The Winnipeg Jets have signed 2021 second round draft pick Nikita Chibrikov to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Carrying an annual average value of $925K at the NHL level, the 20-year-old forward's deal will begin at the start of the 2023-24 season. In the mean time, he has signed a professional tryout with the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose, where he will suit up for the remainder of the postseason with the Jets' affiliate.
“It’s really exciting actually to have that opportunity for him to get here," Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said in his year-end media availability on Sunday.
"He made that commitment to us when we drafted him that he was going to not sign a contract over there because he wants to play in the National Hockey League. We’re excited to have him as part of our young group of players that are going to grow and contribute to this organization.”
Manitoba is currently deadlocked at ones through two Calder Cup Playoff games in its opening round series with the Milwaukee Admirals. The two teams will play the final three games of that best-of-five series in Wisconsin, with games being played on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Selected 50th overall three years ago, Chibrikov has suited up in 51 career games in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, to which he has two goals and four points. Last season he played in 31 games for Spartak Moscow and put up a goal and an assist.
"Nikita’s an exciting young player, I think that the fans are actually going to be really pleased once he gets acclimated to North America," Cheveldayoff added. "We’ll go through that process obviously with a player coming from the KHL it’s a little bit different than just a player from junior or college and we’ll take those steps to make sure that the process is completed properly so that there’s no hiccups or anything like that. Obviously VISAs and different things come into play as well. But it’s exciting to have him.
The Russian forward has represented his country on numerous stages, most recently captaining the team at the 2021 U-18 World Championship, where it finished second.