Any News on Igor Makarov?

Just wondering if anybody has heard anything about Igor Makarov? He almost made the Blackhawks out of camp this year, but returned to the KHL. Who has he been playing with and how has he been performing?

I just drafted him in our mid-year draft, but realize he is a boom or bust type of prospect. I'm hoping for BOOM!

Makarov has 3 goals and 5 assists in 26 games with St. Petersburg SKA this year.

Not bad. Pretty much the same pace he was on last season in russia.

Thanks lanky. Hopefully he'll be in the NHL starting next year.

natgeo wrote:
Thanks lanky. Hopefully he'll be in the NHL starting next year.

He was very close this year i think... I'd be surprised if chicago resigns all of their free agents this summer, so he should have a real good shot at it next fall.

I hope if he does make the big club its on a top 6 scoring line, and they don't park him with minimal minutes. He needs to play on a scoring line, and Chi is becoming overcrowded with talent. Maybe a year in the AHL would benefit? Havlat is sure to be gone, but that 3rd line (Ladd, Bolland) are pushing for more playing time.

Basically, he came in and dominated the Blackhawks rookie camp in the same way that Toews and Kane did the year before. He didn't have a great training camp in the fall.

Here's the thing, he told the Hawks that he wouldn't play on the farm in the AHL if he didn't make the big team this year. And true to his word, he went back to Russia to get minimal minutes and hardly any power play time.

He definitely has the skill and I was certainly pulling for him to make the team this year, but he just wasn't ready.
Mark my words... he'll be in the NHL next year, but it may not be with the Hawks.

Whay would he not be with the Hawks? Do you think they'll trade him? Or do they lose his rights after a certain period of time?