Sergei Plotnikov, a rugged scoring winger in Russia's KHL, could be Pittsburgh-bound. -- TASS

June 24, 2015

News/views: Plotnikov to Penguins, per TASS

by Dejan Kovacevic • News/views • Penguins

News: The Penguins will sign Sergei Plotnikov, a winger in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League who’s being targeted to play alongside Evgeni Malkin, according to the Moscow-based news agency TASS. Views: Patience is strongly advised with this one. Not the player, but the report. TASS is still as big as it gets in Russia, which is

SUBSCRIBE to read the rest of this column and all that's offered on DKPittsburghSports.com. It's available for as little as $1.50/month. Existing subscribers, please LOG IN.

89 Comments Newest to oldest

Close

MJMorris5477
6-24-2015, 8:28 am
At least it wasn't just floated on a Calgary radio station, amIrite?

Reply

Close
tbart
6-24-2015, 8:30 am
dejan, thanks. it's not often that I get psyched watching KHL highlights on a June morning . I'll wait until the Plotnikov jerseys go on sale before pulling the trigger though.

Reply

Close
MJMorris5477
6-24-2015, 8:37 am
Yeah I am hesitant too, though it's fun to speculate.

graingergroper
6-24-2015, 8:36 am
Considering the fact that the video is the epitome of a "small sample size", and it is what it is - a promo video, he looks like a good, strong hockey player. Although a couple of the hits looked like they'd get you 2. Looks like a strong kid on his skates from the couple scraps he participated in. He appears to shoot from all over the ice which is a def +...Sign him up! Let's go Pens. Is it October yet??

Reply

Close
tmp155
6-24-2015, 8:39 am
Pretty shrewd move if it actually happens.

Reply

Close
chethejet
6-24-2015, 8:40 am
Geno needs a LW and I hope he can fit the bill if the reports are accurate. At least he looks like a potential top 6 winger

Reply

Close
brianaltomari
6-24-2015, 8:40 am
Great shot, plays with a ton of emotion, AND he goes to the net?! I'm sold!

Reply

Close
mcgoniglef
6-24-2015, 8:41 am
1 million and 6"2" I hope so because that is a easy risk to take!

Reply

Close
evanhjones17
6-24-2015, 8:41 am
I like that he's 6'2" and 205 lbs., and seems perfectly willing to mix it up a little. To me, that bodes well for his ability to play against bigger/more physical competition in North America. I also like that he plays with some passion and seems to be a little bit of a showboat (he really seems to enjoy scoring). Strictly from the highlight video, his personality and style of play reminds me of a much less talented Ovechkin. Hopefully the report is correct and we land him. And hopefully he brings that swagger to the Pens second line.

Reply

Close
sgerwel1985
6-24-2015, 8:43 am
Assuming reports are true, at a price south of 1 million, it's worth the gamble.

Reply

Close
nicholas.sobr
6-24-2015, 8:46 am
How is this guy deemed a top six winger? I'm not hating the guy but I don't see how getting a guy who Malkin feels "comfortable" with automatically makes this guy a top 6

Reply

Close
Adam
6-24-2015, 9:33 am
Ruslan Fedotenko worked in the top six because Malkin was comfortable with him. He no can make a guy a top six if he plays well with him.

Adam
6-24-2015, 9:34 am
Geno, not he no....

sgerwel1985
6-24-2015, 9:46 am
I don't think he is automatically a top 6, but based on teh penguins limited resources at wing in the top 6, he will get a shot. Judged on his size and reading up on him online, he would be perfectly comfprtable on a bottom 6 pairing. He seems to not shy away from the rough stuff.

Whovian87
6-24-2015, 11:54 am
We all know playing with Crosby or Malkin increases quality. Main things I see from the highlight video are: He can shoot. Especially wrist shots. A few nice goals in there. He doesn't mind being at the front of the net for the rebound tap in. He can hit and he is tough. Issues: Looks to maybe be a bit over the top at times. Maybe too many penalties. Don't want to have a guy on Malkin's line constantly taking penalties and taking him off the ice. Not nearly a Downie or other "goon" type though.
Overall, if he can limit bad hits and keep a calm head, I think he could prove very useful at the entry level value.

naslund19
6-24-2015, 8:49 am
The article suggests that he (and his agent) terminated the contract with Lokomotiv in order to sign with the NHL.

Reply

Close
dannyboy1631
6-24-2015, 8:52 am
Dejan, was he ever drafted by an NHL team? A big Russian winger who can pot the occasions goal and doesn't mind laying a big hit or dropping the gloves, and on an ELC? I'm sold!

Reply

Close
PlazMan
6-24-2015, 10:13 am
Take it for what it's worth, but according to Wikipedia he went undrafted. Can't really find much else on him since he's only played in Russia, but it looks like he went undrafted.

dannyboy1631
6-24-2015, 11:17 am
Thanks! If you can sign him on the cheap, here's hoping they really roll the dice and make it for 3 years. If he can play with Geno and score 15-20 goals at that price it'll go a long way. Bringing him on a 1 year deal and having him succeed only to demand 3-4 mil per year next year wouldn't help long term.

PlazMan
6-24-2015, 11:45 am
It'll be interesting to see how it plays out in the longer term, but I must say that IF this happens, I like it. Definite risk/reward case depending on how successful he is.

Derek
6-24-2015, 8:52 am
It's my understanding that the Penguins could sign him prior to July 1st (unless his rights are own by an NHL team and are expiring)

Chicago and St Louis have both signed KHL free agents already.

Reply

Close
Dude
6-24-2015, 11:43 pm
If JR is planning to make a move at the deadline he probably doesn't want other teams to know if this player is a penguin or not. In short It could derail negotiations

chethejet
6-24-2015, 9:01 am
Playing with Malkin does allow for wingers to skate have some room and generally not face the top D pairing. So a decent winger can play like a top 6 guy. Maybe you haven't watched Kunitz the last 4 years. He is talented but Sid gave him much more freedom and room.

Reply

Close
DJ
6-24-2015, 9:12 am
Looks like he's not afraid to go to the net. A good thing.

Just nice to hear we are in on a few of these guys. Generally it's teams like the Hawks and others who have been filling out their rosters.

At $1 mill -- close to Beau money -- not much to lose.

Reply

Close
jpbucco
6-24-2015, 9:16 am
....,annnnnd I ordered my Plotnikov jersey.

Reply

Close
DJ
6-24-2015, 9:21 am
Plotsy? Plotsky?

Plottinglongerruninplayoffsky?

Reply

Close
Whovian87
6-24-2015, 11:47 am
You know, I would say that is a stretch, but after seeing all the ridiculous puns made by the pens on social media I could see them using that.

seantcampbell3
6-24-2015, 9:27 am
This is nothing but great news if it pans out.

Reply

Close
seantcampbell3
6-24-2015, 9:29 am
15 goal on 142 shots puts him at about a 10% scoring rate. The pens need size, shots, youth, and cheap players. He's all of the above.

Matty Gabe
6-24-2015, 11:07 am
He's youth, but according to some public scouting reports he's not the strongest skater. I think in some instances youth is a rough equivalent to speed, and that may not be his strong suit.

Overall though, I agree. At less than $1MM, this can't be anything but good.

Pgraham
6-24-2015, 9:32 am
I hope this isn't the only answer for the top 6. This guy sounds borderline at best.

Reply

Close
Jepeto260
6-24-2015, 9:47 am
If it is their intention to use him as a winger for Geno does that not make Kunitz even more expendable?

Reply

Close

My Tweets

CONTACT

DK on Pittsburgh Sports LLC
P.O. Box 6688
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
[email protected]

ESSENTIALS

Subscribe
Advertise
Support
Privacy Policy
Subscriber Agreement/Terms of Use

ABOUT OUR SITE

DKonPittsburghSports.com was founded in July 2014 by award-winning columnist Dejan Kovacevic when he decided to leave newspapers and strike out on his own. The site, the first of its kind in American sports journalism, has topped 13,500 paid subscriptions in 11 months. READ MORE

© DK on Pittsburgh Sports 2015

Powered by WordPress • Themify WordPress Themes

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!

Email check failed, please try again

Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.