Toronto Maple Leafs: Will Igor Ozhiaganov end up in Toronto?
By Paul Taylor
According to a report from Sportsnet, KHL defenceman Igor Ozhiaganov will come to the NHL next year, but how likely is he to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been scoring goals for fun this season. Entering Wednesday’s slate of games, they have the second-most in the NHL.
However, the Leafs have also been conceding goals at an alarming rate, allowing the seventh-most in the league. They’ve been called the Harlem Globetrotters of hockey, which isn’t necessarily a compliment.
As such, Toronto is understandably on the lookout for help on the blue line and they may well have found someone. As reported by the excellent Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in KHL defenceman Igor Ozhiganov.
However, there are a couple of catches to this. The first is that Ozhiganov’s current contract does not expire until April, meaning he won’t be coming to the NHL until next season.
The second catch is that the 25-year-old is in popular demand. As a result, the Leafs may well have a fight on their hand for his services.
For what it’s worth, Toronto is apparently favorite to sign Ozhiganov. As reported by Sportsnet, Friedman said:
"“He’s going to be recruited by some NHL teams, but the word out of Russia is that he is most likely going to Toronto next year.”"
This isn’t the first time the Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked with Ozhiganov. As we reported back in August, Mike Babcock and Lou Lamoriello went to Russia to meet him.
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The question is, what will the Leafs be getting, assuming they are successful in signing the Russian? First, he brings size, at 6 foot 2 and 214 pounds.
Ozhiganov isn’t afraid to play the physical game – maybe too much at times, as evidenced by registering an excessive number of penalty minutes as a teenager. However, as noted by Sportsnet‘s Rory Boylen, he’s calmed this aspect down in recent years, while refining his ability to still be a physical presence.
The second aspect which should intrigue Leafs fans, is the Krasnogorsk native’s potential offensive game. He has a one hell of a hard shot and last season set career highs in the Russian league, with 14 assists and 22 overall points.
Ironically, Ozhiganov was never drafted in the NHL, but is now likely to have teams clamoring for him. Assuming the Toronto Maple Leafs are successful in signing him, he should provide an intriguing boost to the blue line.
Next: What is Mason Marchment's future with the Leafs?
What’s your take on Ozhiganov? Do you rate him? More to the point, do you believe he can help the Toronto Maple Leafs? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.