[Signing] Flames extend Zagidulin (1 yr, 2-way)

[TheScorpion]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1272629346943946752

He's not going back to Russia

[getbak]

Good to see he's going to give it one more year (at least), and not running back to Russia.

[Itse]

Nice, what little I've seen and heard I've liked.

[dammage79]

Awesome. Hopefully he pushes for a big league spot.

[TheScorpion]

Zag had a 16-7-1 record with Stockton, putting up an .898 SV%. From what I've heard from talking to guys in the know Zagidulin is a guy who will come out of a 5-4 game with an .880 SV% but he would get the win by making a ton of clutch saves.

[ditty]

Keen to see what another year in N.A. does for his development. Definitely worth taking a flier on for another season.

[Lil Pedro]

Going to be a good competition between him and Parsons next year in Stockton

[1qqaaz]

Good for Zagidulin, sticking it out despite dealing with some difficulties this year.
Based on his track record, I wouldn't be surprised to see him to improve next season.

[Toonage]

Very calm and emotionless in net as I recall (frequent Heat viewers can confirm). This team can use more of that. Between Smith & Rittich over the past few years I would imagine things can get edgy out there.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Good move.

Zagidulin thinks he's close to making the NHL permanently. He could make decent coin as a starter in the KHL.

[dammage79]

I'm curious about his sv% being tied to how bad or good the team was in front of him. Was he pulling out w's despite the teams efforts or was he having trouble staying engaged until the chips were down?

[SeanCharles]

I don’t expect Gillies or Schneider back so this should signify a Parsons/Zagidulin tandem full-time in Stockton next season.

[MisterJoji]

Didn’t he start the year white hot and then really cooled off as the season wore on? Not too bad for a rookie year.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Didn’t he start the year white hot and then really cooled off as the season wore on? Not too bad for a rookie year.

11-1-2 prior to Christmas (plus one game where he was pulled after allowing 3 goals in less than 15 minutes, but Gillies took the loss in a 7-6 game).

5-6-2 after Christmas (plus another where he let in the first 4 goals in a 7-4 loss).

[agulati]

Probably a make or break year for Zag in North America. Good to see the flames ink him to an extension

[Reggie Dunlop]

Similar to what they did with Rittich. A series of short-term "show me" contracts.

[browna]

As with Wolf, and any other goalies in the system, the club has to have a lot of faith in the goalie coach to bring each of these guys along at the appropriate pace...

[Reggie Dunlop]

If (probable) Gillies and Schneider both part with the organization. I imagine that the Flames will sign a player for Kansas City. Might as well take a chance on an undrafted or drafted-but-unsigned prospect type instead of a ECHL journeyman.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I'm curious about his sv% being tied to how bad or good the team was in front of him. Was he pulling out w's despite the teams efforts or was he having trouble staying engaged until the chips were down?

From what I've read, they knew when they signed him that he would be a project-I got the impression that he needed to learn how to play the NA style, and unlearn some of the tricks in the KHL. It was really a big coup for Tre to sign him, as a ton of teams were after him. In the latter part of the season, he was starting to play the right way, and his stats were steadily improving.

[1qqaaz]

I'm a fan of the Zagidulin extension, but I wonder why the Flames chose Zagidulin over Ivan Bocharov.

Bocharov has better stats and a larger sample size. He probably makes a good salary in the KHL, but he's someone the Flames should definitely be looking at.

Has anyone heard about his status/attitudes towards coming to the NHL?