San Jose Sharks sign forward Igor Chernyshov to three-year, entry-level contract
The San Jose Sharks have signed forward prospect Igor Chernyshov to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced Thursday afternoon.
Chernyshov, 18, racked up 13 goals and 28 points in 22 MHL games with MHK Dynamo Moskva during the 2023-24 regular season. The 6’3″ left wing also collected three goals and four points in 34 KHL games with Dynamo Moskva in 2023-24 before skating in 10 additional games during the 2024 Gagarin Cup Playoffs.
Igor Chernyshov: SIGNED 🔏
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) August 1, 2024The Sharks originally selected Chernyshov with the first pick in the second round (No. 33 overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft. The Penza, Russia product became the fifth Russian player selected in this year’s draft, following Ivan Demidov (MTL), Anton Silayev (NJ), Yegor Surin (NSH), and Matvei Gridin (CGY).
Ahead of the draft, the NHL’s Central Scouting Service ranked Chernyshov the ninth-best international skater available. Daily Faceoff‘s Steven Ellis slotted Chernyshov in at No. 22 on his final pre-draft list.
PuckPedia confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Chernyshov’s contract carries a $967,000 cap hit and includes a $97,500 signing bonus in each of the three years. Chernyshov will earn $85,000 for the time he spends in the AHL. for the balance of his entry-level deal.
The Saginaw Spirit selected Chernyshov with the No. 56 overall pick in the 2024 CHL Import Draft last month, meaning that he could play the 2024-25 season on an OHL team that also features Zayne Parekh and Michael Misa. As a 2005-born player, Chernyshov would be eligible to join the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda on a full-time basis in the 2025-26 season.
The Sharks made Chernyshov their third of nine selections in the 2024 NHL Draft when they made him the first pick on Day 2 at Sphere in Las Vegas. After picking Macklin Celebrini and Sam Dickinson with the No. 1 and 11 selections in the first round, the Sharks took Chernyshov, Leo Sahlin Wallenius, Carson Wetsch, Christian Kirsch, Colton Roberts, Nate Misskey, and Yaroslav Korostelyov in Rounds 2 to 7.