Considering he was pretty much a free asset if he can play 19-20 minutes a night and really solifidy the second pairing that could help this team immensely.

In 18-19 imagine a left side of

McCabe
Antipin
Guhle

And then the right side of

Risto
X
Bogosian

With the RD2 being someone Murray acquires this summer be it a trade with Vegas or possibly an Alzner or Shattenkirk signing (unlikely)

I'd prefer to acquire a legit LD1 but if Antipin is the real deal and we know that McCabe is at the very least a solid top 4 dman our left side can be locked down for awhile. Guhle is the real wild card, I think he has the ability to really surprise us and possibly be a legit top pairing dman. His combine #s were off the charts, he is one of the most athletic players in the entire league. He likely won't put up the necessary #s to be considered a true franchise #1 dman but I can see a ceiling for him where he can play 22-23 minutes a night on both special team units, move the puck up ice with his excellent skating/crisp breakout passes and provide ~30 points a season. I'd love if Guhle exceeded expectations and we had a Guhle-Risto top pairing for a decade. Anitipin looks to be the prototypical second pairing dman in the limited videos I have seen.

 

[Husko]

If Antipin comes anywhere close to how Zaitsev played in his first year after leaving the KHL then that would be a gigantic boon to the blue line. I'd be happy if he developed into a solid and steady second pairing dman. Considering he was pretty much a free asset if he can play 19-20 minutes a night and really solifidy the second pairing that could help this team immensely.

In 18-19 imagine a left side of

McCabe
Antipin
Guhle

And then the right side of

Risto
X
Bogosian

With the RD2 being someone Murray acquires this summer be it a trade with Vegas or possibly an Alzner or Shattenkirk signing (unlikely)

I'd prefer to acquire a legit LD1 but if Antipin is the real deal and we know that McCabe is at the very least a solid top 4 dman our left side can be locked down for awhile. Guhle is the real wild card, I think he has the ability to really surprise us and possibly be a legit top pairing dman. His combine #s were off the charts, he is one of the most athletic players in the entire league. He likely won't put up the necessary #s to be considered a true franchise #1 dman but I can see a ceiling for him where he can play 22-23 minutes a night on both special team units, move the puck up ice with his excellent skating/crisp breakout passes and provide ~30 points a season. I'd love if Guhle exceeded expectations and we had a Guhle-Risto top pairing for a decade. Anitipin looks to be the prototypical second pairing dman in the limited videos I have seen.

While the UFA market isn't great, it's pretty much exclusively on the left side. Even after adding Antipin I hope we add one of the solid old second pairing left dmen on a 2-3 year deal. Then all we have to do is trade for Tanev to round out of d corp... easy

McCabe-Risto
UFA-Tanev
Antipin-Bogo

 

[LaxSabre]

 

[LaxSabre]

@BJWilsonWGR - Thursday, March 30 -
Viktor Antipin and Metallurg Magnitogorsk will look to complete a sweep of Ak Bars later today in the KHL Conference Finals.
If Magnitogorsk wins, they'll face SKA Saint Petersburg in Gagarin Cup Final. SKA just swept Lokomotiv in their Conference Finals matchup.
Magnitogorsk takes a 1-0 lead - 5:30 into the first period with a PP goal from Kovar.
Viktor Antipin with a nice breakup on a 2-on-1. Positioned well, gets the stick down to block the pass attempt.
This after he was up below the faceoff dots in the offensive zone. Got back to cover the pinching dman trying to keep the puck in.

Former NHLer Jiri Sekac pulls Ak Bars to within one. Less than two minutes to go in the first period.
First Period is done in Kazan with Magnitogorsk leading Ak Bars 2-1. Viktor Antipin has a PP goal, and leads team with 9:07 of TOI .
Viktor Antipin made a great stick check to keep the puck in offensive zone before the period ended. Reminded me of Jack Eichel on Boone Jenner last year.
Sergei Mozyakin with the stick check and steal, rips home his 12th goal of the playoffs. This guy is pretty good. 3-1 Magnitogorsk in the second period.
3-1 Magnitogorsk after the second period of play. Viktor Antipin still leads Magnitogorsk with 17:03 of TOI. Sergei Mozyakin has a goal and two helpers.
Viktor Antipin has seven shots on goal so far in this game, was just playing some key PK time early in the third period.
It's over in Kazan. Magnitogorsk wins 4-1, sweeps Ak Bars in the series. Will play for 3rd Gagarin Cup in four years against SKA.
Viktor Antipin scores the Game Winning Goal on the PP - registers a game-high seven shots on goal - one blocked shot in a game-high 25:36 of Time On Ice.

 

[AustonsNostrils]

If he signs he's on the team - I don't see a KHL player of his class coming over here on a 2-way contract. Murray has guaranteed him a spot.

 

[jvirk]

If so then he fills a need for us and hopefully if Guhle is the 3rd pairing next season that makes Gorges the 7th defenseman.

We still need a RHD behind Risto (ex: Tanev) that can log heavy defensive minutes. But if Antipin pans out, that's a solid signing (big IF).

McCabe-Risto
Antipin-xxxx (ex: Tanev)
Guhle-Bogosian

I still think we draft one of the top defenseman in this class in the draft though.

 

[haseoke39]

I still think we draft one of the top defenseman in this class in the draft though.

Me too but safe assumption is that's a three year investment before a 2017 draftee is playing serious minutes and maybe more before he's a big factor.

 

[dotcommunism]

If he signs he's on the team - I don't see a KHL player of his class coming over here on a 2-way contract. Murray has guaranteed him a spot.

There's a 100% chance he'll be signed to a 2-way contract.

That said, I doubt he'll play in the AHL. He'll make the team or go back to Russia.

 

[gallagt01]

There's a 100% chance he'll be signed to a 2-way contract

Why is this?

Thanks.

 

[Chainshot]

Interesting to see that ToI. He and Risto can split all the icetime.

 

[dotcommunism]

Why is this?

Thanks.

He's 24. He has to sign an ELC.

 

[brian_griffin]

I'll try to answer.

As a 24yo both by his birth certificate and in terms of age for purpose of CBA, he would be waiver exempt for 2 years from signing his NHL SPC or for 60 NHL games, whichever comes first.

He has several seasons / couple hundred games professional experience in the KHL but it matters not as regards his waiver exemption / eligibility as he has not played those KHL games while under NHL contract.

Neither BUF nor any NHL team would give up that waiver exemption, regardless of what Murray or Antipin may think of his (Antipin's) ability to make and stick with the Sabres.

Panarin signed a 2-year contract with Chicago. I would expect Antipin to do something similar. It may or may not contain an "out" clause like Panarin's did which allowed him to return to Russia if he (Antipin) fails to make the Sabres out of camp. If that was the case, and Antipin returned to KHL, his games played there WOULD count down against his waiver exemption in the NHL.

edit: and what dotcom said - he's obligated to sign an ELC, which is 2-way. Term is 2 years for 24yo. Like Panarin's, Antipin's could be extended early.

 

[dotcommunism]

ELCs are 1 year for 24 year olds. While Antipin will count as a 24 year old for the purposes of signing his first NHL SPC, he will not count as a 24 year old for the purposes of waivers.
A player's signing age is his age on September 15 of the calendar year in which he signed. A player's age for waiver purposes, however, is the age he turns in the calendar year of the Entry Draft preceding the League Year in which his first NHL contract begins.
So Antipin will count as a 25 year old for the purposes of waivers, which means he would be exempt for one full year, regardless of the number of games he played.

As another note, "games played" for the purposes of waiver exemption only include NHL games.

 

[Zip15]

If so then he fills a need for us and hopefully if Guhle is the 3rd pairing next season that makes Gorges the 7th defenseman.

We still need a RHD behind Risto (ex: Tanev) that can log heavy defensive minutes. But if Antipin pans out, that's a solid signing (big IF).

McCabe-Risto
Antipin-xxxx (ex: Tanev)
Guhle-Bogosian

I still think we draft one of the top defenseman in this class in the draft though.

Antipin better have been signed to start Guhle in ROC. Even with Antipin, I want another top-4 LHD.

xxxxx-Risto
McCabe-xxxxx
Antipin-Bogo
x Gorges/Falk

Ideally, Bogo is off the team, but that's a different discussion.

 

[Djp]

If he signs he's on the team - I don't see a KHL player of his class coming over here on a 2-way contract. Murray has guaranteed him a spot.

He's 24. He has to sign an ELC.

Isn't that what the s8gn3d Kasdorf to...he was I think 24 and his elc was 1 yr which was burned because he played a game ???

So He Would Just Sign A 1 Yr ELC contract ?? Then he should be able to sign to whatever is negotiated in 2018 ???

 

[Ace]

Antipin better have been signed to start Guhle in ROC. Even with Antipin, I want another top-4 LHD.

xxxxx-Risto
McCabe-xxxxx
Antipin-Bogo
x Gorges/Falk

Ideally, Bogo is off the team, but that's a different discussion.

I'm looking forward to you hating next season no matter what they do.

 

[AustonsNostrils]

Antipin has to sign a 1 year ELC? Meaning he can only make like $900K or so? i know bonuses but base salary.

And how many seasons would he have to put in in the NHL before he is a UFA?

 

[dotcommunism]

Antipin has to sign a 1 year ELC? Meaning he can only make like $900K or so? i know bonuses but base salary.

And how many seasons would he have to put in in the NHL before he is a UFA?

He'd be eligible for group 3 unrestricted free agency in 2020.

And yes, he'd be subject to the ELC max of $925k.

 

[Man of Principles]

Just popped in to say that I hope Murray doesn't rely on Antipin being good. If he signs in Buffalo, great. If he's a top 4 guy, even better. But I still want to see a trade for a quality defenseman. If they can get the defense issue settled then I have no doubt that Buffalo will be going places and people can stop debating on whether Murray is a competent GM.

 

[brian_griffin]

I expect Antipin is not Murray's only move between now and next season.

 

[Zip15]

I'm looking forward to you hating next season no matter what they do.

Cool story.

We should totally just count on a guy in his first year in NA and a former 2nd round pick in his rookie year to cure all that ails our left side. And if one or both fall on their face at least we'll have...Gorges and Falk.

You'd be looking forward to that left side, huh?

 

[Husko]

Adding Antipin, one UFA D, and one D in a trade sounds like the perfect plan to me...

 

[CatsforReinhart]

When can he signed?

 

[Onry]

You guys keep leaving Kulikov off the list going forward as a certainty. All we hear from the front office is that Kulikov was seriously hurt and is now feeling/playing better. What are the odds he's firming up in the team's future, and is a major factor in the decision of Antipin to come here? Another reason Kulikov stays?

 

[old kummelweck]

You guys keep leaving Kulikov off the list going forward as a certainty. All we hear from the front office is that Kulikov was seriously hurt and is now feeling/playing better. What are the odds he's firming up in the team's future, and is a major factor in the decision of Antipin to come here? Another reason Kulikov stays?

I'm thinking they would have had a contract in place already, though the sabres may be waiting to see how he does these last 5. The other thing you hear about Kulikov is that he never integrated into the team and felt isolated because of his injury, and may be looking for a fresh start.

I would be in favor, but I think the odds are against it.