Prospect Info: #53OA - Hurricanes select C Vasiliy Ponomaryev (Shawinigan - QMHJL) - signed to ELC 10/13/20

[CanesFanBudMan]

 

[spockBokk]

They signed this guy quick:



Before Rees, Puistola, etc. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Canes 2nd rounder signed so soon after being drafted.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Wow, wonder why?

Do they think he's ready?? Off the top of my head I can only think of Bergeron and Saad as guys that actually came in and played that year as 2nd rounders. I doubt that's the case here, but very weird to snatch him up that quick.

 

[geehaad]

That ... is ... quick.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

The ELC doesn't surprise me too much. Considering that Ponomaryov is in the Q and not the K, he's the perfect 2-year slide candidate like Suzuki. Good for him.

 

[CanesFanBudMan]

He can’t play in the AHL correct? Or is there an exception for import draft players?

 

[spockBokk]

I mean, he does seem to have a strong 2 way game already and also appears to be a physical specimen if he’s referred to as a “beer fridge”.

He’s already in North America, so can’t be the Russian Factor. Pretty odd to see him inked before Drury or Rees.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I mean, he does seem to have a strong 2 way game already and also appears to be a physical specimen if he’s referred to as a “beer fridge”.

He’s already in North America, so can’t be the Russian Factor. Pretty odd to see him inked before Drury or Rees.

Drury is (was) an NCAA guy, so that's not too much of a surprise, but Ponomaryov ELC'ing before Rees is interesting.

 

[spockBokk]

Drury is (was) an NCAA guy, so that's not too much of a surprise, but Ponomaryov ELC'ing before Rees is interesting.

Well I say before Drury, since Drury has since left Harvard and gone pro. Maybe the Canes did try to sign him before he went to the SHL?

I agree, him before Rees is odd.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Well I say before Drury, since Drury has since left Harvard and gone pro. Maybe the Canes did try to sign him before he went to the SHL?

I agree, him before Rees is odd.

It may not be advantageous to sign Rees at this moment, though, since he can't be slid. The time to sign Rees would've been last year. Getting a Canadian junior player inked early on often allows you to slide the contract for 2 years.

 

[MinJaBen]

It may not be advantageous to sign Rees at this moment, though. Getting a junior player inked early on often allows you to slide the contract for 2 years.

But Rees is also a junior player. How is it not advantageous in his situation but good now?

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Glad to have the kid, just a weird signing this early.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

But Rees is also a junior player. How is it not advantageous in his situation but good now?

The fact that the Q is playing but not the O is one factor. The other one is that I'm not sure that a Rees ELC can be slid if he inks a deal now. Maybe for a year, but not sure.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

The fact that the Q is playing but not the O is one factor. The other one is that I'm not sure that a Rees ELC can be slid if he inks a deal now. Maybe for a year, but not sure.

Deals slide for all players until the reach 20 or play 10 games in the league. Suzuki's deal has slid a year. Probably will slide again.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Deals slide for all players until the reach 20 or play 10 games in the league. Suzuki's deal has slid a year. Probably will slide again.

Thanks for that info. I think that it is probably then about the OHL's delayed start.

 

[Brucelenok]

I think he should be ready to play and crack your guys roster in a year, by 21-22 season if everything goes well.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I think he should be ready to play and crack your guys roster in a year, by 21-22 season if everything goes well.

No way. Our club is much, much too deep for that, and we're known for a rather patient approach to prospects. They're going to slide him for 2 years. Maybe they'll play him in the AHL in 2021-2022 if the rules for foreign junior players are different than for Canadian nationals.

 

[MinJaBen]

My guess on why he was signed earlier than normal is COVID related. There is no guarantee that the CHL is going to be able to complete their seasons. Already one team in the Q got hit really hard. If the leagues shut down, some guys are going to look to other options, and Ponamaryev might have options and a willingness in the KHL. If he did do that, he could sign a contract, and then due to the agreement, we'd be unable to do anything with him. This makes sure we retain his contractual control. A guy like Rees is much less likely to go to the KHL if the CHL shuts down.

 

[DaveG]

Solid point in the KHL threat here. Good chance that whatever KHL team were to sign him would sign him to a 2 or 3 year deal. Definitely complicates things for when we try to bring him back over and if the NHL/CHL transfer rules are relaxed this year due to covid we can get him in to Charlotte sooner rather than later.

 

[bleedgreen]

I like the player, despite deservedly being the third guy we chose there’s something about the pick I like and am already rooting for, so whatever the reason I’m glad they signed him. Glad they like him to the point they feel the need to protect the pick.

I think I finally see the value in this draft. All three of the guys we took in the first two rounds have a higher ceiling to me than Rees and Drury, and where to slot Suzuki isn’t even a sure thing on the big list. I’m generally not prone to shiny new toy syndrome either. The top three are pretty legit prospects. This guy has a more rounded game than Gunler who seems likely to make it as a dangerous scorer or nothing.

 

[bleedgreen]

some good stuff on the kid, sounds like a hard worker who really wants the nhl.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

He looks bigger than his listed size/weight, albeit it's hard to tell though as he's on the rink with other kids.

Sounds like his attitude is similar to Svech. Not that he's Russian, but in his intensity, work ethic, and enjoyment of life in general. I agree, not hard to root for a kid like this.

 

[WreckingCrew]

My guess on why he was signed earlier than normal is COVID related. There is no guarantee that the CHL is going to be able to complete their seasons. Already one team in the Q got hit really hard. If the leagues shut down, some guys are going to look to other options, and Ponamaryev might have options and a willingness in the KHL. If he did do that, he could sign a contract, and then due to the agreement, we'd be unable to do anything with him. This makes sure we retain his contractual control. A guy like Rees is much less likely to go to the KHL if the CHL shuts down.

That was pretty much my thinking...this is a way to have a bit more control over the situation should the Q shut down and he bolts to play in the KHL where you have to deal with transfer windows and any contract he may sign. My understanding is because he was drafted while on a CHL team he's treated as any other CHL player (can't go play the AHL until he's 20)?

 

[Unsustainable]

He's RBA junior. Loves to work out and is a gym rat lol.

Him and RBA will get along

 

[Chrispy]

That was pretty much my thinking...this is a way to have a bit more control over the situation should the Q shut down and he bolts to play in the KHL where you have to deal with transfer windows and any contract he may sign. My understanding is because he was drafted while on a CHL team he's treated as any other CHL player (can't go play the AHL until he's 20)?

He could play in the AHL as a PTO after the junior season as well, right? So if the Q shuts down early, the Canes could petition for him to transition to the AHL?