The Moscow news agency TASS reported earlier this morning that the Pittsburgh Penguins are on the verge of signing Russian winger Sergei Plotnikov to an entry-level deal. Multiple American sources have confirmed with the Penguins that the team will in fact sign the Russian international come July 1st.
Plotinikov is a 25-year-old forward capable of playing both wings. He comes in at 6’2”, 205lbs and shoots left-handed. Plotnikov spent the last six years playing in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), three for Amur Khobarovsk and the last three for Locomotiv Yaroslavl. In 300 KHL games, he has posted 68 goals and 146 points. In his last season with Locomotiv, Plotnikov posted 15 goals and 36 points in 56 games.
Locomotiv Yaroslavl terminated Plotnikov’s contract earlier in the summer, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Penguins will sign him to an entry-level deal near a million dollars annually.
Despite the termination of contract, all of the reports favor the move for the Penguins. Elite Prospects scouts Plotnikov as, “A hard working winger with good game vision who plays an impressive physical game. He also has a good shot, but needs to improve his skating.”
The icing on the cake for this upcoming signing is that he and Evgeni Malkin have been teammates in the past. Malkin and Plotnikov have both represented Russia at the IIHL World Championships the past two seasons. Though never linemates, Plotnikov skated alongside another Russian superstar in Alex Ovechkin at World Championships, posting a goal and assist while skating with him. Over his last 38 international games for Russia, Plotnikov has posted 12 goals and 20 points.
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My thoughts on the move…
I love it. I have said it repeatedly for over two years now that the Penguins needed to get Geno a Russian winger to play with. Malkin played his best hockey with fellow Russian Sergei Gonchar on the blueline and power play in the first five years of his career. I don’t believe Plotnikov will have the same impact as Gonchar (at least not immediately), but it will certainly give Malkin a new comfort level that he has not had in years. I think Plotnikov slides in immediately onto that line and builds good chemistry with Geno.
Now, just on the kid himself, it is an outstanding move! First of all, he’s Russian, the benefits of which I explained in the previous paragraph. Secondly, he is young. He is only 25 years old and if the Pens get him to a 3-year deal they will have him in some of his best hockey years. Not only is Plotnikov young, he is going to be cheap. Pittsburgh will play him in the million-dollar range annually, which is very team and cap friendly. Finally, he is a big body, with good hands and the experience of playing with superstar players. I think it will take him a little time to adjust to the smaller rinks, but I think he will be comfortable right away in the Penguins locker room, especially with Geno.
I love the move. I’m excited for the move. Kudos to Jim Rutherford to make this it. It benefits both the player and the organization.