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Old 11-12-2014, 10:03 AM   #1
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http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=738838

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He's had but a cup of coffee across the Atlantic, but that hasn't impeded Russian defenceman Rushan Rafikov's confidence when skating against North American boys.

Last season, the Calgary Flames prospect appeared in his only stint of North American game experience playing in the 2013 Subway Super Series, where he and the Russian selects took on teams assembled by each of the three CHL member leagues.

He's back for more this week as he found himself back on Canadian soil for the 2014 edition of the series, this time, ready to show the boys of the CHL what a 19-year-old who skates regularly with men in the VHL - Russia's AHL equivalent - can do.

"I'll be beating them at their hockey," Rafikov said with conviction through a translator. "It's going to be an aggressive, physical series and I'm going to skate fast and play the local game."

Rather than enter the CHL's annual Import Draft and go the major-junior route, Rafikov opted to develop in Russia, where he and his agent felt it would be best to honor his contract with the MHL's Yaroslav Lokamotiv.
so that helps explain why no CHL team took him in the import draft... he decided to stay in Russia

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When asked where he feels he's at in his development and what the Flames can expect from him at camp, Rafikov responded with further confidence.

"I have reached my peak," he said. "The coaches are happy with my performance. I'll be finishing the season in Russia, getting some training and make it to the next Flames camp and we'll go from there."
article also says that reason he missed this years camp was because he submitted his paperwork late

Last edited by sureLoss; 11-12-2014 at 10:05 AM.
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Old 11-12-2014, 10:05 AM   #2
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Without knowing the quality of the league he is playing in, those are pretty good stats for a guy playing against adults.
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Old 11-12-2014, 10:06 AM   #3
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sounds good. Can't wait to see what he can do in NA
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Old 11-12-2014, 10:46 AM   #4
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He submitted his paper work late? D'oh! Bonehead.

I only caught last night's Super Series and I liked how steady he was. He also looked about a head taller than anyone else on his team.
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Old 11-12-2014, 11:17 AM   #5
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Underlying thread in that story: he seems to be finishing out his deal with the Lokomotiv organization. There's the potential for both him and Ollas Mattsson to be in North America next season.
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Old 11-12-2014, 11:17 AM   #6
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It would be nice to see a Russian prospect work out for us. He seems intent on giving North America a shot. I recall when we drafted him and he seemed surprised to be drafted, but then said he had better start working on his English.
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Last edited by FlamesAddiction; 11-12-2014 at 11:19 AM.
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Old 11-12-2014, 11:34 AM   #7
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if i remember correctly, last year he didn't see much ice time during the super series. this year he is the captain of the team. quite the progression as this is a tournament klimchuk is also playing in.
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Old 11-12-2014, 12:36 PM   #8
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So potentially add Rafikov and Ollas-Mattson to the AHL squad next year? I am A.O.K with the sounds of that!
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Old 11-12-2014, 12:57 PM   #9
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Rafikov is playing in the Russian version of the AHL. 12 points in 17 games there is extremely impressive for someone his age.
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Old 11-12-2014, 12:59 PM   #10
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Best player not in the NHL..............
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Old 11-12-2014, 01:09 PM   #11
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I don't think we see Ollas Mattsson in North America next season.

According to eliteprospects he is signed in Sweden until the conclusion of the 2015/2016 season.

To bring him over any earlier than that will cost the Flames an extra $225k in transfer fees.

Also it seems like he is on track to become a full time SHLer next season.
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Old 11-12-2014, 01:59 PM   #12
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It's probably better for the Flames for Mattsson to stay in Sweden and develop anyway. Leaves a spot in the AHL for someone else.

They probably have the following prospects in the AHL next season: Culkin, Kulak, Ramage, Sieloff, Kanzig, Rafikov

I assume Wotherspoon will have graduated to an NHL spot.
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Old 11-12-2014, 03:07 PM   #13
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It's probably better for the Flames for Mattsson to stay in Sweden and develop anyway. Leaves a spot in the AHL for someone else.

They probably have the following prospects in the AHL next season: Culkin, Kulak, Ramage, Sieloff, Kanzig, Rafikov

I assume Wotherspoon will have graduated to an NHL spot.
Considering defense is considered our biggest weakness, that's not terrible. Not sure there's an elite guy amongst them, but maybe that's not as big of an issue with Brodie's emergence.
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Old 11-12-2014, 04:17 PM   #14
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I'll be beating them at their hockey
This is a quote for the ages!!
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Old 11-12-2014, 05:31 PM   #15
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I thought he was more of a defensive d-man, but he's co-leading the VHL in defenseman scoring. Wow! His numbers are even more impressive if you add the ages of the top ten:

Code:
    Name                   Team                   GP     G     A     P    Age
1.  Mikhail Rybalko        HK Lipetsk             18     2    10    12     28
2.  Rushan Rafikov         HK Ryazan              17     0    12    12     19
3.  Alexei Lozhkin         Neftyanik Almetievsk   18     1     9    10     28
4.  Eriks Sevcenko         Saryarka Karaganda     11     4     5     9     23
5.  Ilya Antonovsky        Saryarka Karaganda     15     4     4     8     25 
6.  Dinar Khamidullin      Bars Kazan             17     4     4     8     20 
7.  Vyacheslav Seluyanov   Sputnik Nizhny Tagil   17     3     5     8     27
8.  Alexander Ugolnikov    Saryarka Karaganda     17     2     6     8     25
9.  Alexander Sumin        Neftyanik Almetievsk   18     2     6     8     24
10. Alexander Bolshakov    Izhstal Izhevsk        17     1     7     8     22
not bad. Not bad at all.
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Old 11-12-2014, 05:48 PM   #16
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The Russian Factor may have been a blessing instead of a hinderance to the Flames on this one. At worst, he never comes over and will be forgotten as one of 90% of all 7th round picks to never play in the NHL. At best, another top 4 D man.
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Old 11-12-2014, 10:29 PM   #17
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The Russian Factor may have been a blessing instead of a hinderance to the Flames on this one. At worst, he never comes over and will be forgotten as one of 90% of all 7th round picks to never play in the NHL. At best, another top 4 D man.
I completely agree. There were only 8 Russians drafted in 2013. If Russians weren't considered such a flight risk, he'd probably be a third or fourth round pick.
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Old 11-13-2014, 01:24 PM   #18
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He could definitely end up being like smid or better.
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Old 11-13-2014, 02:21 PM   #19
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He could definitely end up being like smid or better.
I don't think Smid is much of a comparable. Rafikov seems to be a good puck mover - both in skating with the puck, and making a pass. He also seems to have more of an offensive skill-set than Smid. I think he has everything you want in a defensive prospect - skating ability, decent offensively, passing ability, IQ, good physicality and likes to engage, and good speed.

Best way to compare him to someone that is more famous, would be to think of him as Weber-lite. Emphasis on the 'lite' - huge emphasis. He is not going to get anywhere close to Weber in all likelihood, but just in terms of having that very well-rounded package, but at a top 4 ceiling from the little I have read and watched him.

I like Smid, but Smid is more of a Regehr-type where he has great physicality and defensive acumen, but is not very strong at skating out with the puck, passing and creating offence. Rafikov seems to have more breadth of skill.
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Old 11-13-2014, 08:48 PM   #20
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Is Rafikov still eligible for the World Juniors?
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