Prospect Info: 2024-25 Prospect Info (CHL, NCAA, Europe)

PAZ

.
Jul 14, 2011
17,800
10,321
BC
Nabokov needs to get over here and play in Loveland.
He'd be okay with that for a year, but any longer and there's risk in him bolting back to Russia. Why would he ride the bus being underpaid instead of staying in the KHL?

I'd rather let him marinate longer. Sorokin/Shesterkin were 23-24 when they came over. That's the timeline we should give Nabokov.
 

AvsCOL

Registered User
Jul 16, 2013
4,951
5,385
Doesn't seem to be much there at all with Olausson huh? That's a shame, what a bad pick that was.
 

expatriatedtexan

Illegitimati non carborundum
Aug 17, 2005
19,448
16,443
I don't feel like Bednar has been holding him back while he was up here. He isn't ever going to be an offensive cog, his NHL career will be as a bottom sixer who forechecks, wins board battles, and probably kills penalties. And aside from the PK part (which would be a very tall ask at this point) that's exactly the role Bednar used him in.

The argument for him in the AHL is to try to develop more of a well-rounded offensive game in him. But Bednar has given him nothing if not a crash course in how he's going to win an NHL paycheck this year.
Yep, but if he can round out his offensive game, that's the difference between him being on the 3rd line as opposed to the 4th, IMO.

The thing for me, is that he's still so young. Him being able to be trusted with some minutes already is fantastic. I'm hoping he becomes an everyday 4th liner next year and then hopefully see if he can make a run at the 3rd line after he gets settled.
 

AvsCOL

Registered User
Jul 16, 2013
4,951
5,385
To be fair is not like the rest of the picks behind him amounted to anything. I doubt they would've reached for Stankoven
Yeah it was a pretty weak draft admittedly. They made up for it in the 2023 draft however...
 

McMetal

Writer of Wrongs
Sep 29, 2015
14,584
12,908
Yep, but if he can round out his offensive game, that's the difference between him being on the 3rd line as opposed to the 4th, IMO.

The thing for me, is that he's still so young. Him being able to be trusted with some minutes already is fantastic. I'm hoping he becomes an everyday 4th liner next year and then hopefully see if he can make a run at the 3rd line after he gets settled.
Agreed. I think there is definitely value in playing him in an offensive role at the AHL level to maximize his development there. LOC is a good example of how that can boost a prospect's value long term, I think the Eagles were very good for him. Some guys just seem to do better offensively in pro hockey than they did in juniors or college. The structure and pace just suit them better, and it's good to nurture that even in a guy you expect to be a bottom sixer.

I just think that when he's at the NHL level, there's nothing wrong with using him as a 4th liner, because he also needs to learn how to do that kind of job if he wants to keep an NHL gig someday. The more offense he chips in, the better (of course), but his signature moves will be hounding the puck, digging it out along the walls, and not bleeding chances against while he's out there. I hope he gets there, because I low-key love that kind of player and every great team needs guys like that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: expatriatedtexan

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad