Prospect Info: General Prospect Discussion Thread 2019-20

[2Pair]

AK 2+1 so far in game 1 of the CHL Russia super series,He's also wearing the C.

Edit Finished 2+2

Did he take any selfish penalties?

 

[Kshahdoo]

 

[Kshahdoo]

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I see skill.

 

[TaLoN]

That’s fine, but this isn’t a playoff team anymore. So tear down the pieces that don’t fit long term.

Or keep drafting 7-15 and getting the leftovers, and hoping you snag a Pastrnak or Kucherov somehow.

You keep bringing up Pastrnak like we couldn't have drafted him... I remember some wanted us to take him that year. The Wild passed.

 

[AKL]

You keep bringing up Pastrnak like we couldn't have drafted him... I remember some wanted us to take him that year. The Wild passed.

I keep bringing him up as a top talent that was chosen outside of the top 5, regardless of whether we could have drafted him or not. We could have drafted Kucherov too but instead we took Phillips 30 picks earlier. That's not the point though.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

Khavanov is so smart

 

[57special]

I think it's an advantage for him to be playing in Eastern Canada, compared to most of the rest of his team mates.

 

[Wabit]

I think it's an advantage for him to be playing in Eastern Canada, compared to most of the rest of his team mates.

How so?

 

[AKL]

How so?

I'm also interested in hearing this explanation.

 

[DANOZ28]

still hoping for a kaprizov / khovanov / sokolov line someday although sokolov's ship seems to be sinking in quicksand. Wildcats’ Khovanov steals the show in series-opening win for Russia – CIBC Canada/Russia Series

 

[Saga of the Elk]

I'm also interested in hearing this explanation.

Uh....it's a long flight from Russia to Canada and sometimes bodies don't adjust right away?

 

[thestonedkoala]

still hoping for a kaprizov / khovanov / sokolov line someday although sokolov's ship seems to be sinking in quicksand. Wildcats’ Khovanov steals the show in series-opening win for Russia – CIBC Canada/Russia Series

Sokolov is done. No need to worry about him.

 

[puckMAN]

Id

still hoping for a kaprizov / khovanov / sokolov line someday although sokolov's ship seems to be sinking in quicksand. Wildcats’ Khovanov steals the show in series-opening win for Russia – CIBC Canada/Russia Series

I'd say Firstov has a better chance than Sokolov at this point making an all Russian line with AK +KK.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

This is borderline unfair

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

i haven’t formulated a solid opinion on Byfield, mainly because I’m not all that sold that he’s not just physically too dominant for junior hockey. I haven’t heard much about him having a great brain, so that is always a red-flag for me. That being said, I’ve never seen him play outside of highlights, and in those he looks skilled. I just bring this up because there’s an interesting debate going on that Byfield could be the best center to come out out any of the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 drafts. Essentially, since Matthews. 2021 isn’t likely to compete, but 2022 has Shane Wright who is his biggest expected competitor for that title. Like I said, I don’t know that I’m sold on it, I think Petterson is great, but it shows that we have a chance to get a real high-end player this year just based in the fact that he’s in the discussion.

 

[AKL]

i haven’t formulated a solid opinion on Byfield, mainly because I’m not all that sold that he’s not just physically too dominant for junior hockey. I haven’t heard much about him having a great brain, so that is always a red-flag for me. That being said, I’ve never seen him play outside of highlights, and in those he looks skilled. I just bring this up because there’s an interesting debate going on that Byfield could be the best center to come out out any of the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 drafts. Essentially, since Matthews. 2021 isn’t likely to compete, but 2022 has Shane Wright who is his biggest expected competitor for that title. Like I said, I don’t know that I’m sold on it, I think Petterson is great, but it shows that we have a chance to get a real high-end player this year just based in the fact that he’s in the discussion.

I've heard he's a very smart player too. Byfield that is.

And a note about Wright, he's a 15 year old and he's 6' 185lbs. If one of the concerns is that Byfield just beating up on kids not as physically mature as him, same holds true for Wright. We'll see how he progresses.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

I've heard he's a very smart player too. Byfield that is.

And a note about Wright, he's a 15 year old and he's 6' 185lbs. If one of the concerns is that he's just beating up on kids not as physically mature as him, same holds true for Wright. We'll see how he progresses.

Yeah I’m excited to see how wright does as the year continues. I think the kid is a stud

 

[Bazeek]

Well that was brief.


Some comments from Joe O'Donnell (longtime announcer for Iowa) in Russo's podcast:
- Somewhat speculative, but O'Donnel thought Sokolov came into camp in "better shape than he's ever been in in his life," but that he still may not have met the standards they were shooting for in Iowa. Either that or he passed but was behind the rest of the team.
- Whatever the reason, once he started the year not in the line-up he had his work cut out for him getting back in. Iowa has a lot of depth and has been winning a lot of games, so he hasn't had much of a chance to work his way in.
- The ECHL assignment was mostly about getting him playing time instead of letting him rot on the bench. Had 1 goal in the 1 game he played, and has been called up again.

And then some of the expected "NHL shot", "can't give up on a guy like that yet" talk, but he's probably not the most objective source on those points.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Well that was brief.


Some comments from Joe O'Donnell (longtime announcer for Iowa) in Russo's podcast:
- Somewhat speculative, but O'Donnel thought Sokolov came into camp in "better shape than he's ever been in in his life," but that he still may not have met the standards they were shooting for in Iowa. Either that or he passed but was behind the rest of the team.
- Whatever the reason, once he started the year not in the line-up he had his work cut out for him getting back in. Iowa has a lot of depth and has been winning a lot of games, so he hasn't had much of a chance to work his way in.
- The ECHL assignment was mostly about getting him playing time instead of letting him rot on the bench. Had 1 goal in the 1 game he played, and has been called up again.

And then some of the expected "NHL shot", "can't give up on a guy like that yet" talk, but he's probably not the most objective source on those points.

hard to blame them for not tossing him in. first place in the central and playing well. was hoping he would force their hand though and not let them sit him.

 

[fentonsbrainchild]

Has anyone seen Firstov play at all this year? I got the chance to watch him at Waterloo last year and his skating impressed me as a Russian.

1 G and 3 A on UConn's first line. UConn plays BC twice this weekend and it'll be nice to see the first two Wild picks play on the same ice.

 

[Bazeek]

Has anyone seen Firstov play at all this year? I got the chance to watch him at Waterloo last year and his skating impressed me as a Russian.

1 G and 3 A on UConn's first line. UConn plays BC twice this weekend and it'll be nice to see the first two Wild picks play on the same ice.

I've been hoping to get a look at him this weekend. He and Beckman have "quietly" been off to good starts this year.

 

[2Pair]

hard to blame them for not tossing him in. first place in the central and playing well. was hoping he would force their hand though and not let them sit him.

Iowa's primary job is to develop players for the NHL. Winning is better than losing but it means nothing if they're winning with players that will never be in the NHL.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Iowa's primary job is to develop players for the NHL. Winning is better than losing but it means nothing if they're winning with players that will never be in the NHL.

I agree, maybe its a process we are just missing?? idk.

 

[Wabit]

Iowa's primary job is to develop players for the NHL. Winning is better than losing but it means nothing if they're winning with players that will never be in the NHL.

That pretty much describes the entire FWD group in Iowa right now. Putting Sokolov on the 4th line in Iowa in place of Laimbas or Cody McLeod (yes he's in Iowa) really wouldn't do Sokolov or the team any good.