Blue Jackets sign Tarasov to entry level contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed goaltender Daniil Tarasov to a three-year entry level contract beginning in the 2019-20 season, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. Tarasov was selected by the club in the third round, 86th overall, at the 2017 NHL Draft.
Tarasov, 20, spent the 2018-19 season in Russia with Toros Neftekamsk (VHL) and Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL). He made his Kontinental Hockey League debut, sporting a 2.86 goals-against average (GAA) and .917 save percentage (SV%) in two games. In 25 regular season outings in the VHL, he compiled a 17-6 record with a 1.71 GAA, .928 SV% and two shutouts. He finished sixth in the league in GAA (20 or more GP). He went 9-8 with a 1.87 GAA and .930 SV% in 17 VHL playoff games. He also went 2-0-0-0 with a 2.80 GAA and .893 SV% in three games for Russia at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championships, helping the squad capture a bronze medal.
A native of Novokuznetsk, Russia, Tarasov spent the 2017-18 campaign with the MHL's Tolpar Ufa, finishing fifth in the league in GAA and shutouts (tied) and seventh-T in SV% with a 24-10 record, 1.85 GAA, .928 SV% and six shutouts in 40 outings. He missed the 2016-17 campaign due to injury. In 2015-16, he played for Tolpar Ufa (MHL) and Salavat Yulaev Ufa (Russsia U17) and was named one of Russia's top three players at the IIHF World Under-18 Championships after posting a 2.11 GAA and .921 SV% in five contests.
The Blue Jackets ­­return to action tonight in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. the Boston Bruins. Game time from TD Garden is 7:15 p.m. ET . The game will be televised live on NBC. In addition to national television coverage, FOX Sports Ohio will air the "Blue Jackets Live" post-game show immediately after each game of the series. Brian Giesenschlag and Bill Davidge will serve as hosts with Jeff Rimer, Jody Shelley and Dave Maetzold providing insight, analysis and interviews from the arena. All Blue Jackets playoff games will be broadcast live on the Eldorado Scioto Downs Blue Jackets Radio Network, including flagship station Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan, and online at BlueJackets.com, with Bob McElligott calling the action and Shelley providing color analysis. Coverage will begin with a one-hour pre-game show prior to each radio broadcast.