Summer 2015 Prospect Ranking - Round 19 Run Off

[Bingo]

Kulak vs Rafikov

[Finger Cookin]

[GGG]

Lottery ticket vs low ceiling

Here I'll take low ceiling. Kulak it is

[thymebalm]

I just don't know enough about Rafikov to give him my vote. Why do people think he has a chance to make it? I know he played on Russia's WJC team?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

I just don't know enough about Rafikov to give him my vote. Why do people think he has a chance to make it? I know he played on Russia's WJC team?

Skates well, moves the puck well, is physical, has a great shot, ran the PP for their WJC team, killed penalties.

Pretty much does everything better than Kulak and is a year younger.

But some people decided on their own - despite evidence to the contrary - that Rafikov doesn't want to play here.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Rafikov's numbers suggest he is one of the top offensive defenceman prospects in Russia. And the eyeball test has shown him to be a steady and reliable minute-eating player at the international level.

I've probably seen Rafikov play more than I've seen Kulak (which is probably 2 games vs 0 games), but even from that tiny sample size (along with his box stats) I'd rank Rafikov quite a bit higher than he is on this list so far.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Skates well, moves the puck well, is physical, has a great shot, ran the PP for their WJC team, killed penalties.

Pretty much does everything better than Kulak and is a year younger.

But some people decided on their own - despite evidence to the contrary - that Rafikov doesn't want to play here.

I think it's more of an unknown at this point. He may want to, but we hear so little from him that it's hard to know what his plans are. Unknown intentions of a good prospect playing on another continent < a known lesser quantity playing in the farm system.

[thymebalm]

Promising reports for 19 on the prospect list

[Finger Cookin]

I really don't think there's a whole ton of difference right now between the top 7 D prospects on this list - some players are far away from playing NHL hockey but show lots of promise. Guys who are pro may not have high ceilings but look like they could turn into solid pros. It's going to be very interesting to see it shake out over the next 2-3 years.

[robbie111]

Rafikov looked great against our juniors and has an absolute howitzer for a shot. He plays all parts of the game well and I think he slots just below Hickey in potential.

Kulak looked like a complete defensive zone disaster at prospects camp in 2013 but looked much more confident and capable in the d-zone at this years prospects camp and in the scrimmage and if he continues to progress defensively could become a very good d-man.

Wish Rafikov would have come to development camp this year as it would have been nice to compare him with our other youngsters. I think he is still slightly ahead of Kulak.