In
the least surprising news of the day category, Alexander Frolov has signed to
play in the KHL. The deal is reportedly
for three years with HC Avangard Omsk, according to the team’s website. While Frolov looking to get his career back
led him to the KHL is not surprising, the fact that Omsk would commit to a
three-year pact with him at this point is somewhat shocking. Given both his declining play and shredded
knee that he will be coming back from that seems like a gamble, though
financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Frolov’s
time with the Rangers was a disappointment as he only recorded seven goals and
nine assists in his 43 games for the Blueshirts. He was expected to give them at least 20
goals and 50 points as a secondary scorer to pair with Marian Gaborik, but that
never materialized before his season was ended by the knee injury. The only thing that saved Glen Sather from
more criticism with Frolov’s deal was the fact that he only had a one year pact
with the forward. The move was a
low-risk, high-reward gamble for Sather and the Rangers and it just didn’t work
as well as either side had hoped.
The
more intriguing question now might be whether Frolov gets to play with Jaromir
Jagr in Omsk next season or if Jagr is coming back to the NHL instead.
Check out this morning’s take on what Jagr
could still bring to the Rangers.
