2022 Prospect Poll #16

[tsujimoto74]

RESULTS SO FAR:

1. Owen Power, D (--): 86/103 votes (83.5%). Runner up: Jack Quinn (11 votes).
2. Jack Quinn, F (+2): 65/78 votes (83.3%). Runner up: Devon Levi (4 votes).
3. J.J. Peterka, F (--): 40/91 votes (43.8%). Runner up: Matthew Savoie (35 votes).
4. Matthew Savoie, F (NR): 59/96 votes (61.5%). Runner up: Devon Levi (27 votes).
5. Devon Levi, G (+4): 79/96 votes (82.3%). Runner up: Jiri Kulich (11 votes).
6. Jiri Kulich, F (NR): 54/96 votes (56.3%). Runner up: Noah Ostlund (29 votes).
7. Noah Ostlund, F (NR): 77/98 votes (78.6%). Runner up: Ryan Johnson (8 votes).
8. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G (+3): 30/97 votes (30.9%). Runners up: Ryan Johnson, Isak Rosen (28 votes).
9. Isak Rosen, F (-4): 40/95 votes (42.1%). Runner up: Ryan Johnson (40 votes, see tie-breaker)
10. Ryan Johnson, D (-4): 40/95 votes (42.1%). Runner up: Erik Portillo (7 votes).
11. Erik Portillo, G (-1): 36/73 votes (49.3%). Runner up: Prokhor Poltapov (10 votes).
12. Alexander Kisakov, F (+3): 25/82 votes (30.5%). Runner up: Prokhor Poltapov (15 votes).
13. Prokhor Poltapov, F (-5): 20/70 votes (28.6%). Runner up: Viktor Neuchev (16 votes).
14. Viktor Neuchev, F (NR): 24/82 votes (29.3%). Runner up: Tyson Kozak (22 votes).
15. Tyson Kozak, F (NR): 25/55 votes (45.5%). Runner up: Nikita Novikov (9 votes).

RULES: Each poll will remain open for 2 days. In the case of a tie within the top 10, I'll create a 1-day runoff poll to decide the winner. Ties outside of the top 10 will be left as ties. For each additional poll, I will add the most commented next to add prospect.

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ELIGIBILITY: All players whose rights are held by the Buffalo Sabres and who are eligible to win the Calder Trophy for the 2022-23 season are eligible inclusion. That means a prospect is eligible if--

• He is under age 26 (as of September 15, 2022);
• He has played no more than 25 games in any single preceding season; and
• He has not played 6 or more games in each of any two or more preceding seasons.

NEXT TO ADD: Comment the player you want to see added to the next poll. The following players are eligible:

• Forwards: Linus Sjodin, Matej Pekar, Matteo Costantini, Gustav Karlsson, Jake Richard, Joel Berndtsson, Stiven Sardaryan, William von Barnekow, Jakub Konecny, Brett Murray, Vasili Glotov
• Defensemen: Oskari Laaksonen, Vsemolod Komarov, Albert Lyckasen, Philip Nyberg

Click to read more...

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Bloom, add Richard

 

[Zman5778]

Novikov, add Sardaryan

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Novikov, add Komarov

 

[Bobby Bottle Service]

Bloom, add Komarov

 

[SECRET SQUIRREL]

Novikov, add Komarov

Same

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Cederqvist. Add Sjodin.

 

[old kummelweck]

Still so many viable NHL prospects on the board. It's an embarrassment of riches.

As far as who to add - who has stood out to me at camp that isn't remaining? Only name that comes to mind is Spencer Sova and I think he's not even considered in the prospect pipeline as an invite.

Add Pekar? Not sure I am ready to give up on that kid.

 

[HOOats]

Curious about Novikov getting so much love (aside from being listed at the top of the choices, which should be shuffled every round) over someone like Lindgren. I'm enthused by the regular KHL playing time Novikov has under his belt at a young age and I understand how that projects to a possibly bright future as a 6th rounder.

Lindgren showed very well in this summer's events, has a skillset that's directly translatable to the modern NHL, has NHL pedigree, and seems to be regarded as a significant steal already from this year's 4th round. Feels like the voting should be much closer if not flipped.

 

[Chainshot]

Curious about Novikov getting so much love (aside from being listed at the top of the choices, which should be shuffled every round) over someone like Lindgren. I'm enthused by the regular KHL playing time Novikov has under his belt at a young age and I understand how that projects to a possibly bright future as a 6th rounder.

Lindgren showed very well in this summer's events, has a skillset that's directly translatable to the modern NHL, has NHL pedigree, and seems to be regarded as a significant steal already from this year's 4th round. Feels like the voting should be much closer if not flipped.

Floor vs. ceiling is certainly a conversation - Novikov already is a pro defensive defenseman in one of the better men's leagues in the world who has shown some flashes of more scoring ability when playing in lower tiers. He offers the sort of stoutness and size in that role that may lend itself to future NA pro success. But his ceiling is basically that - defensive defenseman. Lindgren certainly seems like he has the toolset to have a higher ceiling but will he? And if he isn't able to find his way to mobile mid-pairing guy, is there enough there to be a viable NHLer? It's certainly a debate.

 

[Zman5778]

Curious about Novikov getting so much love (aside from being listed at the top of the choices, which should be shuffled every round) over someone like Lindgren. I'm enthused by the regular KHL playing time Novikov has under his belt at a young age and I understand how that projects to a possibly bright future as a 6th rounder.

Lindgren showed very well in this summer's events, has a skillset that's directly translatable to the modern NHL, has NHL pedigree, and seems to be regarded as a significant steal already from this year's 4th round. Feels like the voting should be much closer if not flipped.

What it comes down to for me: Novikov is a regular in the 2nd best league in the world and is steady. Lindgren is still in juniors. Lindgren's ceiling is more than likely higher, but Novikov is highly projectable right now.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Floor vs. ceiling is certainly a conversation - Novikov already is a pro defensive defenseman in one of the better men's leagues in the world who has shown some flashes of more scoring ability when playing in lower tiers. He offers the sort of stoutness and size in that role that may lend itself to future NA pro success. But his ceiling is basically that - defensive defenseman. Lindgren certainly seems like he has the toolset to have a higher ceiling but will he? And if he isn't able to find his way to mobile mid-pairing guy, is there enough there to be a viable NHLer? It's certainly a debate.

One of the intriguing things for me about Novikov is his speed. Usually defense first guys are also considered slow or generally aren't known for their skating ability. Novikov from what I've seen has pretty good skating ability and speed along with a huge frame. Maybe not elite but at least average. He's also shown a willingness to jump up into the play in the offensive zone at times so there may still be some untapped offensive upside there.

 

[Chainshot]

One of the intriguing things for me about Novikov is his speed. Usually defense first guys are also considered slow or generally aren't known for their skating ability. Novikov from what I've seen has pretty good skating ability and speed along with a huge frame. Maybe not elite but at least average. He's also shown a willingness to jump up into the play in the offensive zone at times so there may still be some untapped offensive upside there.

Yep, there is more to tap there as he gets acclimated to the speed/size of the tier he is at now. His late-season MHL games after his KHL season ended were just eye-popping by how he got up and into the play.

 

[Saggy]

You forget Rousek is 3 years older than Bloom, Nadesu and Lindgren. All 3 of those guys three years from now will be waaaaaay better

Same goes for Cedarqvist

 

[Zman5778]

You forget Rousek is 3 years older than Bloom, Nadesu and Lindgren. All 3 of those guys three years from now will be waaaaaay better

Same goes for Cedarqvist

Well, that's the HOPE. Let's see if that's the reality in 3 years.

 

[Matt Ress]

Sticking with Nadeau but there's a good case for Novikov

Add Komarov

 

[MarkusKetterer]

You forget Rousek is 3 years older than Bloom, Nadesu and Lindgren. All 3 of those guys three years from now will be waaaaaay better

Same goes for Cedarqvist

I haven’t forgotten. I’m voting based on closest to NHL games played at this point. Sure the older guys are closer, but they also look like guys who will get a lower role while the rest of those guys are more unknowns. They could be better long term, but give me a guy like Cederqvist who I can see being on the third line for a couple of seasons over a guy like Bloom who may not make it to the second line until he’s 24.