Khokhlachev: Where does he fit in?

[c.t.ner]

I hope Khokhlachev spends the rest of the year in Abbotsford playing with Sven. Keep him down there away from the spotlight for the rest of the summer while the casual fan starts adjusting to life without Iginla. Kid doesn't need the pressure of being an Iginla replacement until next year when the bigger picture is being revealed.

It'll be interesting to see what this kid's reaction is to the trade and the explanation from Flames management.

[Hemi-Cuda]

lets just hope he sticks around a little longer than the last Russian prospect the Flames had...

[kmart]

Russian that leaves for the KHL once Hartley doesn't let him play

[SportsJunky]

#89. I like it. That was a great year to be a Flames fan.

[Gator Mike]

Not your typical small, soft Euro.

Kid goes hard to the net with the puck, and isn't afraid to get his nose dirty. Underrated grit and toughness, and the Bruins thought he'd improved his defensive game after his stint in the KHL.

Kid's got 30-goal talent.

[dammage79]

Maybe a player that pairs well with future Flame Valeri Nichshkin? Commited Russians in the NHL are awesome to have. And I for one would not mind a good balance of players from around the world.

[bigtmac19]

I don't know where you read his skating isn't good, trust me that's a load of bs

[Gator Mike]

More in-depth analysis from a Bruins beat writer:

Bruins prospect profile #4: Alexander Khokhlachev
Alexander Khokhlachev, C
5-10, 180
September 9, 1993 in Moscow, Russia
Shoots: Left
Boston's 2nd choice, 40th overall in 2011 Draft
Signing status: Unsigned

Talent Analysis

Physical:
Does not have ideal height, but is stocky with a thick build. Good skater who is more quick than fast. Master of his edges and can make extremely rapid turns, stops and starts. Not a burner, but elusive and slippery with the ability to separate in open ice. Low to the ice and strong on his skates- fights through checks on his way to the net. Deft stickhandler who can make dazzling moves in space and in traffic. At times quicker with the puck on his stick than he is without it. Determined and relentless when looking to find the back of the net- makes everyone around him better. Lightning-fast release on an accurate wrist shot; can score from in close and from the outside as well. Picks the corners and could hit 50+ goals in the OHL next season if things break right for him. Underrated backhand- able to get it upstairs with very little room to work with. Effective at wheeling into corners and coming out with the puck to generate scoring chances. Protects the puck well despite the lack of size. Does not have the size or makeup to be a physical player, but doesn't shy away from contact and will do honest work along the boards and in front of the net.

Intangibles:
Outstanding offensive hockey sense and vision- aggressively attacks defenses and has the ability to create for himself and linemates. Plays with passion and exuberance but doesn't always give the same kind of effort/intensity in the defensive zone as he does when carrying the offense. A natural feel for the game and has the kind of game-breaking dimension that Boston has not possessed in abundance over the last 10 years or so. His English is still a work in progress, but he was taking classes in Windsor twice a week and gave an honest effort at engaging the media in Wilmington. By the time he's ready to seriously compete for a spot in Boston, he should be well acclimated and comfortable. Nickname is "Koko" Good, solid kid who is going to be a fan favorite and well-liked in the room for his easy smile and passion for the game. Wants to be a player and will likely improve the intensity levels as he gets more comfortable in North America.

2011 Boston Bruins Development Camp Assessment:
Going to Wilmington was an eye-opener for Khokhlachev who keenly felt the pace, tempo and physical demands of the five-day camp experience. His conditioning and fitness level wasn't where it needed to be, but understandable given the fact that he was only about 12 days removed from having been drafted. He showed off his high-end talent and skill in flashes, though wasn't able to carry the play in quite the same fashion as fellow OHLers Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight. Still, it was clear to any who watched him that he is one of the most skilled prospects in the Boston system.

Projection
Koko has the kind of pure talent to be a top-line NHL player one day. His youth and the fact that he had just one year in North America makes him a bit of a wild card to project, but with his quick hands, feet and a real head for the game, the second-round pick could end up being one of the real steals in this draft with impressive upside. Red Line Report listed him as one of the top-5 best value picks of the entire draft (4th overall) in the July issue. He has all the makings of a star and should only get better as he matures. By this time next year, Koko could possibly emerge as Boston's top prospect, and to be frank- you can make the case that he already is. These rankings are subjective, so putting him atop the list makes perfect sense, we just want to see what he does at Boston's training camp in the fall and in his second OHL campaign assuming he goes back to junior.

Quotable:

"[Alexander] Khokolachev, just going through our drafts, Khokolachev, again, very skilled. He arrived in not the greatest shape but I know he’s going to take care of that as the year progresses, as the summer progresses."- Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli , July 11, 2011

"I mean, he’s a young kid too and this is a different environment for him. He’s got some things that we’re going to identify going forward throughout the summer and going back that he’ll get in better shape and he knows it. But when the puck drops he makes plays. He sees the ice so very well. He’s probably a little unselfish that we’re going to get him to shoot the puck a little bit more. But he’s a really good kid and he wants to play over her. So we’re just going to continue to work with him. I mean, this is hard. He doesn’t really have, he’s got Besa [Tsintsadze] now that he can speak Russian to but he’s not bad, he understands it pretty well. So being able to communicate with him and being very direct in terms of what he needs to do in order to take advantage of, as you pointed out, the high level of skill that he has and the hockey sense that he has."- Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney; July 10, 2011

"Well, watching some of the in tight drills, especially the small ice games, he’s got excellent hands in tight, he freezes goaltenders, he gets pucks up in tight, so certainly the skill and goal-scoring ability is there. His conditioning needs to get better, but he’s one of the, what usually happens, these young guys, it’s an eye-opener, their first camp. I don’t think they truly realize how good of shape professional players are [in], so he’ll get that part of it down. But like I said, I like his instincts around the net."- Providence Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy; July 8, 2011

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by Gator Mike

"[Alexander] Khokolachev, just going through our drafts, Khokolachev, again, very skilled. He arrived in not the greatest shape but I know he’s going to take care of that as the year progresses, as the summer progresses."- Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli , July 11, 2011

"I mean, he’s a young kid too and this is a different environment for him. He’s got some things that we’re going to identify going forward throughout the summer and going back that he’ll get in better shape and he knows it. But when the puck drops he makes plays. He sees the ice so very well. He’s probably a little unselfish that we’re going to get him to shoot the puck a little bit more. But he’s a really good kid and he wants to play over her. So we’re just going to continue to work with him. I mean, this is hard. He doesn’t really have, he’s got Besa [Tsintsadze] now that he can speak Russian to but he’s not bad, he understands it pretty well. So being able to communicate with him and being very direct in terms of what he needs to do in order to take advantage of, as you pointed out, the high level of skill that he has and the hockey sense that he has."- Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney; July 10, 2011

Sounds eerily similar to Cervenka.

[Pointman]

Was top line center for Russia at last WJC. Was named player of the game for Russia at 1/2 with Swede. You can watch the full game here (russian pbp... was on russian public free channel, so not pirate)

http://gooool.ru/news/molodezhnyj_ch...13-01-03-15211




Khokhlacev blocks Ceci's shot with his face:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2RVo...layer_embedded

[transplant99]

Wow!!!!

[indes]

Who were his line mates? Maybe he'll find some chemistry with Sven

[Stan]

Where does he fit ?? Somewhere in Boston!

[Pointman]

Originally Posted by indes

Who were his line mates? Maybe he'll find some chemistry with Sven

At WJC he played with Yakupov.

[Roast Beef]

No Where. That's where.

[Psytic]

lol now I am wishing this was the guy.

[Table 5]

So long, Koko.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Providence

[FlameFan21]

Not here, apparently.

[KelVarnsen]

He doesn't.