Prospect Info: Klim Kostin (31st overall in 2017)

[TK 421]

Walker is the perfect call up here, Washington fans had a lot of nice things to say about him this preseason.

Let Kyrou and Kostin play a bunch in SA.

 

[MissouriMook]

If you call up Walker as a reward, you have 10 games or 30 days before he has to clear waivers again. In that period of time, he gets a chance to prove that he is worth keeping on the NHL roster and Kyrou (who hasn't played a game yet) and Kostin (who clearly needs to show more before being considered a legitimate option) get an opportunity to make their case if Walker can't stick. Sounds like an Army move to me, how about you?

 

[Frenzy31]

I honestly don't put a ton of value into preseason play, either. There is such a wide range of skill levels, players trying to avoid injury and limited strategy during those games. He also had a ton of penalties, so much more goes into an assessment of a player than just the counting stats.

Depends on the penalties. Hooking and holding and interference are negative penalties. I am pretty good with roughing ones.

 

[David Dennison]

Depends on the penalties. Hooking and holding and interference are negative penalties. I am pretty good with roughing ones.

Maybe yes, maybe no. A lot of the Blues game is based on defensive discipline, coaches may prefer someone who isn't gonna run around looking for the big hit.

I do think that's the kind of player Kostin is gonna be, the question is what offensive ability is he gonna pair with the physical side. We haven't seen a ton outside of exhibition games. Let him get prime minutes in SA to develop those high end skills, he would be 4th line/healthy scratch in STL.

 

[mk80]

I'm in the camp that thinks Walker gets the first call.

 

[DatDude44]

As much as I want Klim to get a look. As a GM of an organization, how can u honestly call up the 20 yr old whos honestly playing good hockey(better than last year) over a guy like walker who’s torching the league, working his *** off and has put in the time in the minors for years working his way up.

i 100% believe Klim has a brighter long term future for the blues but as of right now, walker deserves the call up and a lot of people in the rampage organization would be shocked if they brought up Klim instead.

let Klim play more of walkers minutes in the A and lets see what walker can do on bozaks wing

 

[Ranksu]

As much as I want Klim to get a look. As a GM of an organization, how can u honestly call up the 20 yr old whos honestly playing good hockey(better than last year) over a guy like walker who’s torching the league, working his *** off and has put in the time in the minors for years working his way up.

i 100% believe Klim has a brighter long term future for the blues but as of right now, walker deserves the call up and a lot of people in the rampage organization would be shocked if they brought up Klim instead.

let Klim play more of walkers minutes in the A and lets see what walker can do on bozaks wing

I've always hated vet first kind of mentality. Yeah its good oldish AHL'er get paycheck for playing NHL level, but he is never going to be regular NHL'er compare to Kostin who has legit change to become top6 forward.

Ofc Walker can be super late bloomer, but I think he has already peaked and this is his last change to show it. So yeah give him biggest paycheck and his 15min of fame.

I try to look bigger picture. Giving Kostin play NHL level now would give him needed positive vibe to him and more help what he needs to work in at AHL to progress to NHL'er.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I've always hated vet first kind of mentality. Yeah its good oldish AHL'er get paycheck for playing NHL level, but he is never going to be regular NHL'er compare to Kostin who has legit change to become top6 forward.

Ofc Walker can be super late bloomer, but I think he has already peaked and this is his last change to show it. So yeah give him biggest paycheck and his 15min of fame.

I try to look bigger picture. Giving Kostin play NHL level now would give him needed positive vibe to him and more help what he needs to work in at AHL to progress to NHL'er.

Sounds like what people said about Marchessault. Or Binnington for that matter.

 

[shpongle falls]

Im all for Walker getting a call up, dudes on fire right now.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

I've always hated vet first kind of mentality. Yeah its good oldish AHL'er get paycheck for playing NHL level, but he is never going to be regular NHL'er compare to Kostin who has legit change to become top6 forward.

Ofc Walker can be super late bloomer, but I think he has already peaked and this is his last change to show it. So yeah give him biggest paycheck and his 15min of fame.

I try to look bigger picture. Giving Kostin play NHL level now would give him needed positive vibe to him and more help what he needs to work in at AHL to progress to NHL'er.

Sounds like the argument that gave Allen an opportunity instead of a guy like Elliott.

I think we all expect or at least hope that Kostin will be the better player (over Walker). But how can you ignore Walker's production? The team's first job is to win games. I don't have any doubt that Walker is going to help them win games NOW more than Kostin would. The way I see it, if Kostin is better than Walker, he can start by outperforming him when they play side by side in the same games. Until then, hard work and production should get rewarded over anything else, in a system where you value winning.

 

[BlueDream]

To me it’s a win-win situation.

Reward Walker for his play. You kinda have to. If players see a guy that’s way over PPG in the AHL and the Blues don’t even give him an opportunity, they look pretty bad in the eyes of other players that might consider signing 2-way deals here.

Play Walker for 2 weeks here. If he does nothing, then we move on and give a prospect a shot. If he kills it, then we found another diamond in the rough. With this strategy we are really not losing anything.

I think I recall hearing that he had a good camp anyways. So that’s even more reason to reward him. It’s not like his production is coming out of nowhere.

 

[MissouriMook]

Sounds like the argument that gave Allen an opportunity instead of a guy like Elliott.

I think we all expect or at least hope that Kostin will be the better player (over Walker). But how can you ignore Walker's production? The team's first job is to win games. I don't have any doubt that Walker is going to help them win games NOW more than Kostin would. The way I see it, if Kostin is better than Walker, he can start by outperforming him when they play side by side in the same games. Until then, hard work and production should get rewarded over anything else, in a system where you value winning.

Well put. If you're cornered into a decision as to who to keep in your organization and who to let walk, you keep Kostin 10 times out of 10. But that's not the question at hand. You have a need NOW, and the question is who is playing better and more likely to help your team NOW, and the data you have to make that decision screams Walker.

My guess is Walker will be called up for this weekend, spend 10-15 days on the NHL roster, then get sent back down before he has to clear waivers again. Either Kyrou will be up to speed and offered the opportunity to take a spot on RW in Tarasenko's absence, or Kostin will pick up his play and beat Kyrou to the punch. I actually expect to see a revolving door of Kostin and Kyrou in the short-term (unless one of them produces at a 40-50 point pace at the NHL level) unless and until they decide to go outside the organization to fill that role.

 

[67Blues]

I've always hated vet first kind of mentality. Yeah its good oldish AHL'er get paycheck for playing NHL level, but he is never going to be regular NHL'er compare to Kostin who has legit change to become top6 forward.

Ofc Walker can be super late bloomer, but I think he has already peaked and this is his last change to show it. So yeah give him biggest paycheck and his 15min of fame.

I try to look bigger picture. Giving Kostin play NHL level now would give him needed positive vibe to him and more help what he needs to work in at AHL to progress to NHL'er.

What has Klim done this season to earn a callup compared to one of the AHL leaders in points? He's 20 years old, his time will come when the team feels he is ready to contribute effectively. If Kyrou wasn't recouping from surgery at the beginning of this season, he'd be the first call up.

 

[Ranksu]

Walker is the perfect call up here, Washington fans had a lot of nice things to say about him this preseason.

Let Kyrou and Kostin play a bunch in SA.

Kostin was far more better pre-season games than Walker.

I'm literally shocked if Walker can produce NHL level. He was so easily man handled at pre-season games at NHL level, I doubt nothing has changed after 1 month.

 

[Mike Liut]

Klim is going to play an important role for the Blues cup repeat run. Let him and Kyrou get more time down there first.

 

[TK 421]

Kostin was far more better pre-season games than Walker.

I'm literally shocked if Walker can produce NHL level. He was so easily man handled at pre-season games at NHL level, I doubt nothing has changed after 1 month.

Well Walker being near the top of AHL scoring tells me that right now he's a much more likely guy to step up and handle whatever role is available. Good pros find ways to get points regardless of circumstance and Walker has done that.

In Doug Armstrongs Tarasenko presser he said that Klim should be a 1st year AHLer not a 3rd year vet at freaking 20. And I've only been saying that since we drafted him so I'm glad to hear DA echo those same thoughts because it reassures me they have Klim's best interests in mind. I would need a damn good reason to take a cavalier attitude towards his development at this critical stage when he's supposed to be taking a significant step forward.

You want to see Kostin thrive at the NHL level? If the answer is yes then put him in a position to do so and that's exactly what the team is doing.

Last year they basically replaced every member of the SA management group including a completely new coaching staff. They struggled terribly but now with the structure in place in SA and some serious personnel adds it's a much better environment for our young players to develop. Taking Klim out of that environment this early in the season is counter productive. A potential mid season call up is his for the taking, but he has to give them a reason to make that call.

 

[Ranksu]

If Walker get called up and produce at least 1 point I'm shocked. What I have saw about him isn't what qualify as NHL forward. Yes its very short sample, but its just what my eyes saw.

To me if Walker gets called up its just bigger paycheck for himn which is just fine, but I highly doubt he'll success. He isn't excatly that speedy such a small player. I just saw at pre-season games he got pretty easily man handled, and looked he doesn't belong in this league, in other hand Kostin was performing another level and producing at pre-season in better linemates compare to AHL. His size and skill set worked well at NHL level.

I agree not to rush Kostin in to NHL, but short time at NHL would give him extra boost and confidence what needs to improve and spirit which has been his so called 'thing' when he has speaken go to back Russia.

I understand thinking process you award players who has been good at AHL, but I don't see him improve team who is already +25 years old.

 

[Ted Hoffman]

I honestly don't put a ton of value into preseason play, either. There is such a wide range of skill levels, players trying to avoid injury and limited strategy during those games. He also had a ton of penalties, so much more goes into an assessment of a player than just the counting stats.

Are you kidding? Preseason play means everything. The more gaudy the stats, the better.

Respectfully,

Justin "5 goals in a preseason game" Papineau

 

[Robb_K]

Deleted due to embarrassment

 

[TK 421]

So if you could go ahead and make sure Dunn and Faulk never play together again that would be great.

Robb'ed it! Aaaaaaayo!

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Are you kidding? Preseason play means everything. The more gaudy the stats, the better.

Respectfully,

Justin "5 goals in a preseason game" Papineau

HaHaHaHa!!!!!

Love it.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

If Walker get called up and produce at least 1 point I'm shocked. What I have saw about him isn't what qualify as NHL forward. Yes its very short sample, but its just what my eyes saw.

To me if Walker gets called up its just bigger paycheck for himn which is just fine, but I highly doubt he'll success. He isn't excatly that speedy such a small player. I just saw at pre-season games he got pretty easily man handled, and looked he doesn't belong in this league, in other hand Kostin was performing another level and producing at pre-season in better linemates compare to AHL. His size and skill set worked well at NHL level.

I agree not to rush Kostin in to NHL, but short time at NHL would give him extra boost and confidence what needs to improve and spirit which has been his so called 'thing' when he has speaken go to back Russia.

I understand thinking process you award players who has been good at AHL, but I don't see him improve team who is already +25 years old.

He’ll probably get a limited opportunity to play, and wind up being a scratch most nights. But they’ll definitely get him a couple games, more if he continues his hot streak. The roster that played tonight is more likely to be the guys on the ice.

 

[simon IC]

I tend to agree with Ranksu. Walker was indeed knocked off the puck when he was up here. I think it would be decent to reward him with a cup of coffee, but I am not sure his 5'9" frame, combined with a lack of speed, is going to support his offensive style in the NHL the same way it does in the AHL. He deserves to be the first call-up, and get press box duty, but I don't think it would be wise to bank on him becoming a regular NHL'er.

 

[DoubleK81]

I see a lot of people here saying to call Walker up because he is leading the team in scoring in the AHL. I'd like to ask those people, how many of those AHL leading scorers have materialized into anything recently? Leaders and recognizable names from a quick look -
10-11
League Leader Corey Locke 86pts
'11-12
League Leader Chris Bourque 93pts Maroon(3rd) had 74pts. Tyler Johnson had 68. Marchessault 64
'12-13
League Leader Brandon Pirri 75pts. Marchessault 67. Tyler Johnson 65. Gus Nyquist 60.
'13-14
League Leader Travis Morin 88pts. Mike Hoffman 67.
'14-15
League Leader Brian Oneill 80pts. Marchessault 67.
'15-16
League Leader Chris Bourque 80pts. Mikko Rantanen 60.

How many of those league leaders are even in the NHL right now, let alone playing a meaningful role? Cal O'Reilly and Cory Conacher have been top 10 for several years running now, why aren't they in the NHL? AHL stats for the most part mean jack shit. Kostin had a far better training camp/preseason than Walker did, and Walker has played regular season NHL games while being 5 years older.

 

[TK 421]

I see a lot of people here saying to call Walker up because he is leading the team in scoring in the AHL. I'd like to ask those people, how many of those AHL leading scorers have materialized into anything recently? Leaders and recognizable names from a quick look -
10-11
League Leader Corey Locke 86pts
'11-12
League Leader Chris Bourque 93pts Maroon(3rd) had 74pts. Tyler Johnson had 68. Marchessault 64
'12-13
League Leader Brandon Pirri 75pts. Marchessault 67. Tyler Johnson 65. Gus Nyquist 60.
'13-14
League Leader Travis Morin 88pts. Mike Hoffman 67.
'14-15
League Leader Brian Oneill 80pts. Marchessault 67.
'15-16
League Leader Chris Bourque 80pts. Mikko Rantanen 60.

How many of those league leaders are even in the NHL right now, let alone playing a meaningful role? Cal O'Reilly and Cory Conacher have been top 10 for several years running now, why aren't they in the NHL? AHL stats for the most part mean jack ****. Kostin had a far better training camp/preseason than Walker did, and Walker has played regular season NHL games while being 5 years older.

The point isn't having Walker turn into a player at this level though, he's just likely to be best suited to be a stop gap while our top 2 RW prospects play tons of minutes in SA. If he's too weak on the puck to hack it here so be it but at least the team is showing performance in the AHL earns you that chance to find out. On a related note Kostin himself gets it reinforced to him how one earns that chance. Who knows, maybe Kostin would be better. But Walker getting the call makes sense and sends the right message. If Walker flops then at least we bought Klim a bit more development time. Walkers depth and we can afford to healthy scratch him without concern for screwing up his development. With Kostin being 20 he's at a critical stage and he's a former 1st rounder we've sunk time and coaching into to get here. It seems really irresponsible to me to make him the call up right now when we were expecting him to take a step forward as an AHLer first.