F Rodion Amirov (2020, 15th, TOR) - tragically passed away due to brain tumor 8/14/23

[oooooooooohCanada]

Amirov is repped by Dan Milstein who is basically the agent of every Russian player the Leafs have had the past 5 years. He'll be over in North America for 21-22, I'd bank on it.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

This guy is gonna be trade fodder real quick

 

[waitin425]

Congrats Toronto. I wanted the Habs to get Amirov. I saw the kid play live once in the Canada-Russia series and he stood out on the Russian side. I thought he looked better than Perfetti in the game I saw. I think this kid is going to be a big surprise for a lot of teams.

 

[Merrrlin]

scouting reports on Amirov are he most likely can step into the NHL next year. If so the Kapanen deal added two ELC contracts for the roster next year. Pretty nice work by a GM if you ask me.

Where did you read that? From what I've gathered, he's 3-4 years away.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Rodion is a cool name. Sounds like a robot cowboy.

Normally I'd say this ain't Kyle Dubas's first Rodion.....but it probably is.

 

[Lainehasaweirdface]

Not everyone has as simplistic thinking as you do.

Pretty bold for any of us to question pro scouts when most of us have only read amatuer scouting reports in magazines or seen rankings.

We're happy with our guy, feel free to move on

Also, this doesn't sound like a "small skilled forward" type to me...the guy isn't Malgin:



One thing I wouldn't mind hearing from our Russian members about is his skating - I've seen it described as "Ok", "Good", and then recently by Dubas as "his most attractive asset".

Not Russian but I watched a few of his KHL games on stream and the kid is slick on his edges. He's a Nylander clone skating with the puck in transition. He's got fantastic footspeed. His top gear is nothing to write home about but it isn't a hindrance. So yeah, average speed, elite edgework and agility.

 

[Rob Brown]

My man, stop looking at out dated measurements and maybe actually watch how he plays. The dude is over 6 feet and goes to the net.

This is classic hate on a pick because the Leafs selected him

100%. There were several posters who came in here immediately to chirp Leafs fans. If we drafted Schneider, for example, it would have been laughing at us for drafting a slow D who won't help us for years.

 

[Merrrlin]

Not Russian but I watched a few of his KHL games on stream and the kid is slick on his edges. He's a Nylander clone skating with the puck in transition. He's got fantastic footspeed. His top gear is nothing to write home about but it isn't a hindrance. So yeah, average speed, elite edgework and agility.

Thanks, sounds like a style comparison to Kovalev or Datsyuk in terms of skating - not going to win many head on races (Foudy, Barzal) but good edgework in tight. That seems to fit with most reports I've read.

 

[Merrrlin]

100%. There were several posters who came in here immediately to chirp Leafs fans. If we drafted Schneider, for example, it would have been laughing at us for drafting a slow D who won't help us for years.

The weirdest one is the Florida Panthers fan chirping us saying we need to be better defensively. Amirov is a two way player, he's no Malgin or Gaudreau.

Hard to believe that in 2020, some people still think defence only comes from defencemen.

 

[Hostile Offer]

I love to hate everything regarding the Leafs but this is a great pick. Wanted him on the Habs.

 

[Merrrlin]

@Caser any general thoughts on this player? I appreciate the highlights you have posted.

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

Where did you read that? From what I've gathered, he's 3-4 years away.

Hmmm let me figure out which draft site. I was looking at players I thought the Flyers should target if they drop and he was one of them. The thing that stuck out was I read that in a couple of assessments.

 

[Merrrlin]

Hmmm let me figure out which draft site. I was looking at players I thought the Flyers should target if they drop and he was one of them. The thing that stuck out was I read that in a couple of assessments.

I actually just read a similar quote. Seems like people are a bit split on this. I guess we will see if he signs another KHL contract after - could be 1-2 years away, could be 5.

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

I actually just read a similar quote. Seems like people are a bit split on this. I guess we will see if he signs another KHL contract after - could be 1-2 years away, could be 5.

I think it will depend on how he develops physically this year. I have also read some comparisons to players like Nylander, Datsyuk, and Kovelev but I think a better comparison is a Landeskog lite or Renberg lite for a ceiling. He is a nice get at 15.

 

[Caser]

@Caser any general thoughts on this player? I appreciate the highlights you have posted.

Skilled kid, can play two-way game too, but, imo, not always putting the required amount of work into it, but those might be just some growth pains that will go away as he matures. Could become someone like Mikheyev with an upgrade on overall natural skills.

 

[Caser]

Is there anywhere we can see the goals he scored in the K this year?

Maybe in this thread, but couple of pages back?

 

[TheGroceryStick]

This guy is gonna be trade fodder real quick

I think...if anything he gives us wiggle room to eventually move a higher priced winger.... Robertson does the same.

 

[FrozenJagrt]

Not the guy I was hoping for, but I don't know anything about him so I won't celebrate or complain.

Curious to see how many Greyhounds Dubas picks today.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Where did you read that? From what I've gathered, he's 3-4 years away.

If he keeps playing well in the KHL he looks like he could either be a late season call up in 2021-2022 or make the team full time from camp in 2022

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Skilled kid, can play two-way game too, but, imo, not always putting the required amount of work into it, but those might be just some growth pains that will go away as he matures. Could become someone like Mikheyev with an upgrade on overall natural skills.

Any physicality in his game? Cosentino and Burke's assessments seemed to contradict one another, where Cosentino made it sound like he played a heavy game and would add grit/physicality whereas Burke made it sound like he's more of a finesse guy without the grit aspect.

 

[Caser]

Any physicality in his game? Cosentino and Burke's assessments seemed to contradict one another, where Cosentino made it sound like he played a heavy game and would add grit/physicality whereas Burke made it sound like he's more of a finesse guy without the grit aspect.

He sure can be physical, but that's also something along with the two-way game that I would want to see him do on a more consistent basis, not just from time to time.

 

[Future]

Man did he ever look good today. He could’ve had multiple points, but only ended up with the shootout winner.

The amount of takeaways this kid gets... really impressive hockey player.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Man did he ever look good today. He could’ve had multiple points, but only ended up with the shootout winner.

The amount of takeaways this kid gets... really impressive hockey player.

Yeah he looked like one of the best players on the ice. He was a dog on the puck and came up with a lot of takeaways. His skating and hands were on full display and he created a lot of medium-high danger opportunities. Very impressive showing.

 

[Caser]

 

[Morgs]

Personally my favourite moment of the game: