Boston Bruins: Can Alexander Khokhlachev Make The Team
If you’ve ever watched the Providence Bruins, there is one young player that usually outplays everyone on the ice. That player is Bruins forward Alexander Khokhlachev. The 21-year-old Russian forward has had two solid years playing for Providence, putting up one hundred points (36 goals) in those two years. His play at the AHL level has given him a few opportunities to get called up the big club, where he earned his first goal in a shootout against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Khokhlachev does bring a speed element that has been lacking in the Bruins these last two years. He’s got the speed of former Merlot Man Daniel Paille(but with better hands). He brings a very aggressive style of play to the ice. (Hey, he’s Russian.) He has the skill and the ability to make the Boston Bruins roster this year, but there are a few speed bumps in his way.
The biggest speed bump in his way is Chris Kelly. As much as I like Kelly and what he brings to the team as an alternate captain, the Boston Bruins sort of let us down by not finding a way to move/trade/waive/buyout Kelly. Now the Bruins will have to use the 34-year old center who will be bringing a $3.5 million dollar cap hit as a fourth-line center. Kelly doesn’t have the speed Khokhlachev does. Kelly’s production has never been overwhelming (he only tallied seven goals last season), and it’s expected that Khokhlachev can put up double-digit goals during a NHL season.
The second biggest problem Khokhlachev faces is Claude Julien. Julien is extremely loyal to his veteran players. Last season showed how that loyalty can be hurtful to the Black and Gold. ‘Koko’ could very well face the same very cold shoulder that Ryan Spooner felt the first half of the season.
Providence Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy believes that Khokhlachev could be ready for a NHL career. While he’s still a tad undersized (5’11”, 184lbs), if he had trained during the summer, and a strong camp he could make this year’s roster.
“It always depends on who they’re pushing, and who is there on the [NHL] roster. I don’t think anybody knows. Can Khokhlachev gain that extra half step? The summer can dictate that. The same goes for [Seth] Griffith and his quickness.” Providence Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy on Khoklachev’s chances
The Bruins will have to pull the trigger on him this season. Khokhlachev had his KHL rights traded from Avangard Omsk to SKA St. Petersburg during the offseason. While that has no direct effect on his status for the Bruins per se, it does give him an extra playing card with the Bruins organization. If the Bruins organization choose not to give Khokhlachev his shot, he can always head home to the KHL where he will see professional level minutes (and money).
The Bruins made several mistakes last season by letting promising young talent go. The waiver wire caught both Craig Cunningham and Matt Fraser. It would be another trivial waste of money and talent to let Khohlachev drift away due to loyalty to the wrong player.