Sergei Sapego recorded 13 points in 23 playoff games with the Raiders this year, helping the team to the WHL Championship. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Trevor Redden

Pro Potential

Sapego signs with Marlies

Jul 4, 2019 | 3:00 PM

Defenceman Sergei Sapego is the latest Prince Albert Raider to sign a professional contract, inking with the Toronto Marlies on Thursday morning.

After being passed over in the 2019 NHL Draft, Sapego earned an invite to development camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs where he joined Raider teammate and Leafs prospect Ian Scott. The defender seems to have left an impression on the organization as he has now signed on with the team’s AHL affiliate.

“We’re so proud of him,” Raiders General Manager Curtis Hunt said. “He’s gone out and played, he’s competed. Got an opportunity in Toronto and accepted the invitation [to development camp] at least a month before the draft which was smart on his behalf.”

Sapego is coming off a career-best 43 point output in 58 games during the regular season, following that up with 13 points in 23 playoff games on the road to the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

This was his second season with the Raiders, having been acquired in the fall of 2017 on import waivers from the Tri-City Americans after just three games with the team. Sapego went on to play 99 regular season games with Prince Albert over the course of two seasons.

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As a 20-year-old, Sapego has one year of junior eligibility remaining as on over-ager, but this signing indicates his departure to the professional ranks.

Hunt said the Raiders’ two import spots are expected to be filled by returnee Aliaksei Protas and recently drafted Russian forward Ivan Kechkin.

Sapego was one of three unsigned or undrafted Raiders to attend NHL development camps as fellow defencemen Brayden Pachal [Vegas Golden Knights] and Zack Hayes [Anaheim Ducks] earned invitations. Hunt said he hasn’t heard anything yet in terms of contract offers for either player.

With a look toward next season, Hunt indicated he doesn’t expect to see either Brett Leason or Parker Kelly returning to the team which will create opportunity for players to battle for roster spots up front. Kechkin will be among those looking to take on a significant role to fill the holes left by the aforementioned players as well as graduating over-agers Sean Montgomery, Noah Gregor, and Dante Hannoun.

Another area of uncertainty remaining with the team is who will be joining Head Coach Marc Habscheid on the bench as assistant coaches, as no announcement has yet been made.

Hunt said he expects to have these positions solidified by early August as there are still several head coaching positions around the league to be filled.

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trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden