WATCH ABOVE: Kevin Karius breaks down what was an interesting turn of events for the Oilers, and who they hoped would be their newest recruit.
EDMONTON – Tuesday morning, the Edmonton Oilers announced they had signed undersized winger Vladimir Tkachev to a three-year entry level contract.
Undrafted and listed at 5-foot-9, 141 pounds, Tkachev entered training camp as an underdog to not only crack the Oilers roster but to sign a contract.
However, late Tuesday afternoon, the Oilers send a message on Twitter saying the contract had been ruled “ineligible.”
Last season, Tkachev only played 20 games with Moncton of the QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League). NHL rules state that undrafted players need to play a full season in North America in order to sign an NHL contract if they are undrafted.
In an interview with Reid Wilkins of 630 CHED, Oilers General Manager Craig MacTavish explained the decision.
“It’s a clause in the CBA, Article 8… I think it’s Subsection 9 that states … a player going through his draft, as Vladimir did – went through the draft last year – and played in North America the prior season is eligible to sign a Standard Players Contract, and then when you read on in another subsection, down the list in the CBA, it talks about what playing in North America means, and that means a full season.
“Vlad, while he was waiting for his transfer from the Russian Federation to the CHL, played games in the KHL and the junior team in the KHL which is deemed by the league to have not played a full season in North America,” said MacTavish.
“Right from the outset we were operating under the premise that Vlad was a CHL player, with the full rights of a CHL player, and we missed the fact that he wasn’t.”
According to the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, to be eligible to play in the league, a player must have:
(a) had been claimed in the last Entry Draft, or was ineligible for claim under Section
8.4; or
(b) had been eligible for claim in the last Entry Draft, but was unclaimed, and:
- ii) had played hockey in North America the prior season and was under age 20 at the time of the last Entry Draft, and signed an SPC which was signed and registered with the League between the conclusion of the Entry Draft and commencement of the Major Juniors season (except that if such Player had signed an NHL try-out form, which was signed and registered with the League during the aforesaid time period, then the deadline for signing and registering with the League an SPC with such try-out Club shall be the commencement of the NHL Season).’
Tkachev, therefore, will go through the draft in 2015.
“I feel bad for the player because he certainly was deserving of the contract,” said MacTavish. “Now the situation is that Vlad goes back into the draft next year and is eligible to be drafted by any one of the 30 NHL teams.
“Unfortunate set of circumstances.”
The 18-year-old Russian posted three assists and a plus three rating in three preseason games with Edmonton.
In a news conference Tuesday, fellow Russian Nail Yakupov translated questions and answers for the media and Tkachev.
When asked about his small stature and how big he thinks he could get, Yakupov and Tkachev shared a laugh.
“He feels very good, and he doesn’t care about size,” laughed Yakupov. “He said he’d like to be bigger for sure… and he’ll try to get some weight on him.”
WATCH: Raw video of fellow Russian Nail Yakupov translating for Tkachev, and the two sharing a laugh when Tkachev is asked about his size.
Tkachev appreciates having a few Russian players around.
“He said it’s really good to have Russian guys around, especially when you don’t have English at all, I think, like me,” Yakupov said.
Last season, Tkachev spent the majority of the year with the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he registered 30 points in 20 games, and nine points in six playoff games.
The Oilers say Tkachev will be assigned back to Moncton for the season, where they hope he’ll continue his development and one day grow into a legitimate NHL player.
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