The New Jersey Devils have signed Russian defencemen Egor Yakovlev to a one-year entry-level contract. The financial terms of the deal have not yet been released. He will also be allowed to start the year in the AHL and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2018-2019 Season.
OFFICIAL: The #NJDevils have signed defenseman Egor Yakovlev to a one-year, entry-level contract! https://t.co/7utHxdPjpM
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) May 21, 2018
Egor Yakovlev Signs With Devils
In six seasons in the KHL, he scored 26 goals and 42 assists for 68 points in 301 KHL games. He won a gold medal with Russia during the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. During the Olympics, he played on the top pairing for the Russians. In five games at the Olympics, he picked up just one assist.
Last season, the 26-year-old Yakovlev had five goals and four assists for nine points in 35 games with SKA St.Petersburg (KHL). He also added 14 minutes in penalties. Yakovlev also played in the World Championships for Team Russia. In eight games during the tournament, he had one assist. Russia ended up losing to Canada in the Quarter-Finals.
What This Means for the Future
Yegor Yakovlev: #NJDevils have scouted me for 3 years. They really wanted to see me in the team. That’s why i chose New Jersey and I’m really happy to join the organization. I know they play a fast smart hockey and I like it
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) May 19, 2018
The left-handed defencemen is likely to see NHL time next year for the Devils. It will be interesting to see how he fits in with the Devils and adapts to North American hockey in his first year in the NHL. Yakovlev said that the Devils have been scouting him for the last three years. The Devils have three other left-handed defencemen signed for next year: Andy Greene, Will Butcher, and Mirco Mueller. Yakovlev will battle them for ice-time, and look to make the roster out of training camp John Moore is another lefty the Devils have. Moore is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.
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