{"id":73604,"date":"2020-04-21T13:39:41","date_gmt":"2020-04-21T17:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=73604"},"modified":"2020-04-21T23:36:45","modified_gmt":"2020-04-22T03:36:45","slug":"montreal-canadiens-sign-vasili-demchenko","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/04\/21\/montreal-canadiens-sign-vasili-demchenko\/","title":{"rendered":"Montreal Canadiens Sign Vasili Demchenko"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Montreal Canadiens<\/a> have signed free-agent goaltender, Vasili Demchenko<\/strong>, to a one-year, two-way, entry-level contract worth $700,000. General Manager of the Canadiens, Marc Bergevin<\/strong><\/a> announced the deal<\/a> this morning. Demchenko will join Montreal for the 2020-2021 season after seven seasons in the KHL<\/p>\n

Vasili Demchenko Inks First NHL Deal<\/h2>\n

Over his seven-year KHL career, spanning from 2013-14 to 2019-20 seasons, Demchenko has played for the Chelyabinsk Traktor, his native club, and Magnitogorsk Metallurg. In 212 KHL games, he holds an 81-86-25 record and .925 save percentage with 14 career shutouts. He was originally drafted in the 2nd round, 46th overall by Chelyabinsk Traktor at the 2011 KHL Draft.<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-1, 165-pound, goaltender has come off of a frustrating year. He was traded mid-season from his boyhood club and played for two struggling franchises, performing way below his career stats. He didn\u2019t dress in Magnitogork\u2019s 4-0 series loss in the Conference Quarterfinals to Barys-nur-Sultan.<\/p>\n

What This Means for the Future<\/h3>\n

Demchenko joins a crowded goaltending group in Montreal. There are prospects Cayden Primeau <\/a><\/strong>and Michael McNiven<\/strong>, Charlie Lindgren<\/a> <\/strong>and starter, Carey Price<\/strong><\/a>. There is also Keith Kinkaid<\/a><\/strong>, who becomes an unrestricted agent this summer, and is unlikely to re-sign.<\/p>\n

Demchenko will face competition to secure the backup role behind Price for the Canadiens. Montreal\u2019s top prospect, Cayden Primeau, has had a respectable season<\/a> in the AHL, finishing tied 27th<\/sup> in save percentage (.908) and 11th<\/sup> in goals-against-average (2.45). Meanwhile, Charlie Lindgren played six NHL games this season for the Canadiens. Unfortunately, he struggled with both Montreal (.888 in 6 games) and the Laval Rocket (.893 in 16 games).<\/p>\n

Demchenko would act as a suitable buffer in Montreal, allowing Canadien’s top goalie prospect Primeau game time to develop in the AHL, while also giving Price a night off every once in a while. Above all, Demchenko will hope this opportunity allows him to return to the form that saw him rattle off three straight seasons of +.930 save percentages in a row between 2016-17 and 2018-19 in the KHL.<\/a><\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>