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Kings Article: Dedication, Work Ethic Pushing Maxim Kitsyn’s Development Forward

FrozenRoyalty said:
Feature on LA Kings forward prospect Maxim Kitsyn, including audio with Kitsyn and Ontario Reign head coach Jason Christie...

Dedication And Work Ethic Are Pushing LA Kings Prospect Maxim Kitsyn’s Development Forward
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Thanks Gann, I was curious as to how Kitsyn was doing from an organizational perspective. If could ask a followup question, is there any talk of a timeline for Kitsyn to move to Manchester and then the NHL or does the last step seem like a pipe dream at this point?

As a point of speculation, is it reasonable to think Kitsyn will ever play for the LA Kings or is his NHL shot going to be with a lesser team in 2 to 3 years? I think if he doesn't make the NHL by then that he'll have to seriously consider Russia for the money.

T2M
 
Cool. He might not have developed as well as many of us hoped but it's nice to see he's working hard and getting better.
 
T2M said:
Thanks Gann, I was curious as to how Kitsyn was doing from an organizational perspective. If could ask a followup question, is there any talk of a timeline for Kitsyn to move to Manchester and then the NHL or does the last step seem like a pipe dream at this point?

As a point of speculation, is it reasonable to think Kitsyn will ever play for the LA Kings or is his NHL shot going to be with a lesser team in 2 to 3 years? I think if he doesn't make the NHL by then that he'll have to seriously consider Russia for the money.

T2M
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Too early to tell. But as the story says, he's got the right attitude and the determination to make the jump. Won't happen this season, but I'd be surprised if he doesn't play with the Monarchs next season.
 
T2M said:
Thanks Gann, I was curious as to how Kitsyn was doing from an organizational perspective. If could ask a followup question, is there any talk of a timeline for Kitsyn to move to Manchester and then the NHL or does the last step seem like a pipe dream at this point?

As a point of speculation, is it reasonable to think Kitsyn will ever play for the LA Kings or is his NHL shot going to be with a lesser team in 2 to 3 years? I think if he doesn't make the NHL by then that he'll have to seriously consider Russia for the money.

T2M
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BigBrown said:
Cool. He might not have developed as well as many of us hoped but it's nice to see he's working hard and getting better.
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What kind of development were you hoping for? Last season was his first full season in North America, and his first in the pros. On top of that, he was a sixth round draft pick.
 
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FrozenRoyalty said:
What kind of development were you hoping for? Last season was his full season in North America, and his first in the pros. On top of that, he was a sixth round draft pick.
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I think once he was drafted and had some very successful games in Canadian Juniors many thought he was on a similar curve to someone like Andrei Loktionov. By some accounts his time back in Russia wasn't the greatest for him and him not being able to lock down a spot in Manchester further cements that. But his time in Ontario seems to have done him well and hopefully he is able to work himself back up the ladder.
 
Guy's game is not flushed out. Will need two or three years in Manchester. This is one of those players that might put it all together by age 25.
 
BigBrown said:
I think once he was drafted and had some very successful games in Canadian Juniors many thought he was on a similar curve to someone like Andrei Loktionov. By some accounts his time back in Russia wasn't the greatest for him and him not being able to lock down a spot in Manchester further cements that. But his time in Ontario seems to have done him well and hopefully he is able to work himself back up the ladder.
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The KHL is not a developmental league, so no one should be surprised at where he's at now...only his second full season in North American and second full season in the pros. He's right where we all should expect him to be.
 
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FrozenRoyalty said:
The KHL is not a developmental league, so no one should be surprised at where he's at now...onlly his second full season in North American and second full season in the pros. He's right where we all should expect him to be.
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Boom.

This.

KHL was a setback for him, he's now a late bloomer whether people like it or not. Skill is still there and it's nice to see the work ethic is as well.
 
FrozenRoyalty said:
The KHL is not a developmental league, so no one should be surprised at where he's at now...onlly his second full season in North American and second full season in the pros. He's right where we all should expect him to be.
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He was drafted in 2010, joined a Canadian junior squad the following year and was one of the top scorers in that years playoffs, he had a big impact. Then he had to go back to Russia. If someone had told you then that Kitsyn in his fourth season of hockey since then still needs work before he is ready to be relied on to play in the American League, would you say he developed as well as you'd hoped?
 
BigBrown said:
He was drafted in 2010, joined a Canadian junior squad the following year and was one of the top scorers in that years playoffs, he had a big impact. Then he had to go back to Russia. If someone had told you then that Kitsyn in his fourth season of hockey since then still needs work before he is ready to be relied on to play in the American League, would you say he developed as well as you'd hoped?
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Given that one season in major junior doesn't mean a whole lot, yes.
 
FrozenRoyalty said:
Given that one season in major junior doesn't mean a whole lot, yes.
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I disagree. I think that it showed that at the time he could compete with his peers as a dominant player. Now he can't crack an AHL roster. He's not a bust, 6th round picks can't be. But that year did show that perhaps he was a 6th rounder because of the Russian factor, not skill. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders, so it looks like the KHL time was regressive for him. He's also not where he needs to be given the difficulty forwards have making the NHL if they have to start in the ECHL. In all seriousness, Biznasty was signed in Manchester before Kitsyn got the call up. I am genuinely curious as to whether or not that good young CHL player was the peak we're going to see from Kitsyn or if he has more to give.
 
The KHL set kitsyn back two years in development. Said so when he was told he had to honor his contract in Russia.

Its the gamble you take drafting Russian players that are tied to KHL contracts.
 
damacles1156 said:
The KHL set kitsyn back two years in development. Said so when he was told he had to honor his contract in Russia.

Its the gamble you take drafting Russian players that are tied to KHL contracts.
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Which is my fear with Prokhorkin. He seems like has the tools but I don't know about his development over there. Can we get an update about him?

I had high hopes for Kitsyn to be a scoring talented winger the Kings needed, but now I just want him to make the NHL like a Lewis. :(
 
KingsOfCali25 said:
Which is my fear with Prokhorkin. He seems like has the tools but I don't know about his development over there. Can we get an update about him?

I had high hopes for Kitsyn to be a scoring talented winger the Kings needed, but now I just want him to make the NHL like a Lewis. :(
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I doubt porkins comes to north america at all, he is a star in Russia making good money already.
 
KingsOfCali25 said:
Which is my fear with Prokhorkin. He seems like has the tools but I don't know about his development over there. Can we get an update about him?

I had high hopes for Kitsyn to be a scoring talented winger the Kings needed, but now I just want him to make the NHL like a Lewis. :(
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Huge difference between playing 6 minutes a night on a bad team vs top line minutes with the best winger in the league on a top team in the league. Prokhorkin is fine.

Kitsyn, however, won't sniff the NHL.
 
T2M said:
I disagree. I think that it showed that at the time he could compete with his peers as a dominant player. Now he can't crack an AHL roster. He's not a bust, 6th round picks can't be. But that year did show that perhaps he was a 6th rounder because of the Russian factor, not skill. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders, so it looks like the KHL time was regressive for him. He's also not where he needs to be given the difficulty forwards have making the NHL if they have to start in the ECHL. In all seriousness, Biznasty was signed in Manchester before Kitsyn got the call up. I am genuinely curious as to whether or not that good young CHL player was the peak we're going to see from Kitsyn or if he has more to give.
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Players often put up great numbers in juniors only to do not nearly as well as they move up, so don't make the mistake of over-emphasizing what a player does in junior.

As for Bissonnette, c'mon. They were looking for an enforcer, not a finesse player. Not relevant.

As for starting in the ECHL = not where he needs to be, that's false. Teams can be fairly loaded at certain positions, meaning that it's a numbers game. Given that playing in the KHL so long stunted his development, it shouldn't be a surprise to see him learning the North American game at the ECHL level.

You're right on the mark regarding his time in the KHL, though.

Again, no one should be surprised where he is, in terms of his development. He's right where one should expect him to be in the process.
 
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