solid team next year no doubt about it. They have young players looking to break in too.
Elvis will start, I think Murray gets traded so Gavrikov can play

I would have agreed with you if Murray signed a 1 year contract, but it’s 2 years so I think they let Gavrikov start in the AHL and bring him up with injuries.

He's been playing in the KHL for the last 5 years. I don't think the AHL is going to be needed. There is more talent in the KHL than the AHL. He was a stud over there. He'll be NHL ready.

The ice is also different, the NA game is much faster then the international game. Not saying he isn’t ready but a month of AHL where he’s on the top pair would be better then playing 3rd pair in the NHL for his development.

I think he's way to talented to sit down there. This is a guy who took good minutes for russian's Olympic team. He can play fast. There might be some adjustments to be made, but I don't see them leaving him to sit and rot. He's here to play. Maybe the trade takes part in mid season whatever, but he will play. I have no doubt about that. I think he's more talented than Murray.

Lol. Let him rot? What are you talking about. In the AHL he’d be playing top pair, PP and PK. Probably close to 22+ minutes a night. In the NHL he’d play 3rd pair right now and get maybe 10 minutes a night, and maybe PK. I think Murray will get traded, but Columbus won’t get good value until he plays a little and can stay healthy.

he's really too talented to sit in the AHL, that's my point. You are talking about a guy chosen to play on the Russian Olympic team, a team that is very deep. He's a very skilled player. He won't play 3rd pairing, he'll be on the 2nd pair most likely. He is a very good player.

He made an Olympic team where the NHL wasn’t there, I think you’re overrating him. If the NHL went to the olympics I doubt he makes the team and if he does, he’s the 7th d on the team.

I don't think so. You aren't giving him enough credit. Did he make the WC teams the last 3 years because the NHL wasn't there too?
He's a guy like Gusev. He's talented. One of the better players in the KHL. He's here to play, he'll be a solid player.

I may be under valuing him but you’re overdoing it. He played third pair in the WC last year behind players like sergachev, Nesterov, Orlov, Zaitzev, and Zadorov. You also have to think there were players who are better then he is that decided not to go to the WC. I’d start him in the AHL and if he played well, call him up and give him a chance. Maybe let him play 3rd pair, but then he’s only getting 10 minutes a night vs 22 minutes a night, a few hours away where he can get called up for injury and if/when Murray or Nuttivarra or Werenski is traded he can slide right into the line up.

He'll play unless he shows up for camp and forgot how to skate. Will likely play with Savard or Nuti. Kukan and Harry will be scratches, unless they do make a trade with our D. Team is going to be young, no more leaning on bad players for minutes. Kids are gonna play