[News] With the 50th OA pick the Flames select D Yan Kuznetsov

[united]

You guys know there are junior leagues in Europe, right?

Or are you equally surprised Alexis Lafreniere was selected first overall with 0 points in 0 pro games this year?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Bonded

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/...php?pid=155341


Can't quote Neo but two seconds of googling

Probably should have done 4 seconds: https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/50019/esa-lindell

Elite Prospects always gives a better picture than Hockey DB for amateur stats.

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by _Q_

It seems like a big for the sake of being big sort of pick that has never panned out for this team.

Admittedly, I don't know much about this player, so I'll wait and see how he develops.

Literally nothing I have read about him indicates that

[TheScorpion]

This kid is one of the younger guys in the draft and he's been playing against NCAA competition (read: older) since he was 17.

That's awfully impressive. Loads to like here.

[Abatedmean]

This pick reminds me a lot of Martin Pospicle. At first it look underwhelming with his point totals. But once you looked a little deeper, 2ppg pace in the second half of the season. And with this guy perhaps its because he was so young in the NCAA there is more there.

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

MrDonkey

Raining

Eeyore

I see what you did there.

Oh Bother

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by neo45

Over a point per game with 20+ goals in junior A for his draft year with a PPG at the under 18’s

Now do Oleksiak. He had 14 points(or 13 if you go off eliteprospects which you did for Lundell), Kuznetsov had 12. Points is a poor way evaluate dmen any way, but Oleksiak must have been a real poor use of a first round pick based on points.

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

Again.. I don't think people realize how difficult it is to play in the USHL at 16.. or the NCAA at 17 years old.

The fact that Kuznetsov is playing above his peers speaks volumes to his potential.

Absolutely, he's also the youngest NCAA player since Werenski in 2014

[looooob]

really not sure I have much to contribute here. did go back and compared him to the big D (don't ask me to spell it ) that NJD took in the first yesterday


as best I can tell over the past 3-4 years there were several seasons where they both represented Russia internationally (not always sure if they were at the exact same tourneys etc)on the same age group teams and if I put together data from same years/ same levels what I find are


New Jersey guy 59 games 17 points .28 ppg
Our guy 38 games 11 points .28 ppg


our guys is 2 months younger


Now it does look as if New Jersey guy played more for the national teams (and has continued to do so with our guy in NA)...ok not sure what this concludes !

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by _Q_

It seems like a big for the sake of being big sort of pick that has never panned out for this team.

Admittedly, I don't know much about this player, so I'll wait and see how he develops.

I mean, if you know nothing about this player how can you infer that it is 'big for the sake of big'?

Tre has no track record of doing this and I doubt he woke up this morning and decided to change is philosophy. The kid isn't even that big... 6'3 209 lbs, sure it is on the bigger side, but by no means is he a beast.

I think the issue is fans undervalue stay at home defensemen. If he had big offensive upside I doubt we'd be hearing this 'they drafted him for size only' narrative.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by VilleN

I mean, if you know nothing about this player how can you infer that it is 'big for the sake of big'?

Tre has no track record of doing this and I doubt he woke up this morning and decided to change is philosophy. The kid isn't even that big... 6'3 209 lbs, sure it is on the bigger side, but by no means is he a beast.

I think the issue is fans undervalue stay at home defensemen. If he had big offensive upside I doubt we'd be hearing this 'they drafted him for size only' narrative.

I think it’s just a difference in drafting philosophy

He might have the highest probability of becoming an NHL player out of everyone available

But at number 50 I think a lot of fans would rather see you take a guy that could end up being a core player as opposed to a depth piece

Better to miss on Kylington then to hit on Wotherspoon type of thinking

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by united

You guys know there are junior leagues in Europe, right?

Or are you equally surprised Alexis Lafreniere was selected first overall with 0 points in 0 pro games this year?

The strongly opinioniated probably don't know that, haven't seen any of these players but are going off draft publications - who every year write how much upside and top 6 potential all these kids have. Do they all develop as these publications predict?

[gilligans_off]

Wrong thread

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

I don’t like drafting based on size. It almost never works for this team.

Just vecause the player is big, it does not mean this player was "drafted for size."

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[Calgary4LIfe]

Some of these takes are pretty bad in this thread. Just because a guy is taller than 6'0" doesn't mean he is an unskilled goon. It sucks when you HAVE to take risks on bigger bodies with warts because the rest of your prospect base is too small. Being big is still a huge advantage in a contact sport, no? When did it become a detriment?


I love this pick. What really is not to like about him (other than size for a small and vocal minority of you)? Seems to do everything well, put up a good amount of points considering his age, especially good considering his point totals relative to the team. The ONLY knock on this pick is his forward skating which is just below average - all of his other skating attributes are above average, plus he is smart and even plays with an edge. This is an all-round good defensive prospect. I think this is an out-of-the-park pick in the 2nd round.


NCAA prospects scare me too, but considering his size and the big jump he experienced in his development, I doubt he plays all 4 years anyway. If he improves that much and wants to play those years out, well, Flames can still recoup on it - but I doubt that happens.


Great pick. I am excited to see his progress - and I am NOT big on Russians, but the Russian factor is pretty non-existent here. Played in the USHL and now in the NCAA? Doesn't seem like a guy who prefers to play in Russia to me.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Fan960 interviewing him live right now.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

I think a lot of posters saw the comments about him being "huge" and thought he was another Kanzig, when hes really just 6'3.

Noah Hanifin is 6'3 and skates just fine.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Wanted Poirier, but admit I don't know much/anything about this kid

just wait

[Canada 02]

sounds like a James Bond villain

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

sounds like a James Bond villain