[Rumour] Flames looking at KHL defenceman Nikita Zaitsev

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by T@T

Holy overate man, Zaitsev will get killed in the NHL, he's a skinny little softy who likely will never see NHL ice. I could name 10 AHL defenseman with a better chance of making the NHL over this little guy.

By no means is he a banger. The D-man that I'd actually compare him with is Anton Babchuk. The difference being that Zaitsev is significantly quicker on his feet than Babchuk was, and that he's smarter in how he approaches his defensive assignments. He is skinny and is more of a Bouwmeester style defender, using his positioning and stick work to defend.

If he was a physical guy with the body type to match, he probably would have been a mid first round pick back when he was draft eligible.

I would not expect him to be more than a #3/4 guy defensively, but he could put up 40 points if he's put on the 1st power play unit.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by vilzeh

Yeah, yes.

We're talking about -right now, not "future potential".

Yeah, and Hamilton has a resume with over 100 NHL games on it. There isn't one single defenseman in the KHL that is better than him.

Hamilton would be a point per game + Dman in the K

[vilzeh]

doubt it.

[adc]

Originally Posted by vilzeh

I also know like 10 guys in the KHL who would be better than Hamilton, but still, there he is, with his huge salary.

I'd love to see this list of 10 guys in the KHL that could score 42 points while playing quality top 4 minutes in the NHL.

My guess is the list would look something like this:

Spoiler!

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

[vilzeh]

Originally Posted by adc

I'd love to see this list of 10 guys in the KHL that could score 42 points while playing quality top 4 minutes in the NHL.

I'm sure I said "Right now." Hamilton is in the 3rd pairing, which is only right, because, I don't care what he did in Boston.. I only care what he's been doing with Calgary so far, and it's pretty much jack ####, he has a mean wrister but that's all I've seen from him and that's pretty bad when he's playing the D.

I know he could very well be a stud in couple of years, but right now, with a 6 million cap, he's not even close to worth it, and with a salary like that, he should be the stud now.

[adc]

We are going to judge guys based on 10 games instead of their careers?

In that case when Gaudreau has a bad game I will post my list of 10 guys in my beer league that can replace him.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by vilzeh

I'm sure I said "Right now." Hamilton is in the 3rd pairing, which is only right, because, I don't care what he did in Boston.. I only care what he's been doing with Calgary so far, and it's pretty much jack ####, he has a mean wrister but that's all I've seen from him and that's pretty bad when he's playing the D.

I know he could very well be a stud in couple of years, but right now, with a 6 million cap, he's not even close to worth it, and with a salary like that, he should be the stud now.

Man, he's 12 games in and starting to look a lot better. I think people forget that he is only 22 and still has a lot of growth in his game and I think Bob is going to be a tremendous coach for him. I don't know about you but I am willing to see a little more than 12 games of his 5 year contract before being overly critical of his game.

[BloodFetish]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

He would be fairly labelled a sniper.

Awesome movie if anyone doesn't get that reference. Enemy at the Gates.

When the man with the puck is checked, pick up the puck and SHOOT!

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by Francis's Hairpiece

Any relation to Vassili Zaitsev? If so he would be able pick the corners pretty easily, one would imagine.

came in here to post the exact same thing, left satisfied knowing I wasn't the only one.

you win the inter-web today

[Calgary4LIfe]

Unless the Flames move either Russell or Wideman (or both), I don't think they would sign Zaitsev. If I am a hot-shot young defencemen who can only sign a one year entry-level deal, I am going to the team that can promise me playing time.

I would bet Chicago signs him. Good chance for him to take a regular shift as the 5th-6th defencemen. Chicago tends to only play a top 4, but I would think that has a lot more to do with the cap than any system they implement.

Detroit would be an excellent fit for him. Colombus (doubtful he would go there) would perhaps be the best fit - they are desperate for defencemen from what you hear.

Probably goes to a market in the East, for a team that can promise him a spot on the team and maybe even a certain number of minutes per game, and even then probably a team who has a Russian in their lineup already.

Would be a very solid pickup. Hope the Flames end up grabbing him. It was the Flames who were the very first team to bring in a Russian, so who knows.

[Heavy Jack]

He does look like a dynamic player when watching that video of his highlights. Would be an interesting player to add to the fold on the backend but C4L is totally right - we need to get rid of some D to bring in a guy like this who will be looking for instant playing time and rightfully so when you see the type of skillset and KHL pedigree that he is bringing with him.

Two of Russell/Smid/Wideman/Engelland would have to be shipped out for this to happen and on top of that we have guys like Anderson/Kylington/Wotherspoon/Morrison ect. waiting in the wings throughout their respective leagues.

[Rick M.]

I doubt he picks the Flames. He has probably noticed that former KHLer Nakladal is playing in the AHL and not for the big team.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

He would be fairly labelled a sniper.

Awesome movie if anyone doesn't get that reference. Enemy at the Gates.

The reference is not exactly to a movie as Vasily Zaytsev was a real "Hero of the Soviet Union" granted, I've seen the movie and he is the star. But just saying..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasily_Zaytsev

[Flame19,289]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

I doubt he picks the Flames. He has probably noticed that former KHLer Nakladal is playing in the AHL and not for the big team.

Maybe he has also noticed that former KHLer Mark Giordano is the team Captain.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by vilzeh

Yeah, yes.

We're talking about -right now, not "future potential".

What about three weeks from now?

[vilzeh]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

What about three weeks from now?

Can you see the future?

[Point Blank]

Originally Posted by vilzeh

I also know like 10 guys in the KHL who would be better than Hamilton, but still, there he is, with his huge salary.

Which 10 are they?

[N-E-B]

Came here looking for information on a guy we're interested in and all I see is another stupid Dougie Hamilton debate. Enough's enough. I'd rather read another Glencross or Baertschi debate at this point.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Came here looking for information on a guy we're interested in and all I see is another stupid Dougie Hamilton debate. Enough's enough. I'd rather read another Glencross or Baertschi debate at this point.

No you don't! No one does. Dougie debates are fresh, hip and have that new debate smell. Sven and Gelncross's debates are rotten, decomposing bloated drowned horse carcasses one stick poke away from certain death to everyone.

[sureLoss]

Friedman expands on Zaitsev in his latest 30 thoughts:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/3...chs-challenge/

The 24-year-old right-shot defenceman is a free agent, scheduled to come to North America next season. At one point, it was thought he would sign last summer, but decided to stay one more year. Philadelphia and Toronto were hot-and-heavy for his services with Calgary, Los Angeles and Vancouver lurking nearby.

“If he’s not 100 per cent ready for the NHL,” one GM said, “he’s really close.”

According to several sources, a few teams have recently visited Russia (believed to include Arizona, Detroit and Edmonton) to scout and check his availability. Zaitsev is also on the country’s roster for the upcoming Karjala Cup, an international tournament in Finland also involving the Czech Republic and Sweden. Several NHL clubs are expected to be there, too.

Success in the North American game is no guarantee, but two things set Zaitsev apart from other later-arriving Russian imports. His English is pretty good, and he spends time in the summer training with Gary Roberts. I think he’s done it three times now, although the last trip was shorter than normal due to injury.

He is eligible to sign as of March 1, when his KHL contract is up, although that could be delayed if he chooses to play in the World Championships. By CBA rules, Zaitsev would sign a one-year entry-level contract. After that, he would become a restricted free agent.

Also mentioned is that there is confusion as to which agent actually represents Zaitsev as Friedman has been told 3 different names by 3 different people.