New York Rangers Targeting KHL Free Agent Danis Zaripov

After a long and highly successful KHL career, Danis Zaripov is making the move to North America. The New York Rangers hope to be his suitor.

The KHL is the second best professional hockey league in the world. The competition is high quality, and the talent level is top tier. While it isn’t in the same echelon as the NHL, many of their players have NHL-caliber talent.

Several players have made the jump and found themselves to be very successful. Artemi Panarin is now one of the NHL’s best players. The Rangers’ own Pavel Buchnevich is making a name for himself. Ex KHL superstar Vadim Shipachyov is bringing his talents to Las Vegas this upcoming season.

The style of play is different in some ways; the larger ice surface allows for more creative puck plays and fast paced hockey. In the end, however, it is still hockey. These KHL stars have the same talent and drive that it takes to be an NHL regular.

One such player is Metallurg Magnitogorsk’s veteran star Danis Zaripov. The 36-year-old winger has been a staple on a line with all time great Sergei Mozyakin and Czech center Jan Kovar. Due to substance related claims, Danis Zaripov is currently suspended from KHL play.

Now, don’t let that alarm you just yet; the substance is allegedly just pseudoephedrine. If that drug name is familiar, that is because it is the substance in the prescription version of Sudafed. This substance is banned in Russia, but the NHL has no stance on it and likely does not see a need to have one.

Now, on to Zaripov:

The Pros

Zaripov is a fantastic scorer. He can put up points in many ways. He has a top notch shot, great passing skills, and is a hard worker as a net front presence. Like many Russians, he also has a nifty pair of hands both at top speed and in tight, less mobile situations.

Throughout his career, Zaripov has averaged some very high point totals. You may look and not be too impressed by 55-65 points, but one must remember that KHL seasons are only 60 games. Last year, Zaripov did experience a dip in point totals, but still managed 45 points (16-29-45) in 56 games.

In the playoffs is where Zaripov truly shines. In three of his last four playoff years, he has averaged over a point per game. He also has experience winning it all, taking home the Gagarin Cup in 2016. He is exactly the kind of personality one would want in their locker room.

Zaripov holds two KHL records. He has eight career hat tricks, the most in one KHL career. He also had three hat tricks in last year’s playoffs alone, another record. In last year’s playoffs, Zaripov recorded an incredible 15 goals in 18 games, showing that even with his age, he can still step up on the big stage.

The Cons

One of the major cons to signing Zaripov is, of course, his age. He will be 37 years old this season, and for a team looking to get younger, he may not be what they are looking to add. A one year deal will mitigate the risk, and make it easier to cut him loose if he doesn’t work out.

Another risk to consider is how his point totals will translate to the NHL. It isn’t to say that he cannot be successful, but it must be remembered that Zaripov was playing with Sergei Mozyakin. For those unfamiliar, Mozyakin holds most of the KHL’s prominent scoring records and is the best player not currently in North America.

Zaripov has had success in his career without Mozyakin, but it can be argued that some of the success in the waning years of his career is due to having a superstar linemate. Regardless of whether that reasoning is true, GM Jeff Gorton will need to consider that possibility.

One more con is that the Rangers need centers, and Zaripov is a winger. The Rangers are already a strong team on the wing and signing Zaripov will add to that strength. While it does not address the center depth problem, having another strong winger like him can perhaps distract from it, in a way.

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All in all, it is not a bad idea to give him a try. A one year deal at a low salary is very easy to part with if it does not work out. Zaripov is still one of the KHL’s best players, so that risk may just be worth making. It is a low risk, high reward move that the Rangers can get a massive payoff from. All they have to do is make the call.