One of the questions being asked during this whole pandemic and pause was whether players who signed during that period would be allowed to join the NHL. Once the CBA and the NHL return to play was finalized, we had our answer. The league decided to come up with a rule that allows for said players like Alexander Romanov and Kirill Kaprizov to be able to sign contracts as of Monday morning, thus being able to participate in phase three and four, but not be able to play.
They will also burn one year of their entry-level contracts, and that being said, it was finalized on Monday that Romanov had signed his entry-level deal with the Montreal Canadiens. The deal will make him $832,500 when he plays in the NHL with signing and performance bonuses. On the books, he is set to make $1.7 million each season while making $70,000 when he plays in the AHL.
Romanov, who is currently in Russia, will travel to Montreal and will have to spend seven days in a mandated quarantine period before he can join his new teammates in Brossard. He will able to travel to Toronto for their play in series against Pittsburgh to practice, but won’t be eligible to play.
He is coming off a year where he finished with seven assists and a +21 differential in 43 games played with CSKA Moscow. The young blue-liner also scored one goal and had 10 helpers in his second year with Moscow. Romanov played eight games in the Gagarian Cup playoffs where he led his team to the KHL championship.
He also has experience playing for Russia at the World Juniors level, winning both a silver and a bronze medal while also being named the best defensemen of the tournament.