Jason MacIsaac
Registered User
Chicoutimi will play him where he gives them the best chance to win. They don't care about his NHL development.
C German Rubtsov (2016, 22nd, PHI)
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Appleyard
Registered User
Yup. They have Roy and Zhukenov down the middle already... both very good centres at that level, and unlike Rubtsov have not recently spent much time playing wing.
Rubtsov is also very good... and would be #1C on quite a few Q teams, but for Chicoutimi, who have only three real top 6 wingers (Klima's + Ratelle) it makes far more sense to put Rubtsov on the wing.
Tripod
I hate this team
Rubstov can work on faceoffs all he wants to become better on them. He doesn't need to get in game faceoffs for half a season to improve there.
Next year, he can be the #1 C for Chicoutimi and then Russia at WJC. Just glad he is playing offensive minutes.
Next year, he can be the #1 C for Chicoutimi and then Russia at WJC. Just glad he is playing offensive minutes.
ValeriKamensky
Registered User
- May 8, 2013
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I think Zhukenov has just one advantage over Rubtsov: experience. All Rubtsov`s tolls & skills better than Zhukenov. When he get chemistry with teammates and experience in his new life, he will be 2C. And this will be soon
LegionOfDoom91
Registered User
I doubt it. They very likely rather stack their top line with Roy & Rubtsov.
It's really not the end of the world he's not playing center there. The key is that he's actually playing a lot of minutes now.
Magua
Entirely Palatable Product
Him and Roy look good together. Given that Roy will always be 1C, and Zhukenov is a solid 2C himself, I'd rather Rubtsov get top line minutes. He may be a natural center, but he looks good on the wing and is as defensively responsible there as at center.
He's scoring and creating chances, playing good defense, is incredibly strong forechecking and cycling, has matched the physicality well by being pretty dang chippy himself with the body or his stick or yapping stuff no one understands, and seems to be having fun out there. There's still a bit of feeling out with his teammates as much as there is with the league itself, but I have no doubts he will continue to get more comfortable and keep bringing in different aspects of his game. Don't know why anyone who is a Rubtsov fan, Flyers or Russian alike, wouldn't be enthused to see him doing well so far.
He's scoring and creating chances, playing good defense, is incredibly strong forechecking and cycling, has matched the physicality well by being pretty dang chippy himself with the body or his stick or yapping stuff no one understands, and seems to be having fun out there. There's still a bit of feeling out with his teammates as much as there is with the league itself, but I have no doubts he will continue to get more comfortable and keep bringing in different aspects of his game. Don't know why anyone who is a Rubtsov fan, Flyers or Russian alike, wouldn't be enthused to see him doing well so far.
Fantomas
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- Aug 7, 2012
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I think the degree of evidence for what you said does not exceed the evidence for what he said.
Rubtsov did not earn a full-time job in the KHL and his agent offered him a way out, instead of urging him to keep working and getting better.
Rubtsov has not played well this year and it's not the fault of "Russia", or the KHL or anyone but Rubtsov himself.
Rubtsov did not earn a full-time job in the KHL and his agent offered him a way out, instead of urging him to keep working and getting better.
Rubtsov has not played well this year and it's not the fault of "Russia", or the KHL or anyone but Rubtsov himself.
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Tripod
I hate this team
Or....maybe he is not ready to be in the KHL so playing in a lesser league where he belongs is better?
No....that's can't be an option right?
Every Flyer fan that I have seen has said he is not physically ready to be playing in the KHL. So going to the CHL is a better option for him based on where he is in his development. It's not like we are saying he should be getting top 6 minutes in the KHL. We just....and he....would rather be playing lots as opposed to being benched or being an extra forward in games.
BobbyClarkeFan16
Registered User
I'm glad to see he's performing well against his peers and honestly, if the move to left wing is best for his career, then why not keep him there. Simon Gagne was drafted as center, played his junior career at center and when he got to the NHL, he was exclusively a left winger. At this point, all what I want is for Rubstov to be comfortable where ever he plays and helps the Flyers win a Stanley Cup. If it's center, great. If it's left wing, great. I have no complaints. I just want to see the kid play, which they weren't doing with him in Russia.
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Magua
Entirely Palatable Product
Considering he wouldn't be sent to the VHL; his MHL team was basically the MHL Devils, and he was probably too good for them; and he wasn't physically ready for the KHL, it made sense to come over. Clearly at the draft it was on his mind too, and he kind of just wanted to get his NA career underway. Got to come over eventually, and he wanted to come over now.
Without the name on the back of his jersey, you'd have no clue he just came over from Russia. That's how seamless the transition has been through 3 games, minus a couple nitpicky stuff. I remember pre-draft, scouts kept touting how "North American" his game was.....and he's just proving it.
Zine
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- Feb 28, 2002
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Let's not forget Rubtsov was getting playing time in the MHL, but MHL is more like USHL level.
I think he's better off developing at home in the same way every Russian has since forever; but considering he's not KHL material, and the VHL didn't appear to be an option, this could be one of the rare cases where, although still risky, the CHL might not be too bad an option....at least if it's only for the rest of the season. Longer than that?..I dunno, the CHL has an atrocious track record of developing Russian forwards. He should play KHL next year, but considering that's not an option either I hope he goes AHL.
I think he's better off developing at home in the same way every Russian has since forever; but considering he's not KHL material, and the VHL didn't appear to be an option, this could be one of the rare cases where, although still risky, the CHL might not be too bad an option....at least if it's only for the rest of the season. Longer than that?..I dunno, the CHL has an atrocious track record of developing Russian forwards. He should play KHL next year, but considering that's not an option either I hope he goes AHL.
Brayden Fattison
Registered User
- Mar 4, 2013
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Fair enough; I think most people were in agreement that he belonged in the VHL this year.
The thing you have to remember is that he's Flyers' property, and Chicoutimi knows that the Flyers can pull the plug if they start screwing with his development.
Like Magua said earlier, he has great chemistry with Roy and he's getting great playing time. I'm fine with him where he is this year and I'd be ok with him still in the Q next year if he's getting #1 center minutes.
Fantomas
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I don't know how you can possibly state this as if it's an objective fact.
I don't know if it's better and neither do you.
Fantomas
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Sure. And Rubtsov was lukewarm there at best.
If this league is not a challenge for him then why not freaking dominate it?
Striiker
Former Flyers Fan
Broad Street Elite
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- Nov 9, 2011
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He was at a point per game level in the MHL this season. What is good there when you play on a weak team? Looking at the Russkie Vityazi Chekhov roster, none of the other regular players are much beyond .5 points per game. Rubstov in 15 games is still 5th in scoring there despite many of the other players getting into 35-40 games.
Look, I think Rubstov and the Flyers should be very happy that Rubstov is getting top line playing time in the Q with other talented NHL prospects. Provorov has demonstrated that playing in Russia isn't the only route for Russian prospects to become impactful NHL players. If Rubstov could have played in the VHL, then this discussion probably isn't happening. I'm glad his KHL team let him pursue an opportunity that will ultimately help him (and hopefully eventually the Russian National Teams).
Magua
Entirely Palatable Product
15 points in 15 games looks a lot better when the team's point leader has 22 points in 40 games.
Anyone who is a Rubtsov fan knows he needs 2 things right now and they go hand in hand: playing time and confidence. As a guy who has always been a top 2-way center and incredibly committed defensively, I think it's of utmost importance to not have him stagnate offensively at the sake of it, or be hesitant to play anything other than a "safe" game, which this entire season has been an exercise in, whether playing a couple minutes/game in the KHL or playing on an offensive black hole in the MHL or playing 4th line/PK minutes at the WJC (though I understand that one a bit more). He has way too much skill for that. Finding the offensive confidence in the QMJHL to keep tapping into that skill set is what I'm most looking forward to in his development. And it's what he most needs.
Anyone who is a Rubtsov fan knows he needs 2 things right now and they go hand in hand: playing time and confidence. As a guy who has always been a top 2-way center and incredibly committed defensively, I think it's of utmost importance to not have him stagnate offensively at the sake of it, or be hesitant to play anything other than a "safe" game, which this entire season has been an exercise in, whether playing a couple minutes/game in the KHL or playing on an offensive black hole in the MHL or playing 4th line/PK minutes at the WJC (though I understand that one a bit more). He has way too much skill for that. Finding the offensive confidence in the QMJHL to keep tapping into that skill set is what I'm most looking forward to in his development. And it's what he most needs.
Tripod
I hate this team
Do you honestly think getting scratched or barely playing only defensive minutes in the KHL is better than playing against his own age group playing offensive minutes?
Why dominate a lesser league like the MHL when he can play against tougher competition in the CHL and hone the same skills?
Look what Flyers fans are saying.....that the VHL is the league he was ready for in Russia. But that didn't seem to be an option. He was not good or strong enough for the KHL and too good for MHL. The QMJHL is like the VHL....right in between....but better.
Next year, who knows where he plays. Let's see how he does this year in CHL, then how he develops over the summer.
Fantomas
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Fantomas
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QMJHL is tougher competition?
Yeah, that's a myth. Although talent in the MHL is diluted, there are more older players.
Caser
Moderator
- May 21, 2013
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I'd say QMJHL is tougher than MHL, especially this year (it was closer the year before though).
I'm wondering, why his agents or Flyers management couldn't arrange a better option at the CHL draft than Chicoutimi. I mean, someone from OHL or WHL with a more or less open center position and playing on NA sized rink.
I'm wondering, why his agents or Flyers management couldn't arrange a better option at the CHL draft than Chicoutimi. I mean, someone from OHL or WHL with a more or less open center position and playing on NA sized rink.
Fantomas
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