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Most expected it to happen before the season was upon us, but Marc Bergevin has done no resting on his laurels this offseason. Amidst negotiations with P.K. Subban and Lars Eller to avoid arbitration, Bergevin has signed 2014 first-round pick Nikita Scherbak to an entry-level deal.
Scherbak wowed media at the draft with his personality, and wowed fans with his skill at development camp. The slick, smooth skating Russian reminds many of 2012 third overall pick Alex Galchenyuk, and while the two are undeniably similar in both looks and style, the comparison is a bit unfair.
Scherbak has been thrown right into the media gauntlet from day one, something the Canadiens rarely do with their prospects, which leads me to believe they’re going to test him out with a nine-game tryout in the open right-wing spot this upcoming season, but that is pure speculation on my part.
Scherbak’s salary for the duration of the deal will be 925K per year, and although there are bonuses attached to the contract, due to where he was drafted, way down at 26th, the bonuses won’t be very large.
