Georgii Merkulov wants to play in Boston, but knows that may not be in the cards this season – The Boston Globe

League economics additionally factored into Merkulov’s decision-making. He didn’t want an MBA or Ouija board to know the NHL wage cap elevated solely $1 million from final season, that almost half the league was tight in opposition to the $82.5 million determine. The participant provide could also be countless, however the cap, and 2022 market forces have siphoned stress off the demand facet.

“If you happen to look across the league, there’s so many good gamers proper now struggling to signal a deal,” mused Merkulov. “If you happen to get an opportunity, you need to take it. You’ll be able to’t decline the deal.”

His three-year contact ensures that Merkulov will acquire simply over $500,000 via the 2024-25 season. A two-way deal, it may very well be value greater than$1 million a season if he have been to make the varsity from the beginning.

However nobody right here, together with Merkulov himself, expects he’ll be on the Boston roster when the season opens Oct. 12 in Washington. Which, so far as Merkulov is worried, is simply advantageous.

“, I want to play the center of the ice — sort of like [David] Krejci and [Patrice] Bergeron and [Charlie] Coyle,” he stated. “The group is packed this 12 months. So I’d like to be in Boston, however I perceive the group might be within the operating for a Cup this 12 months.”

Merkulov additionally is aware of his recreation wants some refining to make the bounce to the subsequent stage. Bergeron, Krejci, and Coyle base their success round their skill to play a 200-foot recreation. The 5-foot-10-inch Merkulov is finished rising, however he’ll want so as to add a number of toes to the size of his recreation to make him a dependable, efficient contributor in all three zones.

“There’s a whole lot of issues,” Merkulov stated. “I’ve talked to the coaches and managers. I’ve to work on my recreation within the D-zone, and all that stuff. So I’m not in a rush to make the group this 12 months. Clearly, yeah, I’d like to, however … if I spend a while in Boston this 12 months, I’ll be thrilled.”

Merkulov joined coach Ryan Mougenel’s AHL WannaB squad instantly after agreeing to contract phrases with Bruins normal supervisor Don Sweeney final spring. He suited up for eight video games within the common season, posted a modest 1-4—5 line, and impressed Mougenel together with his total acumen.

“A sensible child, his hockey IQ is off the charts, stated Mougenel, whose group of rookies, Merkulov included, will tackle the Devils’ rookies right here Monday morning (puck drop, 10 a.m.) to wrap up the Prospects Problem.

The subsequent step, famous Mougenel, might be for Merkulov to use the his smarts to North American professional hockey. Savvy European gamers, notably those that worth puck possession the way in which Merkulov does, typically overlook the easy, straight-line recreation North American children play since their mighty mite days.

“His recreation proper now … he’s looking for what works,” stated Mougenel. “He’s a man who’s spent his profession valuing [puck] possession, making performs … and generally these performs are proper in entrance of you, and also you don’t have to return and make it extra [complex] than what it’s. He’s coming again with the puck a bit an excessive amount of, and that’s to be anticipated for an offensive participant. He actually values these issues, and now it’s about getting all of it to translate to the professional recreation.”

Brandon Bussi subsequent up in internet

Brandon Bussi, who turned again 18 photographs vs. Ottawa in a 5-4 win on Friday, is predicted to start out in internet vs. the Devils. Mougenel didn’t rule out Reid Dyck, in internet Saturday in a 6-4 loss to the Penguins, getting not less than a interval of labor vs. New Jersey … .Sweeney, whose varsity squad will undergo its paces for the primary time Thursday in Brighton, will meet with the small Boston media contingent previous to Monday’s recreation … Merkulov’s mother and father, Olga and Gennadiy, stay in Russia. Merkulov stated it’s written into his contract that the Bruins can pay for them to fly to North America and see him play a “couple of video games” when he makes the varsity roster. Merkulov’s dad was his first coach, ages 3-5, in Ryazan, some two hours southeast of Moscow. As of late, he coaches 9-year-olds six days every week … The Bruins haven’t had a Russian participant gentle it up since Sergei Samsonov, the Magical Muscovite, got here aboard for the beginning of the 1997-98 season.

Kevin Paul Dupont may be reached at kevin.dupont@globe.com.