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

[Harry Lime]

This Russian import came over two years ago to get a foothold on the North American game and has gone on to be a student of the college game with UConn. A tall lanky kid with a frame that could handle more muscle and weight, his bread and butter so far is his ability to play a solid defensive game using his four direction skating prowess to close down on attackers, disrupt the cycle, and move in and out of game situations with strong stride and push to his acceleration. You have to view his as a glass half full; his size, his feet and his soft hands are already evident and help him play a solid game, and contribute decent minutes 5 on 5 and some standout work on the penalty kill. The new age defenseman that continue to emerge play with strong active sticks, high end agility, foot quickness and use their skating ability to pressure as defenders. Has a heavy shot. This kid is starting to show similar attributes at a much bigger size. Granted he is not going to be considered as a premier attack style offenseman to anybody who has seen him, but there is a quite a bit of upsize there to build his game from one where he projects as a mid pairing defensive defender to one who will eventually build a creative attacking style where he is much more confident in jumping into the play.

--Bill Placzek--

I'll see you're big crappy Kanzig take, and raise you Erik Cernak.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The description not Kanzig/Sieloff/Wotherspoon. Seems like a better skater and puck mover.

I think the career high of 11 points at ANY level is a massive red flag that the upside just isn’t there


Is there an example of a top 4 D in the entire league who produced that little offensively?

[Parallex]

Nice. 11 points in 34 games is pretty good for a true NCAA freshman defenseman. Like taking guys who've played against more advanced competition and aren't overagers.

[gvitaly]

I'm just worried about the NCAA loophole. I hope Kuznetsov will want to play in Calgary more than Fox did.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by neo45

I think the career high of 11 points at ANY level is a massive red flag that the upside just isn’t there


Is there an example of a top 4 D in the entire league who produced that little offensively?

I don't think he's projected to be a top 4 D.
More so a stay at home 5-6.

[868904]

Originally Posted by neo45

I think the career high of 11 points at ANY level is a massive red flag that the upside just isn’t there


Is there an example of a top 4 D in the entire league who produced that little offensively?

He's a 17 year old in the NCAA!

Holloway had what a few more points than him and he's a forward.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I didn't mind trading down in the first round, but I really wish we would have used one of those assets and traded up in the second to get an earlier pick.

[Ashasx]

It's hard to get excited about a pick with such limited offensive upside. Ideally you like to see your defensive defencemen still put up points in lower leagues.

Not a fan of the pick, but if he does develop, he could turn into a pretty rare player. I just hope he's not a player who ends up spending a ton of time in his own zone because he can't move the puck up the ice.

Beyond that, I don't really see the upside and I prefer to use draft picks on upside.

[David Struch]

Steve Koumianos - The Draft Analyst - Mar. 18th: "His biggest contribution on offense comes in the form of joining the rush and unleashing a heavy and accurate shot, but Kuznetsov also goes end to end thanks to a clean, powerful stride and impressive acceleration. His vision, creativity and pass accuracy are average, but he’s good at eluding pressure and playing keep-away long enough until forward support arrives."

http://www.mynhldraft.com/2020-nhl-d.../Yan-Kuznetsov

Flames haven't picked a defensive D man since Riley Bruce, Adam Ollas-Mattsson and Keegan Kanzig.

[devo22]

seeing us draft Russian kids still feels a bit weird lol

[Vinny01]

Knowing nothing about these prospects it seems like Poirier would have been the prospect to be excited about but glad they got a D.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I don't think he's projected to be a top 4 D.
More so a stay at home 5-6.

Which is why I hate the pick

I think left shot bottom pairing guys are pretty much the easiest to find with trades and free agency so I don’t want second round picks used on them

Kylington, Fox, Rasmus all had big upside when they were drafted so I liked those picks at the time

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by David Struch

http://www.mynhldraft.com/2020-nhl-d.../Yan-Kuznetsov

Flames haven't picked a defensive D man since Riley Bruce, Adam Ollas-Mattsson and Keegan Kanzig.

I think that's what scares some of the posters.

All 3 of those were complete strike outs.
Mattsson got a slight sniff in the AHL.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by 868904

He's a 17 year old in the NCAA!

Holloway had what a few more points than him and he's a forward.

Leave Holloway alone... he’s suffered enough... hahaha

[Roof-Daddy]

Russian
College player
Defensive Dman


Hopefully the Flames know what they're doing here. Personally I would have rather taken a swing for a higher upside player like Tristen Robins who could be a future #1C.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

It's hard to get excited about a pick with such limited offensive upside. Ideally you like to see your defensive defencemen still put up points in lower leagues.

Not a fan of the pick, but if he does develop, he could turn into a pretty rare player. I just hope he's not a player who ends up spending a ton of time in his own zone because he can't move the puck up the ice.

Beyond that, I don't really see the upside and I prefer to use draft picks on upside.

Not all defensemen need to put up points to be effective.

Honestly, Kuznetsov sounds like a biggy meaner Brodie. Also sounds a bit like Chris Tanev. Both very good top 4 defensemen who don't put up much points.

[bax]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

It's hard to get excited about a pick with such limited offensive upside. Ideally you like to see your defensive defencemen still put up points in lower leagues.

Not a fan of the pick, but if he does develop, he could turn into a pretty rare player. I just hope he's not a player who ends up spending a ton of time in his own zone because he can't move the puck up the ice.

Beyond that, I don't really see the upside and I prefer to use draft picks on upside.

11 points in 34 games as a 17 year old in the NCAA is actually fairly impressive. Especially for a defensemen.

For example Hanifin had 23 in 37 games in a similar situation and he was a top 5 pick- heralded as a future number 1 defensemen.

[cannon7]

Originally Posted by neo45

I think the career high of 11 points at ANY level is a massive red flag that the upside just isn’t there


Is there an example of a top 4 D in the entire league who produced that little offensively?

This is a 17 year old playing against 20-22 year olds. 11 points is actually pretty impressive given the relative ages and competitiveness of the NCAA. Let the guy play an 18 year old season against the competition and we'll get a better idea of his upside.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I don't think he's projected to be a top 4 D.
More so a stay at home 5-6.

Good thing we used a 2nd round pick on the kind of player who is available for nothing all the time.

[868904]

Originally Posted by neo45

Which is why I hate the pick

I think left shot bottom pairing guys are pretty much the easiest to find with trades and free agency so I don’t want second round picks used on them

Kylington, Fox, Rasmus all had big upside when they were drafted so I liked those picks at the time

Russians seem to play their off wing or off side with no issues.

Kuznetsov could play the right side for all we know.