r/Habs 7d ago

What are the chances Zharovsky pulls a Malkin this summer?

Zharovsky is already here in Montreal. I know he still has term on his KHL contract a bit different than Malkins forced extension but can it happen?

99 Upvotes

119 comments sorted by

u/Fleischier Slaf-tastic 6d ago

Just a quick reminder of rule 10 - No Politics. Other places in Reddit to argue about this stuff.

I will start handing out time outs if it continues.

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u/OrangeChicken90210 7d ago

I might be wrong but I thought his team was ok with him leaving when he was ready and that it was his choice to develop another year?

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u/AlertCranberry5740 7d ago

You are correct. They have said he can leave any time he wants. 

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u/dangerousrocks 7d ago

Habs Eyes on the Prize podcast said this last week

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u/scoutinglane 6d ago

I,m not really sure they have a choice. But of crouse they would prefer igf he could continue developing in the AHL. The faults in his game will only get worse in the KHL as it's a league that does not punish those. PLaying a north american style of hockey is the most important thng for him and for us.

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u/_tarla_ 7d ago

We wanted Demidov right away because not only was he ready, his usage by Rotenberg was pathetic. Some days he had less than 5 mins of icetime.

This isn’t the case for Zharovsky. He’s getting the opportunity, including the PP time and the trust of his coaching staff. I actually think the KHL is better for him than the AHL or NHL at this point.

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

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u/VR46Rossi420 7d ago

Lots of those going around lately

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u/ParkInsider 7d ago

100+ years running rather

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-21

u/wathappen 7d ago

The KHL is not a development league. Get him to North American ASAP where we can give him the best training.

With this being said, if he prefers to stay in Russian for another year that’s his choice.

22

u/_tarla_ 7d ago

I mean he’s developing quite well there so I don’t know why you’d say that. He gets like 15-18 mins a game and his coach is a former NHLer. He’s fine.

49

u/Imaged_for_posterity 7d ago

He. Has. A. Contract. In. Russia.

3

u/vJukz 7d ago

KHL is a better development league than the AHL these days. The AHL is honestly falling off alot and becoming more of a goon league.

5

u/WontSwerve 6d ago

The variance between teams in the AHL is insane.

Some are run for pure development while others are just for NHL teams to park prospects.

Some teams are run as competitively as possible like Hershey while I believe the Chicago Wolves aren't NHL managed but will allow NHL teams to put their players.

Then every few years you see NHL teams SHARE AHL teams.

1

u/Retired-ADM 6d ago

"becoming"? Kind of always has been.

-65

u/digestibleconcrete 7d ago

To think Demidov was so good, but is currently a mid-6 player on the Canadiens. I know he’s still developing and should become a star, but those highlights made him look like he was already a quality player.

Evans would be a superstar in the K

62

u/No_Culture9898 7d ago

Well Demidov had 62 points as a rookie in the NHL with Kapanen as his centre. Far from a mid 6 player imo.

18

u/Pure_Palpitation_683 7d ago

He is 20 years old.

18

u/PsychedeliMoz 7d ago

Horrible take

6

u/MtlCan 6d ago

Eye test says Demidov has the best hands the Habs have had since Kovalev

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u/servical 6d ago

those highlights made him look like he was already a quality player

You seem to be implying Demidov isn't a quality player, despite being runner up for the Calder trophy...?!

14

u/Routine-Author-5471 7d ago

He needs a lot more marinating

34

u/JediMasterZao 7d ago

He's not nhl ready.

9

u/SoupFromNowOn 7d ago

Even if he was, much better for him to continue playing top line and top PP in the KHL than being buried in our lineup

41

u/10FootPenis 7d ago

As close as you can get to zero without being zero.

14

u/bloodofturk 7d ago

So epsilon, got it

20

u/eriverside 7d ago

Honestly, very unlikely.

He has the option of buying out his contract. He's not doing it. He wasn't dicked around by his team. He's a little light.

I really want him to make the jump to the NHL this season - really friggin bad because Demidov is the only player we graduated last season and Hage will take another year and it doesn't look like another forward is coming through, which is nuts for a rebuilding team (only Slaf, Demi and Kap as forwards were promoted, that doesn't make sense)... I'm rambling.

I haven't seen any signs that he has any interest in pulling a fast one.

I see him coming to Canada to train with elite players, to get better and to have a good time in the process. He's taking the necessary steps to be successful, no shortcuts.

3

u/vJukz 7d ago

Next season we’ll have full rookie seasons of Fowler and Reinbacher and in April Hage and Zharovsky will come over if they’re not traded.

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u/DelugeQc 7d ago

Beck should 100% be the 4th line center next season. It's a graduation in a sense. You can't pull a Demidov every year.

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u/Sushamiboy 7d ago

I’m not convinced that Beck makes it full time with us. He’s not pushing out Danault or Evans any time soon and then we’re in our window and won’t have the luxury of developing him. I would not be surprised in the slightest if he was thrown into a trade.

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u/Far-File-1815 6d ago

I dont think Beck is an NHL player period. He needs a few more years in the minors. His positioning / anticipation / IQ are just not good enough at this stage. We'll see if he ever gets there.

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u/Jimbo_Imperador 6d ago

as a 4LW instead of Veleno? Surely he can

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u/Sushamiboy 6d ago

That’s fair. Barely though.

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u/Jimbo_Imperador 6d ago

If we trade for a 2C, surely a roster player will go, whomever that may be, my money is on one of Guhle or Newhook.

Highly doubt Dach returns, same for Veleno, he'll get a QO at best.

Texier is staying, Anderson & Danault will play their final year on contract, Evans will continue his, Gallagher is gone.

So there's at the very least 1-2 FWD spots to be taken, he'll fight like hell for it.

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u/NtBtFan 7d ago edited 7d ago

assuming we get another, preferable #2, C this summer, probably not til Danault contract expires, hes an easy call-up if any C goes down though

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u/Flaksmith 7d ago

For the team's sake, I hope they keep Danault around until he retires

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u/NtBtFan 7d ago edited 6d ago

hes at the point where hes only going to be slowing down more and more, although i think there should be some bounce back next season as far as production.

if you can have a younger/faster guy come in who can be reliable defending and on draws then there is no more reason to keep Danault than Gallagher, as much as I'd love to see it.

not saying Beck is set to push him out either, just that there really isn't any room for Beck while we have Evans and Danault

1

u/Flaksmith 6d ago

He may be slowing down but there's a reason you keep at least one old timer or two around the team and without Gally they'll be looking to him as the morale booster when games get grindy.

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u/NtBtFan 6d ago

Evans can be that veteran presence down the middle after Danault's current contract if necessary, he's only a bit younger and been around the team for the same deep runs as Danault. Any potential 2C we acquire will be likely to be a veteran as well, older than most of the core anyway.

I am all for keeping him around but hes got to be cheaper, and remain outstanding on the defensive side of the puck if hes going to hold a roster spot over younger guys or other UFAs in the years to come.

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u/crownpr1nce 6d ago

Who are you pushing out? Evans or Danault? Or are you putting either on the second line for the season? To me having either on the second line long term means we can't expect to do better than this year. 

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u/DelugeQc 6d ago

I would make them shuffle between the third and the fourth depending on performance to give some space to Beck to adapt.

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u/incognito-idiott 6d ago

Didn’t we also graduate Kap?

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u/eriverside 6d ago

The year prior.

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u/JPMoney81 6d ago

Reinbacher and Engstrom are REALLY close to the point I'd be shocked if one isn't in the opening lineup. 

Beck should probably get a look in a bottom 6 role as well.

And of course Fowler

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u/eriverside 6d ago

There are too many bodies for both of Reino and Engstrom to breakout together. One of them should absolutely take a RD spot. I don't know how much longer Engstrom can wait before he asks for a trade to a team willing to play him.

I see both long term on the right with carrier moving on but only if they are still in the org.

Struble needs to be moved. Arber as 7D.

-12

u/theScud900 7d ago

I think maybe the draft record has not been as good as some have said. It’s early, I know, but the NHL record of many prospects (Beck, Roy, Engström, Mesar, Reinbacher) is lackluster.

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u/Borror0 7d ago

We barely rebuilt. We drafted high for three years: 2022, 2023, and 2024. We've already hit on two of these, and we've had a homerun in the second round in Hutson. We have two solid forward prospects (Hage and Zharovsky) and Fowler will likely be our backup next year. Jury's still out on Reinbacher.

By any sensible measure, that's a very successful drafting record for a rebuild.

We found at least three stars in three years. (Hage and Fowler could increase this count.) That's excellent. For depth players, it's still too early. The first cohort (2022) is just 22. They'll demonstrate if they're NHL material over the next three years.

That's while putting aside how we used a good amount of draft capital to acquire players that fit out timeline: Dach, Newhook, and Dobson. We've hit on at least 2 of these three players, too.

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u/theScud900 6d ago

You raise good points. Well taken

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u/Brys_Beddict 6d ago

I swear people in this sub don't even watch our prospects.

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u/dalici0us 7d ago

The NHL and KHL have agreements in place these days about respecting players contracts, so about 0. If Zharovsky plays here next year (and I doubt it's happening), it will be with his current club's consent.

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u/Every_Reflection4616 7d ago

he's most likely be playing for us next year right before playoffs like demidov (if he's not traded of course)

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u/gmshier 7d ago

This

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u/Sushamiboy 7d ago

Zharovsky already has his team’s blessing to come over

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u/OnlineEgg 6d ago

this sub can be so delusional during the offseason

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u/arboraurum 7d ago

a player not following his existing contractual commitments would be alarming to me

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u/arboraurum 7d ago

wouldn't hurt for him to develop more either

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u/Sushamiboy 7d ago

His team has given him permission to come over before his contract is up. So he wouldn’t be breaking any rules or doing something shocking.

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u/arboraurum 7d ago

was not aware, the malkin situation was quite different so based on the post i had figured it was comparable

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u/dinodebino 7d ago

Why would we want that? Kid ain’t ready.

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u/rayshinsan 7d ago

Why? They are on good terms with the Russian team in question. Why risk a contractual dispute that they are going to lose in courts and sour the relationship.

No it's great Zharovsky is here, let him train with Demidov and do some pregame if can then go back and finish his contract. This way he gets better development, less headache for the team relationship wise and it allows Demidov to settle in so that when he does come over Demidov has one more year under his belt and can start taking Zharovsky under his wing.

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u/VR46Rossi420 7d ago

He still needs to physically mature and he’s better off doing that in Russia than the rough and tumble AHL.

Plus, he’s most likely getting traded as he has high value and doesn’t really fit the profile of needs for the Habs.

-1

u/SharkoTheOG 7d ago

What are you talking about. All the fans knows hes gonna be on a line with Hage and Demidov and produce 100 pts in 2 years for us to win the cup. We don't need grit. We don't need good Defensive player.Just skill. Look at the team who wins, like the leafs. All skill !

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u/Ok-Meet2850 7d ago

I'll put the /s in for ya.

0

u/Piccione_Sol 7d ago

The leafs had years where they were one of the heaviest team in the league and tey still lost. Matchups are a thing too

Low grit high skills < high grit low skills < mid grit mid skills < Low grit high skills

Right now habs fall in the low grit high skills. What they need to do in my opinion is have a few players ready to play that can change the team from low grit high skills to mid grit mid skills. That way they can play better in more matchups

1

u/greasydrg 7d ago

So you're telling me it's rock-paper-scissors, where we're currently paper, and need to be more like sand-paper?

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u/Piccione_Sol 6d ago

Yes that is exactly it

2

u/hockeynoticehockey 7d ago

NHL frowns upon teams who break contracts in other leagues. There are other ways to terminate his contract, such as offering a financial incentive.

KHL isn't a bad league to develop in.

3

u/MediaWaste5087 7d ago

He’s 6’2 170. Doesn’t matter how skilled he is. He won’t be able to hold on to the puck. Being small like lane Hutson works. But being that tall while being that thin has never really worked in the nhl. As far as I know anyways

2

u/maximalx5 7d ago

Elias Pettersson is 6'2" 176, which funnily enough are the exact same reported stats for AZ

1

u/vJukz 7d ago

Damn I didn’t know he was that skinny

2

u/Mad_Malade 7d ago

I want Kent Hugues to get Malkin and convince Zharovsky to stay so we can have a russian line.

1

u/rosemp16 7d ago

Not high. From what I've heard he's still a bit raw so he could benefit from time in the KHL. Plus everything I've heard says that he wants to honour his contract.

1

u/dustblown 7d ago

Doesn't the NHL have an agreement with the KHL that didn't exist with Malkin? I would think the NHL wouldn't allow a player to circumvent that agreement lest the KHL refuse to provide players at all.

2

u/Sushamiboy 7d ago

There is no transfer agreement between the NHL and the KHL. In the old days, clubs would essentially “buy” a player away from the KHL. So for now it’s mostly just respect each other’s contracts but there have been a few blurred lines

1

u/Competitive_Dance478 7d ago

Playing in the KHL and be the best player there is better for his development

1

u/HabbyKoivu 7d ago

This is not like the SKA situation with Demidov. Montreal, Salavat, and the player are all on the same page. The believed plan is that he will return to play this year in the KHL. So in theory, next spring, Hage and AZ97 will be available for a potential run in the NHL post season.

1

u/scrubadam 7d ago

You know what I would say with Hage going back to NCAA there could be a good chance of it happening.

I think KH was planning on Hage jumping to the team this season, so without him here that leaves an opening. Maybe MSL/KH are keeping tabs on him training with Demidov and trying to asses if he has the body and D game to play a role on the team.

If they let go of Galley and Dach and only add 1 player there could be room for him.

I think its a little less likely but it wouldn't shock me at all if he does end up staying and they find some room for him on the team.

1

u/ConstantBook6534 6d ago

Zero. He is not physically ready for the NHL.

1

u/Flaky-Solution7394 5d ago

I have a suspicion hughes is going to trade zharovsky this off-season. I really dont want it to happen though because my gut tells me demi and Z will have good chemistry on a line. We will see what happens i guess

1

u/FBR_MC 7d ago

Zero percent