Boston Bruins: Khoko’s Agent Goes Coo-coo on Claude
When news broke today that the Boston Bruins will be bringing Claude Julien back for his tenth season behind the bench, not only is it safe to say that perennial prospect Alexander Khokhlachev was not happy, but his agent, Alexei Dementiev, must be even more unhappy than his client.
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According to a published report by Sport-Express hockey writer Igor Eronko, Khokhlachev’s agent is blaming Julien for “not giving his client a chance” at the National Hockey League level, and further indicated that the Bruins “disrupted all the possible deals” involving the Russian forward, who would relish an NHL opportunity elsewhere.
Additionally, Dementiev wouldn’t rule out the center returning to Russia now that his entry-level contract is set to expire. SKA Saint Petersburg holds Khoko’s Kontinental Hockey League rights. Dementiev works for Octagon Sports (who also represents David Krejci) and has deep ties in Russian hockey.
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Dementiev played for the Soviet Wings hockey school and graduated from Moscow Sports University. At one point in his career he was the General Manager of Mechel Chelyabinsk of the KHL and Assistant GM/Director of Marketing for the Soviet Wings Hockey Club and an assistant coach for Vityaz Chekhov of the KHL.
Khokhlachev, 22, is finishing up his third, and so far best AHL season with 23 goals and 66 points in 57 games for the Providence Bruins. In nine total games with the Boston Bruins over the past three years, he has no points, seven shots, and is a -4. He certainly won’t be a center on either of the parent clubs’ top two lines, and with Denver University center Danton Heinen leaving early to sign with the Bruin, it makes the center position even more crowded.
Khokhlachev will be a restricted free agent this summer, so perhaps if his future in Boston is not something that will appeal to him, or his agent, then it is time for the Bruins to make up their minds on him.