LW/RW Kirill Kaprizov - CSKA Moscow, KHL (2015, 135th, MIN)

[AKL]

Doesn't Granlund lack a good shot like at all?

It's not the best shot you'll ever see, but I wouldn't call it a bad shot. It's pretty accurate, but the biggest issue is he doesn't use it enough.

 

[FVM]

Doesn't Granlund lack a good shot like at all?

I'm a huge Granlund fan but you're right, his shot is his weakness. He has an ok wrister but it takes time to set up. Kaprizov certainly has a better shot and more of goalscorer's nose for the net.

 

[guitarhunterdude]

Doesn't Granlund lack a good shot like at all?

The comparison to Granlund was meant to be strictly a physical one. The difference in shooting ability isn't even close; Granlund is putrid (though he has improved a little) and Kaprizov has gone from okay to looking great in the span of a year.

I don't see him as being notably quick or strong. He is slightly quick at times, and has more strength than an average player of his size at that age, but I don't see either trait as truly standout like, say, Panarin's elusiveness/stickhandling ability or Tarasenko's strength.

Though this goal definitely gives me some hope that I'm wrong on the strength bit.

 

[BagHead]

Doesn't Granlund lack a good shot like at all?

Not "at all". But certainly it isn't great. It's got decent velocity and it's accurate, but his release is slow. This means he usually needs to make a move in order to shake his defender if he wants to get it off, so he doesn't get to use it a whole lot.

The only comparisons that make sense between Kaprizov and Granlund are size, IQ, and maybe skating. Otherwise they're very different players from all I've seen, and while they're both very smart, they think the game differently. They do different things in the same situation.

 

[57special]

Doesn't Granlund lack a good shot like at all?

It's not the best shot you'll ever see, but I wouldn't call it a bad shot. It's pretty accurate, but the biggest issue is he doesn't use it enough.

Not "at all". But certainly it isn't great. It's got decent velocity and it's accurate, but his release is slow. This means he usually needs to make a move in order to shake his defender if he wants to get it off, so he doesn't get to use it a whole lot.

The only comparisons that make sense between Kaprizov and Granlund are size, IQ, and maybe skating. Otherwise they're very different players from all I've seen, and while they're both very smart, they think the game differently. They do different things in the same situation.

I agree with you on Granlund's release. It' s like he has to gather himself, like a little kid trying to
Lift the puck with a wood stick. As my eldest son said, when I tried to teach him how to shoot ( I come from the wood stick era), " Dad, you're wrong. You just fling the puck and let the stick do the rest."

There is nothing wrong with Kaprizov's puck handling or passing, but Granlund is magic in those areas. Where Kaprizov looks to be better, besides his shot, is his ability to get to the net and his more direct scoring mentality. He also looks stronger than Granlund, but we'll see once he gets to the NHL. Granlund excels in the big international ice surface...he doesn't have enough time and space on the NHL ice. I think Kaprizov's game is more suited to the smaller surface, as he doesn't need to monopolize the puck as much.

We'll see. Pulkinnen is down in the AHL scoring at a PPG pace, but can't do **** in the NHL.

Hey, we're hoping for better, but if Kap ever achieves MiG's stature in the NHL it would be a massive win for the Wild.

 

[DANOZ28]

if all we're comparing is goal scoring my moneys on kaprizov.

 

[gwh]

Granlund's shot is so rare that most fans don't even know if it is good or not...

 

[Fantomas]

Granlund excels in the big international ice surface...he doesn't have enough time and space on the NHL ice. I think Kaprizov's game is more suited to the smaller surface, as he doesn't need to monopolize the puck as much.

Exactly. The Granlund comparison is way off.

 

[guitarhunterdude]

Exactly. The Granlund comparison is way off.

As I said, it's purely a physical comparison, not stylistic. But part of the reason Granlund struggles on the smaller ice is because he's slow and small.

 

[57special]

As I said, it's purely a physical comparison, not stylistic. But part of the reason Granlund struggles on the smaller ice is because he's slow and small.

And because he was playing C on a team that demands a lot from their centers. He has been playing really well so far this year, and scoring at a 60+ pt. pace, which is WAY above his career high, since being put on the wing full time. I've been as hard on Granlund as anyone, but he has really produced this year.

 

[gwh]

As I said, it's purely a physical comparison, not stylistic. But part of the reason Granlund struggles on the smaller ice is because he's slow and small.

Granlund doesn't struggle, is not slow and does pretty well in the corners. Suggest watching a game or two, if you want to make comparisons.

Kaprizov is a goal front gargabe haul, like Parise. Granlund is closer to pass first playmaker, like Radulov without the excessive toe drags.

 

[MuckOG]

Granlund doesn't struggle, is not slow and does pretty well in the corners. Suggest watching a game or two, if you want to make comparisons.

Kaprizov is a goal front gargabe haul, like Parise. Granlund is closer to pass first playmaker, like Radulov without the excessive toe drags.

From what I've seen of Kaprizov (admittedly only from the WJC and You-Tube), he has a much better shot than Parise. But he does like to camp around the crease, like Zach.

 

[guitarhunterdude]

And because he was playing C on a team that demands a lot from their centers. He has been playing really well so far this year, and scoring at a 60+ pt. pace, which is WAY above his career high, since being put on the wing full time. I've been as hard on Granlund as anyone, but he has really produced this year.

All this is also true. However, I see this as a career year for a guy who will most likely typically only be good for 10/35/45 most years, what with the entire team shooting out of their minds right now, seems like he, Coyle, Nino are all peaking (and Koivu shooting over double his career % is pretty helpful there as well). Add in all the empty netters, and this is just not something we should expect from him again.

This is probably a very high high for Granlund, not the new norm, even though he's better on the wing. If Kaprizov follows a similar career path (second-line winger who doesn't drive possession), I'll probably be a little disappointed, even though I shouldn't be.

Given how much better his shot is than Granlunds, and the fact that he's a little bit stronger, and plays less of a perimeter- or passing-oriented game, I think Kaprizov will be notably different from Granlund as a player. Just think that his lack of standout physical traits is notable and could pose similar difficulties for him as they did for Granlund.

 

[guitarhunterdude]

Granlund doesn't struggle, is not slow and does pretty well in the corners. Suggest watching a game or two, if you want to make comparisons.

Kaprizov is a goal front gargabe haul, like Parise. Granlund is closer to pass first playmaker, like Radulov without the excessive toe drags.

Granlund has improved his speed and strength pretty significantly since entering the league, and that's what allows him to be a decent second-line wing (albeit one having a career year this year) rather than a complete bust.

On the second paragraph, perhaps it wasn't clear: THIS IS A PHYSICAL COMPARISON ONLY, NOT STYLISTIC. Kaprizov is a completely different player than Granlund (I like the Parise comp, though Parise was waaaay faster as a youngster and couldn't snipe like Kaprizov, was a more tenacious two-way player as well), but his physical limitations could prevent him from realizing his potential (top-line sniper) as Granlund's did (Saku Koivu/Claude Giroux 2.0).

 

[gwh]

This is probably a very high high for Granlund, not the new norm, even though he's better on the wing. If Kaprizov follows a similar career path (second-line winger who doesn't drive possession), I'll probably be a little disappointed, even though I shouldn't be.

Ok, you clearly need to watch some of the MIN games this year if you want someone to take you seriously.

In my opinion, why Kaprizov could have problems adjusting to NHL

a) Parise plays the same spot, so he will get bad utility in the beginning. Same problem Vanek had.

b) Slow foot speed that might be on fringes for winger in NHL forecheck. Minimum requirement is Pominville speed, and Pommer is not very slow.

c) Lack of wrister rediction. Suter's diarrhea is never ending.

d) Leftie shot. Right now the team is full of lefties and we lack righties.

Why Kaprizov could have smooth transfer

a) Good shot and shoots before passing.

b) Likes to camp short range. The most NHL style scorer ever in KHL. Get to goal and hack it in.

c) Stocky build like the Tank.

d) Excellent powerplay results.

 

[Kshahdoo]

4 points in the game vs Ak Bars so far. And the 2nd isn't over yet.

 

[Fantomas]

Kaprizov has "slow foot speed"? Nonsense.

 

[DANOZ28]

is this the same team he got 4 points on a week ago? is ak bars a good team? just looking at his stats gets me amped!

 

[Kshahdoo]

is this the same team he got 4 points on a week ago? is ak bars a good team? just looking at his stats gets me amped!

Ak Bars vs Salavat in the KHL is like Pens vs Capitals in the NHL. Ak Bars has already made it to the playoffs, but they always play like crazy vs Salavat. It's called Green Derby in Russia, because both teams are from muslim republics.

 

[Atas2000]

Ak Bars vs Salavat in the KHL is like Pens vs Capitals in the NHL. Ak Bars has already made it to the playoffs, but they always play like crazy vs Salavat. It's called Green Derby in Russia, because both teams are from muslim republics.

Plese post on your favorite SKA. Green in the Green Derby has close to zero to do with the religion. It's the both team's color scheme and that's it. The rivalry of the neghbouring regions is also pretty much a hockey one with zero other implications. Sometimes it strikes me how sad the level of the "cultural capital" has become. You have very limited understanding about the "muslim republics".

 

[kp61c]

Plese post on your favorite SKA. Green in the Green Derby has close to zero to do with the religion. It's the both team's color scheme and that's it. The rivalry of the neghbouring regions is also pretty much a hockey one with zero other implications. Sometimes it strikes me how sad the level of the "cultural capital" has become. You have very limited understanding about the "muslim republics".

and why did both teams pick that colour scheme?

 

[DANOZ28]

WOW JUST WOW! with 39 points kirill is only 2 points away from the age 19 khl point record (kuznetsov 40). i really hope theres a article on nhl .com if he breaks it. start spreadin the news! i want his autograph sooo bad

 

[ViD]

He's insanely good yet he's not the one who is labeled "the next big thing out of Russia"

 

[Kshahdoo]

He's insanely good yet he's not the one who is labeled "the next big thing out of Russia"

His playing style is kinda tricky. He isn't as flashy as Tarasenko, Kuznetsov, Panarin, Buchnevich and even Nichushkin and Guryanov were. But he somehow manages to score more than almost all of these guys.

He does things so right and exactly when they should be done, so he's very hard to stop. It's just people don't see or understand it.

 

[tictactoe]

What a steal this guy is..