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Red Wings have until July 1 to sign Kolosov
By Matthew Wuest - RedWingsCentral.com / June 24, 2008The Detroit Red Wings have until July 1 to decide whether to sign hard-hitting Belarusian blueliner Sergei Kolosov or cut him lose.
The NHL, the NHL Players’ Association and the International Ice Hockey Federation are in the process of figuring out exactly what happens to the rights of players drafted prior to the most recent collective bargaining agreement.
In Kolosov’s case, the deadline has been clarified as next Tuesday.
“We’re looking at different options and we’ll go from there,” Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill said. “We’re in the process of deciding now.”
Kolosov played for Dinamo Minsk of Belarus’s top pro league last season, recording four goals and six assists along with 73 penalty minutes in 47 games. The Red Wings like his mobility, mean streak and willingness to throw a hit.
He was drafted 151st overall in the 2004 draft.
While Kolosov’s signing deadline is set, Anton Axelsson’s remains up in the air. Nill said the issue is still being dealt with by the NHL, NHLPA and IIHF.
Axelsson, the younger brother of Boston Bruins forward P.J. Axelsson, was taken 192nd overall in 2004. He plays for Timra of the Swedish Elite League and had 20 points in 54 games last season. Red Wings director of European scouting Hakan Andersson is hoping they can hang onto his rights.
“He’s a player who is getting better all the time,” Andersson said. “He’s a hard-working guy, a stronger version of his brother, but the same work ethic, good speed, good thinking without the puck, shutting down players, penalty-killing.”
Andersson said the Red Wings approved the decision of Johan Ryno to play with AIK at Sweden’s second level next season. The move is a step back for Ryno, who was off to a solid start in the American Hockey League last season before leaving in November for the Swedish Elite League, where he had a limited role.
“That team is making a big effort to get into the elite league,” Andersson said. “In that effort, they came to Ryno’s agent and said, ‘We know he should be in the elite league, but we can promise him first-line ice time, power play, anything he wants.' Johan Ryno felt he needed kind of a restart.”
Ryno is entering the second year of a three-year contract with Detroit.
The Red Wings will hold their annual prospects development camp at Joe Louis Arena from July 6 to 13, Nill said. The majority of this year’s draft picks will attend, as will many of the selections from past two years.
“It’s strength and conditioning, more of an informational camp,” Nill said.
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