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Boston Bruins Erred (Again) With Alexander Khokhlachev

By Andrew Thompson

Dec 18, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Bruins center Alexander Khokhlachev (76) skates during pre-game before playing the Pittsburgh Penguins at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Bruins center Alexander Khokhlachev (76) skates during pre-game before playing the Pittsburgh Penguins at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Bruins will be shy one more potential forward this September. Earlier today it was announced that Providence Bruins forward  Alexander Khokhlachev would be leaving the Bruins organization due to his signing of a one year deal with SKA St. Petersburg of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). This makes the second straight day a member of the Bruins organization has decided to try their luck over in Russia.

Alexander Khokhlachev always seemed frustrated with the Bruins organization.  The Bruins 2011 second round pick was hoping to find himself a position on the roster, but could never seem to break through to the roster.  The 22-year-old forward found himself playing in just nine NHL games over the course of his entry-level contract. During that time, he put up no points (but did get a shootout goal win for Boston) and was a -4.

Khokhlachev’s agent was just as aggravated with the Bruins as his client was.  He believed that Bruins bench boss Claude Julien was the main reason why Khokhlachev never saw any serious playing time in Boston.

Khokhlachev was a solid performer at the AHL level but seemed invisible when on the ice while wearing the spoked ‘B’.  That was the main reason why the Russian forward was passed over first by Ryan Spooner, and then by Joonas Kemppainen (who signed his own KHL deal about two weeks ago). While Khokhlachev wasn’t likely going to get a NHL job in Boston, the Bruins organization could have found a way to get something out of all this.

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The Bruins had multiple opportunities to move Khokhlachev as part of a package deal. Each time, the deal fell through. The Bruins could have done something to get some kind of value out of their young Russian player.  His AHL stats certainly warranted a look from other clubs but the B’s front office just couldn’t seem to pull the trigger.  After three years, all the Bruins now have are Khokhlachev’s NHL rights.

If Khokhlachev decides to stay in Russia, then the Bruins will have absolutely nothing to show for this multi-year investment.

This recent error just adds to the list of mistakes the Boston Bruins have in the last few seasons.  (Thankfully, this one isn’t as severe.) They traded away two top-four defensemen and found no one to replace them. They placed themselves in cap jail by overpaying easily replaceable players.  Worst of all, they B’s have never come to grips with their need to actually attempt a rebuild.

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This season isn’t much better. They’ve severely overpaid their bottom pair defensemen (repeating an error made by their previous GM, Peter Chiarelli). They chose not to move Loui Eriksson at the trade deadline, and may likely end up with nothing on that end. By giving both Adam McQuaid and Kevan Miller four-year deals at a total of five-plus million a year, they cut into their cap space when they have to find a way to sign Torey Krug this year and Brad Marchand next year.

Granted, this is not the biggest mistake the B’s will make this season. The Bruins  organization won’t suffer a tremendous loss without him. Khokhlachev’s absence means there will be one less person fighting for a bottom-six forward spot in Boston.  It increases Seth Griffith‘s chances of making the team, and it makes Frank Vatrano‘s placement on the team more of a certainty.

The Bruins have been rolling a lot of snake eyes as of late, and the Jacobs family need to step in and get the Black and Gold a new pair of dice.

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