Khokhlachev Leaving KHL

(Photo Credit: circlingthewagon.com)

Over the summer the Boston Bruins signed 19 year-old Russian forward Alex Khokhlachev to an entry level contract to which he was to serve after spending the season in the KHL rather than finish his last season with the Windsor Spitfires of the CHL.  It was reported today that the Spitfires have claimed him along with Juraj Bezuch on re-entry waivers. To simplify, the team has the rights to the two players should the KHL prove to be too advanced.

“This is a window of opportunity for Alex to come back to Windsor,” Rychel said. “If he is going to play in the CHL this year, it’s going to be for the Spitfires. And he will be welcomed back.” (Windsor Spitfires press release)

While there is nothing concrete of this move as of yet, the potential is there.  The typical timetable for a teen playing overseas to come to the CHL seems to be around late December-early January.

Currently the Spitfires hold a  3-2-0-1 record, but have been outscored 22-15 on the season. Unless Brady Vail  is able to continue factoring in 60% of their scoring for their entire season Khokhlachev is well worth the wait.

MacDermid’s Making his Mark

MacDermid's improved play in Providence fit in perfectly in Paille's absence (Photo by Sarah Connors)

He may have dropped the gloves with one of the NHL’s toughest fighters only seconds into his first NHL shift, but Lane MacDermid has a lot more to offer than his willingness and ability to fight.

Certainly at first glance, the 22-year-old left winger embodies the role of a fighter. In his 3 years in the Ontario Hockey League, his 2 years in the American Hockey League, and his 3 games in the NHL, his offensive contributions pale in comparison to his fighting majors and penalty minutes. Before he was called up from Providence to the Bruins over the weekend, he didn’t cross many minds as a candidate to step in for Daniel Paille after he was injured in Saturday’s loss to the Islanders. But MacDermid has blended in well with the Merlot Line in Paille’s absence, and it’s obvious now why he was the first choice to step in that role on the energy line.

Born on August 25, 1989, MacDermid was drafted at a relatively older age than most; he was 20 years old when the Bruins selected him 112th overall in 2009. He had spent the previous 3 years in the OHL with the Owen Sound Attack and the Windsor Spitfires, including a Memorial Cup Championship with the Spitfires in 2009.