Yan Kuznetsov Appreciation Thread

[activeStick]

Can we talk about how good Kuznetsov has been? Drafted 50th in 2020, he marinated for 5 years in Stockton and now Calgary with the Wranglers, finally locking down (in my opinion) a permanent spot on the Flames roster this year.

6'4, 200+ lbs defenseman who's been steady since coming up, looking like he belongs on all ends of the ice. I don't see any panic in his game, he makes good reads defensively and even contributes offensively. So far, a really solid pick by the Flames and probably someone nobody thought would show the way he has this season since getting the call. He's proof that taking time with the prospects and allowing them to learn the game in the AHL better prepares them once they get called up.

[Burning Beard]

He has been great so far. Don't notice him much and that is a good thing. It is also nice to have some size back on the D with him and Bahl now.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

What I appreciate is how well he skates as a bigger man. He's pretty nimble most of the time, and has pretty good speed when he gets going. He doesn't get walked very often because of his anticipation, but if a guy starts to get by him he reacts quickly and can usually skate with them.

You combine that with his ability to take guys to the boards and pin them or rub them out, and his stick work, and you have a really strong defensive d-man

He's been bailing out Weegar for a while now.

[activeStick]

Yup, an example of his skating and angling.

https://twitter.com/user/status/2003650330425176133

[rogermexico]

The Flames were 3-9-2 before calling up Kuznetsov on Nov 3. Since then they've been around .500. He's had a huge impact on the team. Really excited that he's thriving the way he is.

[activeStick]

The PK has also improved ever since the big man got called up as noted by the below Pike Bomb

https://twitter.com/user/status/1997367433191969137

[FlamingHomer]

Good example of being patient with a prospect until they are ready for the NHL. He should have a nice long career from this point.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Can we talk about how good Kuznetsov has been? Drafted 50th in 2020, he marinated for 5 years in Stockton and now Calgary with the Wranglers, finally locking down (in my opinion) a permanent spot on the Flames roster this year.

6'4, 200+ lbs defenseman who's been steady since coming up, looking like he belongs on all ends of the ice. I don't see any panic in his game, he makes good reads defensively and even contributes offensively. So far, a really solid pick by the Flames and probably someone nobody thought would show the way he has this season since getting the call. He's proof that taking time with the prospects and allowing them to learn the game in the AHL better prepares them once they get called up.

He's really turning into a solid Dman - and only 23.

I think a lot of people think of him as kind of a later pick, coming out of nowhere, but it's good to remind ourselves that he was drafted earlier than Andersson (53rd OA).

To the 2nd bold, I wish everyone who laments daily that they want prospects in the lineup quicker, would read this. It doesn't matter how long it takes to get there, what matters is how good, and how prepared, you are when you do.

[FanSince'01]

Hindsight is always 20/20, but man did we ever luck out that Kuzy didn't get claimed off of waivers earlier this year. Definitely between him and Solovyov, I think we managed to hang on to the better player.

He's just such a steadying presence on the back end and if this is how he is at 23, I'm excited to see how good he looks in his full prime years.

[Calgary Highlander]

If Craig manages to trade Hanley for a mid round pick, then waiving Kuznetsov becomes a 4D chess move.

I would have liked to see Solovyov kept over Bean and Hanley. It's not a big loss, but it's something the Flames will need to be mindful of in the next few years. Teams are limited to 50 contracts and 23-player active rosters. With an influx of players turning pro or become waiver eligible, Conroy should think hard before signing plugs to fill out the roster.

[Phaneufenstein]

Originally Posted by FanSince'01

Hindsight is always 20/20, but man did we ever luck out that Kuzy didn't get claimed off of waivers earlier this year. Definitely between him and Solovyov, I think we managed to hang on to the better player.

He's just such a steadying presence on the back end and if this is how he is at 23, I'm excited to see how good he looks in his full prime years.

Also makes you wonder if the Flames staff themselves didn't know at the time that Kuz is as good as he is, or they felt confident that he's flying well under other teams' radars that he won't get claimed.

If they were to waive him now, pretty sure he'd get picked up quite quickly.

[dino7c]

Solo is a UFA at years end and not in the long term plans...it really doesn't matter they didn't have him this season. In fact not having him has Bruz and Kuz playing meaningful minutes.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Phaneufenstein

Also makes you wonder if the Flames staff themselves didn't know at the time that Kuz is as good as he is, or they felt confident that he's flying well under other teams' radars that he won't get claimed.

If they were to waive him now, pretty sure he'd get picked up quite quickly.

Well, they wouldn't waive him now.

As to the bold, EVERY team is equally guilty, no? (since he cleared waivers)

[Lewis_D]

Yep, I've loved what I've seen from Kuzy. We often wax lyrically about the importance of drafting high to acquire an elite talent but it's just as important, and almost feels more rewarding seeing the org put stock in players that are drafted in the later rounds and give them an environment to actually develop & succeed, even if it takes 4-5 seasons to feel the fruits of that labour.

If I were running an NHL org I'd always make it high priority to have A) a strong amateur scouting staff B) A good AHL team with a mix of young talent and veteran leaders. It was debated earlier this season what it does to a young players confidence if the team does a teardown and they just get shelled every night, so IMO there's absolutely no sense in icing a weak farm team if you're putting importance on building from the draft, there's also no prize for tanking in the A.

Basically what I'm getting at is, and it probably comes across as obvious to many here after watching Deadmonton constantly fall short year after year in the playoffs, is that what's the point in acquiring an elite talent if you can't provide the pieces around them to succeed?

This isn't a complaint about the org btw. I actually think in recent years this is the best the I've seen the Flames at drafting and putting importance into amateur scouting.

[Redliner]

Kuzy is an NHL rookie averaging over 20 min TOI per game and is now playing on what could be argued is the top pairing with Weegar. He is defending effectively, makes good decisions, and has provided more offense than expected. The guy is found money, and in my mind the biggest success story on the Flames this year. I'm a fan.

[Phaneufenstein]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Well, they wouldn't waive him now.

As to the bold, EVERY team is equally guilty, no? (since he cleared waivers)

Not saying they would.

More to illustrate that it's been quite an impressive arch for the player to be in the second (?) round of cuts at training camp and to become a regular NHLer within a month of a regular season.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Kuznetsov has been nothing short of a revelation here really. I mean, nobody was saying he was a bust or anything, but to come up and play like a solid veteran against the league's best players night in and night out and look good doing it? Unexpected for sure. He looks like a seasoned vet out there.


Plugging-in a guy a young defencemen at this stage of the rebuild goes a long way. Bahl, Kuznetsov, Parekh and Brzustewicz all being part of the organization and likely all being top 4 defencemen at this stage of the rebuild is very impressive and bodes well to the success of the organization long-term. Lots more defencemen in the pipeline (and still not drafted). It is good to know that Calgary will be a defencemen factory of sorts, as i think this helps to separate rebuild successes from rebuild failures.

[Swayze11]

Completely agree with what most people have said in this thread, he has really impressed me and it is great to see how well he has developed. I see very little panic in his game and his confidence continues to increase each game. I do see panic in Brzustewicz's game but that is expected at this point in his development.

Even offensively, I am really impressed and see growth in his game. Great shot and great at moving the puck.

[getbak]

[wireframe]

I was very skeptical when we drafted him in the second round because of how low his points totals were. Even defensive defensemen should be scoring points when they dominate the game, as we expect future nhlers to do in junior leagues. Maybe I was just remembering the sting of Patrick Seiloff. Anyway, Kuznetsov has been fantastic since the call up. Really shut me up quickly. Every part of his game is calm and precise.