Yegor Sharangovich
Yegor Sharangovich has been phenomenal in the KHL to start the year. He has 25 points in 34 games with Dinamo Minsk. That includes 17 goals, good for fourth in the league. He leads his team in goals, which includes players like Brandon Kozun, former 2nd-round pick Shane Prince, and Vadim Shipaychov, who had a tumultuous NHL career before returning to Russia.
Sharangovich already matched his point output in the AHL last season. It’s clear he made a huge jump during the offseason. His shot has improved as much as any Devils player we’ve seen playing anywhere.
There’s one problem, Sharangovich hasn’t returned to the NHL yet. He’s still technically with Dinamo. So, even if he returns today (Sunday), he’d have to quarantine to make sure he’s healthy, then he’d probably join training camp a little late. He could still make the roster, but it likely makes a little more sense for him to start on the taxi squad. He doesn’t need to make it through waivers like other players.
Sharangovich definitely deserves a shot to make this roster after how he played in Russia, but it makes more sense for him to be a great shot coming off the taxi squad. He can play center or wing, so if someone like Jack Hughes or Kyle Palmieri goes down, he can replace both of them.