Prospect Info: All-Purpose Prospect Thread v17.0

[WarriorofTime]

Again the question is

How and when can we get him in a Blackhawks’ sweater?

We have Mikheyev here for another year, as the only other Russian, it’d be nice to him acclimatize him

Shalunov came over briefly but that boat had sailed, Kayumov and Safanov are still options(right?)…how is it ‘other’ NHL teams get their Russians over but the Hawks can not?

He has one more year remaining on his contract after this one. It is not impossible to leave early, but I don't know if they'll go down that route. My guess is he will play next season in the KHL and then come over in 2026-27 for what would be his "D+4" season where he will turn 22 during Training Camp (he's a September '04 birth, who was among the oldest first time draft eligible players for the 2023 Draft and only barely missed the cutoff for the 2022 Draft).

I think by waiting until he is 22, he can sign an ELC with one less year on it. A lot of KHL prospects are in situations where they'd prefer to wait until they are ready for the NHL, and avoid playing a full year in the AHL if they don't have to. So I don't expect an early termination. Hawks can work Nazar, Slaggert and Dach into fulltime spots next season, and possibly the 2025 Draft Pick depending on who he is. So I think they can be patient.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Kantserov's contract with his Russian club ends after next season so he probably comes over in 26. Now somehow Michkov was able to get out of his contract early and come over so maybe Kantserov can come over next year instead.

I just think Kantserov is the first bona fide NHL level prospect the Hawks have drafted in quite some time and convincing a kid to move halfway around the world to live in Rockford and ride busses isn't so easy. But I think if the Hawks really want Kantserov to come over, he will. They'll have to give him an NHL spot but I don't think anyone would complain about that. And Levshunov will be here. I know he's not Russian but maybe it counts? They also can always sign another Russian guy to play with him too.

I’m fine with being in the KHL for another year. But he did make the trip from Russia for the Hawks prospect orientation, even though he was injured. So I think he clearly does want to come over and sees himself as a Hawk in the future.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

Again the question is

How and when can we get him in a Blackhawks’ sweater?

We have Mikheyev here for another year, as the only other Russian, it’d be nice to him acclimatize him

Shalunov came over briefly but that boat had sailed, Kayumov and Safanov are still options(right?)…how is it ‘other’ NHL teams get their Russians over but the Hawks can not?

Probably each individual case is different but in general I don't think it's as traumatic for young Russian players to come over as it was 20-30 years ago because there are so many Russian players having success in the NHL now.

I'm pretty sure he was here in the summer of 2023 after he was drafted to attend the Hawks off-ice development camp - I doubt he would have done that if he didn't intend to play for the Hawks at some point.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

I’m fine with being in the KHL for another year. But he did make the trip from Russia for the Hawks prospect orientation, even though he was injured. So I think he clearly does want to come over and sees himself as a Hawk in the future.

My feelings too. No one can know if his development trajectory will continue, but it has been impressive since he started getting top-6 time in the latter half of last season and into the playoffs. With the last half of this season and all next season to get stronger and hone his game even more he enhances his chances to step right into the Hawks lineup having just turned 22 with 3 full seasons of playing at a championship level program in the KHL.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Shalunov came over briefly but that boat had sailed, Kayumov and Safanov are still options(right?)…how is it ‘other’ NHL teams get their Russians over but the Hawks can not?

For reference, Kayumov had 3 KHL points in his D+2 season (the one Kantserov is in right now). This season, with Kayumov at age 26, is probably the first time Kayumov could have really threatened to make the Hawk roster when he was available to sign and likely still only in an 11th/12th/13th forward capacity. Every other year they would have been signing him to be an AHL player, and it's not for sure how he would have done there until the last couple years when he had somewhat of a breakout as a mid-20s player. Had he been a player who came over as a youngster whenever the Hawks first made an attempt to sign him, I could see (generously) him having a North American pro career similar to someone like Joey Anderson, sometimes in the NHL, sometimes in the AHL, multiple stints through riding the waiver wire.

Of course you'd like someone you use a draft pick on to come over and play in your system, and see wherever that takes you, but you can generally count on a high performing KHL player to want to at least give it a go in the NHL because the potential for a big contract is so much higher in the NHL than the KHL. Some 400 players in the NHL are making $2.5 million or more this season. I don't think anyone in the KHL is making that equivalent this season (especially as the Ruble has tanked from inflation).

It's really just the fringe types that would rather just stay in the KHL than give it a go.

 

[LavalPhantom]

Love how he outskated the defender to cut him off to then be in position for the winner. Awesome play.

He also starts the play in the D zone by tipping the pass in the defender’s skates.

 

[TheFridge]

Again the question is

How and when can we get him in a Blackhawks’ sweater?

We have Mikheyev here for another year, as the only other Russian, it’d be nice to him acclimatize him

Shalunov came over briefly but that boat had sailed, Kayumov and Safanov are still options(right?)…how is it ‘other’ NHL teams get their Russians over but the Hawks can not?

The Hawks really haven't draft many Russians over the last 15 years and certainly none that were particularly noteworthy. Yeah Kayumov was a 2nd round pick but he clearly didn't progress to the point where he should have been offered a contract and the Hawks just couldn't make it work. Maybe Shalunov could have played for them at the end of the 2010s but even then, he would have likely just been a middle-6 player for them.

 

[Northernhawk]

The Hawks really haven't draft many Russians over the last 15 years and certainly none that were particularly noteworthy. Yeah Kayumov was a 2nd round pick but he clearly didn't progress to the point where he should have been offered a contract and the Hawks just couldn't make it work. Maybe Shalunov could have played for them at the end of the 2010s but even then, he would have likely just been a middle-6 player for them.

Shalunov did come over

2013-14 he played 20 games in Rockford(0-4-4) and 43 games in Toledo(18-16-34)…then back to Russia

 

[bwana63]

another timely and VG Powers' article ($), this time on Kantserov: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6021070/2024/12/27/blackhawks-roman-kantserov-film-breakdown/

 

[EbonyRaptor]

another timely and VG Powers' article ($), this time on Kantserov: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6021070/2024/12/27/blackhawks-roman-kantserov-film-breakdown/

I can't get through the paywall - what is the gist of it?

 

[u2wojo]

I can't get through the paywall - what is the gist of it?

cut and paste the article web address here: https://archive.ph/

 

[EbonyRaptor]

cut and paste the article web address here: https://archive.ph/

Thanks - it worked!

 

[Hawkster]

Kantserov just scored the equalizing goal with 1:34 left in the game. 1-1 going to overtime.

EDIT: Kantserov scored the only goal in the shootout. Magnitogorsk win 2-1.

EDIT: Video

 

[TheFridge]

Shalunov did come over

2013-14 he played 20 games in Rockford(0-4-4) and 43 games in Toledo(18-16-34)…then back to Russia

He came over for a minute but was never signed to a contract.

 

[Clownish]

The former Hawks thread memorializes Anthony Beauvilier's time here. Why not name this prospect thread after Shalunov? Everyone always thought he was coming over to save the day next season.

 

[Hawkster]

Kantserov's shootout goal:

 

[ello]

Man is Kantserov our best prospect? Kid is rapidly becoming one of the most underrated prospects in hockey. He kind of reminds me of a less stocky Michkov.

Metallurg is realllyyyyy low scoring KHL team too so his numbers are even wilder in that context

 

[Putt Pirate]

Hopefully he comes over a year early next year.

 

[hawksrule]

Of players who aren’t currently on the big club, I’d put it:
Lev
Rinzel
Kantserov

Although with Rinzel’s trajectory and handedness 1-2 could easily flip.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

Of players who aren’t currently on the big club, I’d put it:
Lev
Rinzel
Kantserov

Although with Rinzel’s trajectory and handedness 1-2 could easily flip.

That would be my top-3 with Lardis a close 4th.

 

[hawksfan50]

Of course Czrchia bombs Kazakhstan 14-2 ..Felcman despite being on the top line gets only 1 (secondary) assist...

Meanwhile STL laughing all the way to the bank as Stancl has great game scorubg all over the place.

We drafted Felcman at#93 riundc3 in2023 draft..

STL took Stancl at #106 round4..


The knock on Stancl was his skating and so we know Felcman had to check that box off forKD before other considerations...but if you followed late pre-draftxscoutibgvrelirts a few prominent draf rankiers said tgat Stancl coukd beca sleeper puck because hisxskating had improved vs. Where hecwas at the start of the draft season..

So looking at hom now it looks likecSTL got a steal and we got????

14 goals and alk Felcman produced was 1 secondaryvasdist?

Disappointing...not that his efgort was poor..but just the ability to take tge puck and score himself was not evident while with a stancl it was..

You goita want the puck and show you can do something with it...not just defer to others as 3rd wheel on your line and let thevotger 2 linemates do the scoring..rspecialky with Felcman on line #2with Sake
.but line 2 with Stancl Hradekand Sukora beibg such a great scorong bunch today

 

[hawksfan50]

You think Putin will let him cove over after 1 more season on his Metallurg co tract?

Sure Michkov came over earlier than his contract shoukdvhavecaloiwd nut I guess Philly paid money to fix that issue.. but who knows?Its the Hawks...bad stuff happens.. anything bad can hapoen with the curse of $9.5 dark clouding the karma..
Who knows..Risdiaxand U S. Atxear?
Alien Invasion...andcalk hands to defend Mother Rusdia? Conscription to the Red Army?
Ya never know.
Count on him only if he shows up and signs an ELC.

 

[hawksfan50]

If you thought Latvia beating Canada 3-2in a shoit-out and the Latvia goalie stopping 55 shots and going perfec in the shoot-out was the upset of the century,what about #5 ranked Dever U down 5-1to UNLV tonight afterx2 periods in an exhibition game
..

UNLV is a club team playing div.1 in thecACHA which is not the NCSA..

ACHA teams are club teams meNibg there are no scholarships for students playing on hockey teams for colleges under that governing body ..

It woukd be akknto anNHL team playing a beer league team.


Yet Denverr is doen 5- 1despite a vast advantage on shot von goal..

True Denver without its coach (away coaching USA Jrs at WJHC.
And without Zeev Buuim also at WorkdxJrs for USA..but still....Looks like Denver also only playing a reduced squad of just 3 lines and 6 D and 1 goalie ...

Of coursexnot takibg thecgamevircopponentvseruously..

Anyway top 2forwatds on its top line both are -4 with no points (Jack Devine and the Hawks' prosoect AidanThompson).

This might be more of an upset than even Latvia beating Canada at Workd Juniors..

Will Denver push in priodc3ctp make the scorexat least less embarrassing?

 

[hawksfan50]

Now just over 7 minutes left in the game Denver has cone back big..Score now 6-5 for UNLB...Aidan Thompson did get a goal ..butcstill -4 ..Hos linemate Jack Devibe went to -5 though.

Denver outscoring UNLV 54-15 but still work tobdo to tie it up...Can they conecalk the way back?

 

[hawksfan50]

Thompson scores again to tie it 6-6 ..with just overcome minutes remaining.