Calgarypuck Prospect Ranking 2020 - Round 31

[Bingo]

It's time for the 8th annual Calgarypuck Prospect Ranking, but at a different time of year and certainly at a different time.

First a look back at previous years can be done with this handy link: Previous Results

Once again vote how you want. There are those that vote 100% on potential, some that vote 100% on the likelihood to see an NHL rink, others that apply a mix, some using the value in a trade. Completely up to you.

I'll run one a day until we are done, and then FlamesAddiction wants to do a one off list version to compare the results.

We start with 35 names so this should get us pretty close to a Flames camp.

2020 Results
1. Valimaki - 85%
2. Zary - 62%
3. Pelletier - 74%
4. Wolf (Run Off)
5. Mackey (Run Off)
6. Pettersen 42%
7. Phillips 36%
8. Gawdin 28%
9. Zavgorodniy 34%
10. Poirier 39%
11. Kuznetsov 43%
12. Kinnvall 56%
13. Ruzicka 44%
14. Chechelev 41%
15. Parsons 46%
16. Yelesin 25%
17. Nikolayev 32%
18. Francis 38%
19. Boltmann 26%
20. Poolman 26%
21. Kerins 29%
22. Zagidulin 29%
23. Pospisil 32%
24. Philp 39%
25. Lerby 35%
26. Nodler 45%
27. Tuulola 67%
28. Solovyov 70%
29. Feuk 47%
30. Koumontzis 31%

[Tkachukwagon]

[Gaskal]

Bought a Kirkland car battery from Costco on the weekend, seems appropriate.

[TheIronMaiden]

I was really high on Filip Sveningsson last year, I hoped that his entry into the SHL would prove to be a step forward in his development. Unfortunately that was never the case, and it is highly unlikely he gets a pro contract this year.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Kirkland.

When all the Brand Names are out of stock.

[Mattman]

I feel like Rushan Rafikov has been in the bottom 3 for the last 5 years

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Mattman

I feel like Rushan Rafikov has been in the bottom 3 for the last 5 years

Funny part is skill wise he's probably at worst top 20.

He's a top 4 defenseman in the KHL and has been for about 5 years now. He plays for Russia internationally for the Euro Hockey Tournament (when they don't have NHLers available).

But since it looks like he will never come over to North America it drops him lower.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Funny part is skill wise he's probably at worst top 20.

He's a top 4 defenseman in the KHL and has been for about 5 years now. He plays for Russia internationally for the Euro Hockey Tournament (when they don't have NHLers available).

But since it looks like he will never come over to North America it drops him lower.

Defensive defensemen are typically underrated, especially when they are out of sight and mind playing in Europe.

Given his contract status, he will be at least 27 years old if he ever does come to the NHL. At that point, it probably makes no financial sense for him to come over on what would likely be a league minimum, 2-way deal for at least a year or two.

[JTech780]

I can see a situation where Kirkland plays games with the Flames this season, mind you strictly in a 4th line role.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by JTech780

I can see a situation where Kirkland plays games with the Flames this season, mind you strictly in a 4th line role.

I had no idea he was 6'3".

[Monahammer]

Rafikov could potentially come over if we have more russians playing for the team. The fact that we havent had any notable Russian players on the NHL squad in the last decade probably hurts us quite a bit, though recently we have drafted some interesting ones! Zavgorodniy, Nikolaeyev, Chechelev, Kuznetsov, Solovoyev and signing yelesin and zagidulin. I agree he should be higher up the list talent wise.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by JTech780

I can see a situation where Kirkland plays games with the Flames this season, mind you strictly in a 4th line role.

Ha I thought he was a defenceman.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Funny part is skill wise he's probably at worst top 20.

He's a top 4 defenseman in the KHL and has been for about 5 years now. He plays for Russia internationally for the Euro Hockey Tournament (when they don't have NHLers available).

But since it looks like he will never come over to North America it drops him lower.

I always go to what I would assume a prospect's trade value would be in order to rank prospects.

Thinking that way brings into thought ...
- upside
- age
- position

but also likelihood of playing which hurts Rafikov in my mind for sure. He has a much better chance than probably all but 15 on the list if he indicated he was coming over.

[savardandjokinen]

Found something interesting in terms of both Rafikov and Karnaukhov. We know there was some rumor about Rafikov coming over in the back burner forum, but the Flames have started to include them in their future watch updates, which they never used to do.

Example, Feb 2020: https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/futu...20/c-314585004
Example, Sept (or any month since Sept) 2020: https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/futu...20/c-319593664

Kirkland has my vote this round and Sveningsson next, but these two certainly get my votes after that. I think the chances of them coming over are low but think they're better than the previous couple years.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think Mattson should probably be the last prospect - he doesn't even get into regular games on his college team AFAIK, and this is what - 3rd or 4th year?



Rafikov for me again - it has been either him or Sveningsson for a while now.