Sergei Kostenko during the MHL playoffs. (Credit: UfaHockey.ru)
According to a report by Alexei Estifeyev of Sport-Express, goaltender Sergei Kostenko voided his contract with Metallurg Novokuznetsk by mutual agreement and will sign an entry-level contract with the Capitals in the next few days.
Kostenko, who was drafted 203rd overall in the 2012 draft, spent last year with Metallurg’s affiliate in the Russian junior hockey league, the MHL. His season was disappointing as he was unable to improve his prior season’s numbers or make the KHL team. He ended the year with 2.98 GAA, .897 Sv% and 15 wins in 40 outings (note: games that go to the shootout don’t count as wins or losses for a goaltender in the KHL). He also served on the Russian junior national team that won a silver medal at the 2012 WJC, but he didn’t see any ice time.
Nonetheless, Kostenko made an impression at development camp. After worries that he may not be able to attend due to visa problems, Kostenko managed to show up, turn some heads, and get some good buzz during the camp.
The Russian netminder is likely to spend much of the season with the ECHL’s Reading Royals, possibly battling for a starting gig with free-agent prospect Brandon Anderson. Yesterday, Anderson, an overage CHL player, was traded from the Brandon Wheat Kings to the Everett Silvertips (WHL) and can now choose between pro and junior hockey. As Everett Herald reports:
First off, the deal is Anderson or a fifth-round bantam pick for Maguire. If Anderson plays for Everett, the pick is returned to Brandon. If Anderson plays pro, the Tips get the fifth rounder.
[. . . ]
As for Anderson, [Everett GM Garry] Davidson said he had no idea whether he would play professionally next season or be returned to the WHL. As of now Davidson considers the trade to be Maguire for a fifth rounder [emphasis mine]. If Anderson returns to the WHL, it gives Everett some more depth at goaltender, as well as a veteran presence. If not, he still believes in Lotz. Davidson still fully expects Simpson to be a pro. And this means all three of Everett’s overage forwards could still return.
According to the CBA wizard @sk84fun_dc, since Kostenko is considered a 19-year-old for CBA purposes (he’ll turn 20 late in September), if he plays fewer than 10 games with the Caps (which we’d expect) his contract will slide, effectively becoming a four-year-long deal. That is, of course, if CBA rules regarding entry-level slide do not change.
Finally, here’s an overly large picture of Kostenko.
Photo credit: Sport-nk.ru
