NHL free agency: Danis Zaripov expected to enter free agency after doping appeal
Russian forward Danis Zaripov is expected to enter NHL free agency as an unrestricted free agent after an appeal in regards to a doping ban from the IIHF.
36-year-old former KHL forward Danis Zaripov is expected to enter NHL free agency after an appeal of a doping ban placed on him by the IIHF back in July. The KHL stated that Zaripov had tested positive for banned stimulants and substances prohibited as diuretics and masking agents.
Multiple sources, including TSN’s Elliotte Friedman, expect Zaripov to be cleared of the ban and to enter free agency very soon. There is also a decent amount of interest in the forward, with Friedman stating that both the Vegas Golden Knights and the New York Rangers have expressed interest.
Russian forward Danis Zaripov is expected to become a UFA after appealing his doping ban. @FriedgeHNIC has more:https://t.co/r7v76dbFNi pic.twitter.com/QejGz0mqAw
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 26, 2017
The last club that Zaripov had a contract with in the KHL, Magnitogorsk Metallurg, have already voided the contract of the forward, meaning he is free to enter free agency. This adds to the late off-season spice to NHL free agency, with NCAA free agents like Blaine Byron and Alex Kerfoot still available.
If Zaripov is to sign in the NHL, this won’t be the first time he has played in North America. Back in the 1998-99 season he played a single year in the WHL for the Swift Current Broncos. In 62 games for Swift Current he had 23 goals and eight assists to go with 33 penalty minutes. He had a single assist in their six playoff games that year.
After that he went back home to Russia to play. He played his first two seasons in Russia with Chelyabinsk Mechel, playing in 79 games. During that time he scored a total of 14 goals and added 14 assists to his tally.
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Zaripov then moved on to play for Kazan Ak-Bars, who he would play with for 12 seasons. During his 12 seasons there he played in 603 games, scoring 219 goals and adding 234 assists.
Zaripov spent the last four years playing with Metallurg, playing in 229 games. During those 229 games he scored 87 goals and added 140 assists. His best point totals came in 2008-09, with 65 points, and in his first two seasons with Metallurg, when he had 64 points in each season.