Summer 2015 Prospect Ranking - Round 18 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bingo · 07-22-2015, 09:49 AM

savardandjokinen · 07-22-2015, 09:51 AM

Rushan rafikov or Kenny agostino... Hmmmm

Enoch Root · 07-22-2015, 09:56 AM

Rafikov and Agostino for me, don't really care in which order

Cali Panthers Fan · 07-22-2015, 09:56 AM

KULAK!!! He's the best of this list by far.

Enoch Root · 07-22-2015, 09:57 AM

Actually, Hathaway needs some love at this point - he actually has a chance to see some NHL games this season.

Edit: this year's nominee for the Jooris Memorial Trophy

Bingo · 07-22-2015, 09:59 AM

Round 18 and I still find 10 of the remaining 19 players at least somewhat intriguing.

dammage79 · 07-22-2015, 09:59 AM

Rushan The Russian! We still haven't got a really good read on him yet since his only NA stops have been WJC and the Subway super series. And even then he looks like a top 4 d man when it is all said and done.

He's done excellent in the MHL/KHL. Can\t let him let him fly under the radar any longer. Heck, 18 can arguably be far too low for this guy.

Vulcan · 07-22-2015, 09:59 AM

Kulak for me. I like the way he took his demotion and worked on his game to get back as a top prospect and even get a game in the NHL.

JiriHrdina · 07-22-2015, 10:01 AM

Agostino with consideration to Carroll

Cali Panthers Fan · 07-22-2015, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dammage79

Rushan The Russian! We still haven't got a really good read on him yet since his only NA stops have been WJC and the Subway super series. And even then he looks like a top 4 d man when it is all said and done.

He's done excellent in the MHL/KHL. Can\t let him let him fly under the radar any longer. Heck, 18 can arguably be far too low for this guy.

True, but he may never play in N.A., so that drops him way down the list for me.

Enoch Root · 07-22-2015, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

KULAK!!! He's the best of this list by far.

I hear you, Cali. But I look at Kulak and Culkin and I see them standing behind:

Brodie
Hamilton
Wotherspoon
Morrison
Hickey,
and maybe even Rafikov.

And then Kylington and Andersson are almost certainly going to scream past them.

Just no chance of ever making the team, IMO.

And that's why I have a hard time voting for them.

Strange Brew · 07-22-2015, 10:02 AM

Went with Carroll. Seems to be on an upward trajectory.

Wow - Sieloff dead in the water in this poll.

Fire of the Phoenix · 07-22-2015, 10:02 AM

How does anyone even know anything about Rafikov? Is it from the wjhc where people saw him play a game or two? To me he's a guy drafted in the 7th round who is very unlikely to ever even come over here. Not sure how, with that info, anyone could rank him above Agostino. Agostino made clear and remarkable progress last year in his first pro season, Rafikov is a mystery.

Enoch Root · 07-22-2015, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

How does anyone even know anything about Rafikov? Is it from the wjhc where people saw him play a game or two? To me he's a guy drafted in the 7th round who is very unlikely to ever even come over here. Not sure how, with that info, anyone could rank him above Agostino. Agostino made clear and remarkable progress last year in his first pro season, Rafikov is a mystery.

Not many games, that's for sure.

But there was the tune-up games before the WJCs, and he was pretty impressive there.

Then there was the WJCs themselves, and he was very impressive. Was arguably Russia's top defenseman. Not a big sample size, but showed that he can skate, has a good shot, a very good first pass, plays with some physicality, and was given key offensive and defensive minutes by his coach.

That's a fair bit to like, IMO.

bax · 07-22-2015, 10:08 AM

I'm no expert on Rafikov, but I find it surprising that so many are bashing him because "he may never come to North America". Wasn't there a couple articles last off season where he was quoted that the NHL was his dream and that he just wants to honor his Russian contract before making the commitment to come over?

Funkhouser · 07-22-2015, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

How does anyone even know anything about Rafikov? Is it from the wjhc where people saw him play a game or two? To me he's a guy drafted in the 7th round who is very unlikely to ever even come over here. Not sure how, with that info, anyone could rank him above Agostino. Agostino made clear and remarkable progress last year in his first pro season, Rafikov is a mystery.

Never underestimate the appeal of the mystery box!!

But seriously, his draft place doesn't matter. He showed himself to be one of Russia's best young defencemen and played well against his international peers (something most of our D cannot claim). He is younger than Agostino.

The fact he is Russia and is an unknown to cross the pond is irrelevant regarding his strength as a prospect (his likelihood to play with us is another matter).

The Fonz · 07-22-2015, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Wow - Sieloff dead in the water in this poll.

I just don't see how he ever makes it in the NHL. His only real strength seems to be his physicality, and I worry that he lacks the size and durability to play that game at the NHL level.

codynw · 07-22-2015, 10:11 AM

The thing I don't like about Rafikov is that he's likely a career KHL player. He's not even a flight risk because he's never even played in a league over here, and to me it doesn't seem like he's even that interested. Nothing against him, if he wants to stay in Russia that's fine, but I can't vote for a guy who doesn't want to play here.

Cali Panthers Fan · 07-22-2015, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I hear you, Cali. But I look at Kulak and Culkin and I see them standing behind:

Brodie
Hamilton
Wotherspoon
Morrison
Hickey,
and maybe even Rafikov.

And then Kylington and Andersson are almost certainly going to scream past them.

Just no chance of ever making the team, IMO.

And that's why I have a hard time voting for them.

I am definitely not certain of the bolded part at all. They have just as good a chance as Wotherspoon and we don't know what kind of pro players we have in Hickey or Morrison yet, although they have very good skills. Defense at the NHL level is mostly about consistency and taking care of your own zone first. I'll take guys who have shown well at the AHL level over guys who have yet to turn pro...most of the time. Kulak also has some good offensive skills, especially with his point shot, so he could be valuable offensively too.

I get what you're saying in terms of depth, but when you look at this list, there's no reason to not vote for Kulak above a lot of the rest of these prospects.

Funkhouser · 07-22-2015, 10:13 AM

Rafikov, Agostino, Kulak, Hathaway and then the quality of our prospects drops a significant tier IMO