When Ron Hextall said he was looking to upgrade his defense for next season, he didn’t mean by solely promoting one of his coveted prospects currently in the minors or juniors.
On Wednesday, their already crowded blue line expanded again with the signing of 32-year-old Evgeni Medvedev from Chelyabinsk, Russia to a one-year deal reportedly worth $3 million.
“We want to get better today,” said Hextall, the Flyers’ general manager. “We look at this as a guy, hopefully moving into the top of our D, not necessarily the one or two-hole. The kids are not going to come in and necessarily be a clutch piece if they come in.
“He upgrades our defense. Good size, skates well, moves the puck well. He’s a real solid two-way defenseman who can play either side of the ice.”
Hextall admitted he had his eyes on Medvedev when he was an assistant GM with the LA Kings and that Paul Holmgren had been following him with the Flyers for several years, as well.
Hextall said Medvedev seemed “anxious” to come to North America, not an easy swing from the KHL which offers players leverage.
A left-handed shot, Medvedev has spent the last eight seasons with Ak Bars Kazan and had an impressive showing for Russia during the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
He compiled 37 goals and 128 assists for 165 points in 373 games for Ak Bars Kazan along with 408 penalty minutes and an incredible plus/minus ranking of plus-100.
A three-time KHL All-Star, Medvedev won two Gagarin Cup league championships with Ak Bars Kazan plus two gold medals and one silver in the IIHF World Championships.
Formerly a center, then a wing, he converted to defense at age 21.
“He can lug the puck,” Hextall said. “I would not call him an offensive guy, but he is a good puck mover with size and he can defend. He’s versatile.”
Whether he can transition to a top four defensemen for the Flyers depends on how quickly he adjusts to the smaller (less wide) NHL rinks and the nuances of North American play. He’s not an offensive defenseman, but a two-way player.
Medvedev’s English is lacking and he’ll be tutored this summer.
Including Medvedev, plus Brandon Manning and Chris Pronger, the Flyers now have nine defensemen signed for next fall. Hextall said he still has to re-sign Michael Del Zotto.
Add Del Zotto and throw out Pronger (Long Term Injury) and that number is still excessive.
Which means the cut list includes Nicklas Grossmann ($3.5 million cap hit) and perhaps either Luke Schenn ($3.6 million) or Andrew MacDonald, given his $5 million hit.
“We have a log jam. We’re gonna have to look to move somebody. Evgeni we felt was a real solid upgrade for us … something that we could not let go by. Something has to give here.”
It won’t be easy. If it were, the Flyers would have done it last season. The club would welcome draft picks to lose salary.
“We have to find someone on the other end [to trade with],” Hextall said. “Over time, we will work something out here.”
Loose pucks
Hextall said representatives for Erik Gustafsson contacted the Flyers, asking about returning to the NHL from Russia. Nyet. Hextall said the roster right now is overly-crowded with defensemen. Gustafsson left the Flyers rather abruptly last summer to play for Avangard Omski in the KHL … Discussions to re-sign Del Zotto have already begun, Hextall said … Keep in mind, the Flyers still have to get at least one prospect on the roster this fall from among Shayne Gostisbehere, Sam Morin, Travis Sanheim and Robert Hagg.