Evgeny Medvedev:
Photo From Philly.com
Evgeny Medvedev was a low-risk-high-reward signing for the Flyers in the 2015 offseason. He was described as a strong two-way defenseman with excellent skating and puck-moving abilities. With a logjam of mediocre talent on the blueline and Flyers general manager Ron Hextall adamant about keeping defensive prospects developing in lower leagues, Medvedev was a short-term answer.
A three-time KHL all-star, Medvedev was expected to challenge for a top-four spot on the Flyers defense. The Flyers had also just hired Dave Hakstol as their new head coach. Hakstol’s coaching style emphasized puck moving and defensive involvement to push offensive rushes. If he could learn the system, Medvedev would have been an asset to the Flyers.
Earlier this month, 33-year-old Evgeny Medvedev signed a two-year contract to play with Avangard Omsk, returning to the Kontinental Hockey League after a failed attempt at transitioning to the NHL. This past season was a frustrating one for Medvedev.
The Flyers will try another KHL experiment in Roman Lyubimov. The last one, Evgeny Medvedev, just returned to KHL this week.
— Kyle (@Kyle_Phillippi) July 11, 2016
Unfortunately, Medvedev didn’t work out as well as management had hoped. He couldn’t adjust to the North American style fast enough and constantly being a healthy scratch probably didn’t help. The 33-year-old played 45 games with the Flyers scoring four goals and eight assists. As the season came to a close, it became clear that Medvedev wouldn’t be back for another season. Then Medvedev was arrested and charged with a DUI and possession of a controlled substance in the offseason. That was the official end to Medvedev’s short time in the NHL.
But Medvedev hasn’t dissuaded Ron Hextall from looking to the KHL for some depth on the roster.
Roman Lyubimov:
Photo from flyers.nhl.com
Last season the Flyers were all about fixing the defense. This season they want to make sure there’s enough forward depth on the roster to make them a bit more dangerous offensively. Hextall has been busy adding players who will audition for the bottom six spots on the Flyers roster.
One addition is 24-year-old Roman Lyubimov. Lyubimov played in 10 games for Russia in the World Championships this spring where he scored four goals and four assists on the way to a Bronze medal. Lyubimov was given a one-year, two-way contract by the Flyers worth $925,000 (if he stays in the NHL). “He plays a solid, two-way game. Kind of an up-and-downer. We’ve had our eye on him for a couple years, but he kind of really popped at the World Championships this past year.” Hextall said during a press conference.
Lyubimov presents a low risk for the Flyers. At under one million dollars, Lyubimov’s contract won’t hurt the cap situation as much as a well-known free agent would have. Even if he doesn’t make the Flyers roster out of camp, it seems like the Russian will be sticking around. Lyubimo is much younger than Medvedev was, and his two-way contract means that he could be sent down to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL. In the AHL, Lyubimov would have time to adjust to North American style of play and develop in the Flyers organization.
Lyubimov won’t be a top-six player in the NHL but he can score a bit when he has open opportunity. Has been a good young two-way player CSKA
— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) July 11, 2016
German Rubtsov:
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After Medvedev, it would have been easy for Hextall to avoid any extra trouble in trying to bring over KHL talent. Instead, the Flyers drafted German Rubtsov, a player who fell in the draft partially because of his existing two-year KHL contract.
For a short time after the Draft, it seemed like Rubtsov’s agent was trying to negotiate his way out of the two-year contract. His Russian commitment already kept him out of the Flyers development camp. As time went on that idea faded away. Rubtsov finally ended the idea himself in in an interview with Russian news outlet 360tv. In the interview, Rubtsov stated that he would play out his contract and stay in the KHL for two more years. That contract was never an issue for Hextall though, who has been in no rush to force young prospects into the Flyers lineup.
“We’re prepared if he’s gotta stay there for two years, so be it. If he can come over before, that’s terrific. We understand all the possibilities and are comfortable with it.”
The young forward is expected to get a regular spot on HC Vityaz, his KHL team. He’ll be able to play against tougher competition than he would in the junior leagues. Other Russian players have done it, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin went to the KHL after being drafted so he’ll be in good company.
“If he plays with the men’s team and gets quality ice time and continues to develop, we’ll see where he’s at in two years. We’ll just keep monitoring his progress and see where he’s at.” The Flyers scouting director Chris Pryor said about Rubtsov jumping to the NHL after his KHL contract expires.
