The Oilers have dipped into the waiver wire to add some depth to their wings. The team has claimed Valentin Zykov off of waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes.
Zykov heading to the #LetsGoOilers https://t.co/3ThHjuPDkJ
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) November 30, 2018
Zykov was originally drafted by the L.A. Kings in the second round of the 2013 and he was then traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in a deadline deal involving Kris Versteeg back in 2016. He’s a big, strong, winger who uses his size to excel down low and in front of the net. He also possesses a good shot and high-end stick skills.
Zykov, a 6’1″ winger from Russia, has put up really good numbers in the AHL, but it hasn’t translated to the NHL at this point. Last year, he scored 33 goals and racked up 54 points in 63 games for the Charlotte Checkers, good for most on the team in goals and second for points. He also scored three goals and seven points in 10 games with Carolina in the NHL last season.
He’s on a two-year deal with a cap hit of $675,000 so there’s virtually zero risk attached to this claim. Zykov, given his skill and success in the AHL, is someone who could catch fire if played in the right situation here. If it works out, he’ll be a bargain for his cap hit. If not, then he can be thrown back on waivers and the team can try again with somebody else. Maybe do Zykov with Ryan Spooner as the wingers around JJ Khaira and have that be the line Connor McDavid double shifts with occasionally.
I imagine Patrick Russell, who doesn’t require waivers, will be sent back down to AHL Bakersfield to make room for Zykov. I’d like to see Zykov in a top-six role, but I don’t know who of Jesse Puljujarvi, Alex Chiasson, or Drake Caggiula I would take out of that mix right now.
I wrote about acquiring Zykov in the WWYDW earlier this week, Christian Pagnani suggested the Oilers should claim him yesterday when he went on waivers, and Dusty Nielson talked about him yesterday in Inside The Nation.
VALENTIN ZYKOV’S CAREER SO FAR
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | Charlotte Checkers | AHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015-16 | Ontario Reign | AHL | 43 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 20 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016-17 | Charlotte Checkers | AHL | 66 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 57 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2016-17 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017-18 | Charlotte Checkers | AHL | 63 | 33 | 21 | 54 | 45 | -13 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 2017-18 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 10 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018-19 | Charlotte Checkers* | AHL | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 16 | -1 | |||||
| 2018-19 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | -1 | |||||
| NHL Totals | 25 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 2 |
Source: Elliotte Friedman, Verified Twitter Account, 11/30/2018 – 10:03 am MST
Makes sense…where would you slot him?
Condors
Too bad you can’t send him down. He has to stay with the Oilers or clear waivers again.
I’m aware he can’t be sent down. I was being facetious. If anyone thinks this is a move that is going to make a difference to this team they need to wake the fk up.
Kinda like Chaisson eh?
Who the hell do you expect to get? Mitch Marner?? I think you need to wake the f#@k up.
What is the harm?
Great pick up. Low risk. To put his numbers into perspective he was on pace for 24.6 goals and 32.8 assists last year through 10 NHL games. I’ve never seen him play.. or at least I don’t remember it. Not sure what his problem is but I can’t see anything wrong with this move
It’s a freebie
Hey Fireball & every other Oiler fan looking for a Great Day….. I just found this quote from an article from 2013 about Zykov in the QMJHL,… ready? We may have found a keeper, another Kuznetzsov?
“He was named the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s rookie of the year after finishing first in league rookie scoring with 75 points. He had more points than any other rookie in the CHL, and edged out 15-year-old sensation Connor McDavid as CHL rookie of the year.
Cool,…!!!
4th line i guess.
I’m excited to see what he can do. He has all the tools, just needs to let Hitch to do his magic. A steal IMO.
No he doesn’t have all the tools. He’s only an adequate NHL skater
Read my post above…
Zykov-Spooner/Khaira-Rattie? 4th line that can put the puck in the net?
Great! Can’t imagine China’s gonna replace Spooner already…
But he’s probably feeling pretty desperate.
China = Chia… But I now see why Trump hates him so much
If Spooner is sent down what is the worst that can happen? Claimed off waivers we gain a contract spot and 4m cap space. If he clears waivers we still get the cap space. I get that the hope is he finds his game and excels, but we need finishers not speedy ‘play makers’.
Hitch seems to like Russell more than Rattie…
Between Russell, Rattie, Spooner, Reider, Kassian, Caggiula, JJ, & now Zykov, there has to be a couple of great wingers there that’ll work out? The others could either be sent to the A or traded for a serviceable defense man?
I wouldn’t worry about where evryone slots in. It’s great to have options I think?
I would prefer them to send Garrison down on waivers. Keep Russell and ffs, play rattie at some point.
Why? He’s bad in a bottom 6 role, adequate in top6. Drake and chassion are better right now
Did you buy a Rattie jersey?
You must be confusing Patrick and Kris.
Claimed off waivers. Does this mean we can`t put him down to the AHL for a month?? We HAVE to slot him somewhere??
Unless they move Kass to the 4th and Zykov on the 3rd. Does anybody know if he’s a good skater or not?
He skates better than Lucic.
I’m not even sure about that. He can take and make a pass better than Luc though.
????
He’s an average skater. Can everybody realize that all players have deficiencies in at least one part of there game. That’s Zykov’s
Yes he has to be on the roster.
Anyone else get the feeling Chia is throwing $hit against a wall and seeing what sticks?
Maybe, probably, but if you don’t shoot, you don’t score.
He was named the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s rookie of the year in 2012/13 after finishing first in league rookie scoring with 75 points. He had more points than any other rookie in the CHL, and edged out 15-year-old sensation Connor McDavid as CHL rookie of the year.
Slepyshev V 2 ?
Slepy is better. Zykov has some skill but can’t skate well enough.
there must be a story with the demise of slepy…not saying he was Lafleur but luc/leon/slepy looked pretty damn good in the playoffs…next year TM never played them together….just strikes me odd..
Coach only favored veterans to the teams and ultimately his own demise. Wasted asset yet again.
Indeed….and yet the oilers still have him on their protected list..odd…
TM never give a full chance to Slepychev
Sleppy is getting scratched in the KHL. .Between the ears is his issue
Yakslep Zykov, the name sounds familar?
The oil have pick up two contracts in the last two weeks, Wideman and Zykov. How many contracts are they up to?
The oil have pick up two contracts in the last two weeks, Wideman and Zykov. How many contracts are they up to?
They have to send someone down–likely Patrick Russell as he doesn’t need waivers.
Send LUCIC down
Hitch has only kept one line intact since he has been here. He loves the _ _ug Line.
I think they are at 48 now. Have to check
According to cap friendly they are at 48 contracts that is including Zykov.
Yes for sure he just throwin stuff against the wall, but this is low risk so why not pick him up, you never know he could be viable player.
the sight will not let me post my comment
Oilersnation is just like the real oilers, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt!
I would have picked him up as well for the reasons you stated but it just looks like they are grasping at straws instead of building a better team in the summer. They seem to stand pat every year although many of us can see the huge holes in their lineup. Then when the season starts they try to fill the holes with other teams castoffs desperately hoping some of them work out.
It is not a recipe for success.
How many moves can you make with no $$$$ ? Trades ? Ok ….but Chia is making them.
It still will not allow me to post it and there are no bad words in it.Weird.
Maybe it is telling you something.
What, that the site is glitchy?
No
Happens a lot more often now. Was it something I said?
You got facebooked, Bad,bad algorithm.
I would have picked him up as well for the reasons you stated but it just looks like they are grasping at straws instead of building a better team in the summer. They seem to stand pat every year although many of us can see the huge holes in their lineup. Then when the season starts they try to fill the holes with other teams castoffs desperately hoping some of them work out.
It is not a recipe for success.
No cap room to make moves this past summer . Especially considering they didn’t quite know what Nurse was coming in at until September
Makes you wonder what this means for Rattie. I think most like Rattie. Hitch even said he likes Rattie but wants to build depth. Other than Rattie early and Rieder now, there haven’t been any forward injuries. I’m not sure what Spooner brings. Once Russell sent down, 4th line now this?
Spooner – Khaira – Rattie
Zykov
What happens with Reider when he comes back?
See what he can do…a right handed shot is welcomed..it’s not like the wingers on this team are filling the net (chaison is on fire right now and draisaitl has scored)..how about try
Zykov-mcdavid-draisaitl
Chaison – nuge- pool party
Lucic- brodziak – kassian
Caguilla – JJ – rattie/reider when healthy….gives nuge a veteran to play with along side pool party and see if zykov can be the right shot mcdavid and draisaitl can tee up…could be found money
And spoon man can bang on pots and pans in the press box.
I guess Spooners nick name is “cuddles”…….personally I think that’s pretty funny.
Almost as good as Huggy Bear from a few years back.
You know the old saying ….”you don’t know what you got till it’s gone” I sure wish Chia never moved Strome.
2 goals 3 assists in 25 games.. Still can’t win a face off and hasn’t gotten any faster.. and winning at a higher rate without him so far. NY
Ya and leveled off the opposition. Wasn’t scoring ..correct…but wasn’t giving anything up. That has value
I was someone who really thought Strome would come to Edmonton and really become a strong presence. I thought he was a slow skater, but maybe a change of scenery and not needing to be the number 1 or 2 centre would lead to some positive results.
Boy, was I wrong. Not only was he just average last year, this year he was that much worse. No, I don’t miss him at all. I’d rather have Spooner’s skating ability in this line-up than Strome’s. The Oilers are already very slow and definitely does not need Strome.
A bonehead trade made for no other reason than to say look I’m trying to get better. Numbskull trade. Hitch would LOVE Strome
I am probably correct in saying that Hitchcock knows every attribute that Strome has. (both Strome’s in fact).
As well as knowing what Spooner will bring to the table eventually.
Just a hunch.
Rattie just can’t get a break
How about: he will make more money this year then I will in multiple years?
Not Ratties fault you made a poor career choice
Maybe you set the bar too low for yourself.
To be honest, i think this spells disaster for Russell/ Pool Party. Because they have to send a NHLer down. I think they send down garrison/Russell. Run him in the top two lines (probably with Mcdavid, but maybe with Nuge) then we have two solid scoring lines. But then our ‘identity line’ gets broken up unless they demote Cagg to the fourth line. But he’s been scoring so I think that would ruin his momentum.
Well this doesn’t hurt anything.
I don’t think playing him on the top line is realistic but I think that the double shift of McDavid should be done with Draisaitl too. I think every second or third shift, sending Draisaitl out with Lucic and Kassian could really throw another dangerous look at opposing teams. Draisaitl is at his best when playing lots. He really is a force and having those two massive and mean men on his wings a few times a period would be a lot for other teams to handle. Then with McDavid taking a few shifts on a line with Zykov and Spooner, their depth problems are not solved but they wouldn’t be so obvious.
He was named the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s rookie of the year after finishing first in league rookie scoring with 75 points. He had more points than any other rookie in the CHL, and edged out 15-year-old sensation Connor McDavid as CHL rookie of the year.
He was a 17 year old rookie, most rookies are 16 and Connor was 15. Until he translates that into NHL production, it means pretty much nothing.
Imagine running a business where a salary hit of $675K was considered zero risk.
It does not cost the Oilers incrementally the $675K (or even the pro-rated amount for the rest of the season). Because Russell is on a two way contract, his annual salary reverts to $85K now that he is back in the minors.
Sending Russell back down was certainly easier than sending Rattie down. If they sent Rattie down, they would still be paying him at $800,000 per season. As well, Russell does not have to clear waivers, but Rattie does, and while it may be argued that Rattie probably would clear, the risk of him being claimed is not zero.
Not after the pre-season he had, he’d be claimed in an instant..
T.O. would grab him & let Nylander walk, as an example.
Russell played about 8 minutes last night and Rattie hasn’t played 8 minutes since Hitch took over. They can send Rattie to Bakersfield, but if Hitch wont play/ don’t want him in Edmonton, they may as well DFA him.
They sent Patrick Russel down to the A.
Cagg-McD-Chias
RNH-Drai-Zykov/PP
L-B-K
Spoon-Khaira-Rattie/PP
Your second line looks slower than the third line.
It’s PACE OF PLAY bud not who skates the fastest.
Drai/McD/Chia
Cagg/RNH/Pulj
Rieder/Spoon/Zykov
Luc/Brodz/Kass
Extras: JJ and Rattie
Would be nice if Spooner can turn into a playmaking C for that 3rd line
Excellent ! I still think that there’s a player here. Fun fact….he was the player we would have picked at #37 in the 2013 draft if we hadn’t traded it !
Great decision. Now lets see if they can motivate him to play. Russian players aren’t quick to be molded but maybe Hitchcock can work some magic?
To start with, that’s a bit of a gross generalization and disparaging to Russian hockey players. And with Zykov, what specifically about his history makes you think he needs to be motivated any differently than any other young NHL player other than he is Russian? He has been playing hockey exclusively in North America since he was 16 years old. It seems pretty clear his dream is to be an established NHL player. None of the scouting reports suggest he is not coachable or has glaring defensive deficiencies. If he works out, and that is still a big if, it won’t because Hitchcock is a miracle worker. Maybe Hitchcock will be better for Zykov than Brindamour, but Zykov played well for Bill Peters in his call up last season.
Oilers success record with Russian players is 0%
I disagree, Igor Ulanov gave it his all every shift…might not have been much, but he gave it!
I stand corrected, should have added caveat , ever since the 3 stooges got put in charge. Andrei Kovalenko was from the same mold. Still remember those guys driving around Edmonton in their black limo’s. Looked like mobsters back in the day.
Ulanov, Samsonov,…?
Moronov?
Samsanov along with Pronger and Peca and Tarnstrom could not get away from the tire fire quick enough. BO BO was good as well, but also before the clown show was put in charge.
I resent that. I loved watching Boris Mironov line up players with crushing body checks!
“Maybe do Zykov with Ryan Spooner as the wingers around JJ Khaira and have that be the line Connor McDavid double shifts with occasionally.”
sounds like a good positive low impact move. these are the types of moves this team should be focused on for this season. we need Yammer/Pulj/Bouchard to matriculate before we make a big move.
At 3-1-1 with a .7 Points per game since hiring Hitchcock I’d guess Pete’s seat is cooling down. Moves like this might put him over the top. Nothing like making something out of nothing. Of course there’s a long season left yet.
Messed that up. .700 pts %
Even if the Oilers make the playoffs, they need to get rid of Chia IMO. As soon as a losing streak happens, I’m sure he’s got another lopsided trade planned that will cripple this team. I wouldn’t mind seeing a new (competent) GM take over when the sky isn’t quite falling, and can actually be put in a position to succeed instead of clean-up the previous regime’s mistakes.
Ya either way he has to go. I’d add that if the Oilers fall out of the playoff picture by the end of this calendar year ….trade Chiasson. That’s proper asset management.
totally agree, he would get you something given the season he’s having…. a PTO converted into a future asset is always a good thing
The schedule favors the Oil and if they can keep riding Koskinen the Oil should be in first the Sharks second and the Ducks in third. The flames free fall will begin tonight with Smith in net.
By the end of December.
a man can certainly hope
Let’s just hope that we can sneak into the playoffs as the 3rd best team in the weak Pacific Division. To do that, we are going to have to push out one of San Jose, Calgary and Las Vegas, which isn’t an automatic. Anything beyond that is just gravy.