The Colorado Avalanche continued to secure their blueline prospects on Friday, as they signed Sergei Boikov to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Boikov was selected by the Avalanche in the sixth round (161st overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old Russian defenseman spent last season with the QMJHL’s Drummondville, scoring six goals and 26 points in 52 games. He also appeared in four games for the San Antonio Rampage last season on an amateur tryout, going pointless.
Boikov also won a silver medal representing his country at the 2016 World Junior Championship, going pointless with an even plus/minus and six penalty minutes in six games.
Boikov is a physical defenseman, with a nasty mean streak. He has some offensive potential, but tends to play it safe with the puck most of the time. Unlikely to crack the Avalanche lineup in the near future, he will need to bulk up some to be successful at the next level.
The signing comes just days after the Avalanche inked defenseman Anton Lindholm to a similar entry-level pact.