Prospect Info: Nikita Popugaev
- Thread starter HugeInTheShire
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The Wumpus
bottomless pit supervisor
We took a home run swing on high upside in the 4th round but it didn't pan out. Looks like he's still on our reserve list according to CapFriendly. He'll be in the KHL this season but I wouldn't hold my breath for a Sharangovich-esque unexpected breakout.
Most players get better as they age into maturity and he did not. Was a fringe AHLer, didn't dominate the ECHL like a player with his pedigree should, and is now a 4th/5th line KHLer. Playing for 7 teams in 4 years can't help, but I imagine this is a case where teams see a talented player and keep taking a chance.
HugeInTheShire
You may not like me but, I'm Huge in the Shire
Sucks, I was just scrolling the steals of the 2017 draft and saw his name, hadn't thought of him in a long time
I was hopeful that he'd make the NHL but that ain't happening
Darkauron
Registered User
He had a good shot. But that is about it. Really ended up playing pretty lazily and was not a good skater.
- Dec 1, 2019
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Apparently he still in the “Popugaev” stage. When he turns into a butterfly, he’s ours.
- Feb 5, 2010
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Clam Jensen
Registered User
- Feb 5, 2010
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Cheddabombs
Status Quo
- Mar 13, 2012
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njdevils1982
Hell Toupée!!!
Ya, low motor guy. And in addition to being low motor in the near term, those types of guys tend to lag in terms of development.
AfroThunder396
[citation needed]
IIRC he had a pretty great 1st half of his draft season, people were talking about him being a 1st rounder. Then he was traded and his game fell off a cliff. He dropped to the 4th round and we decided to take a flyer on him thinking if he could turn it around we might have a steal on our hands. He never turned it around. Didn't do anything in the AHL, was okay but not great in the ECHL.
Billdo
Registered User
- Dec 20, 2018
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His 6 points (1G 5A) in 25 games in the KHL, is .24 PPG and that’s tied for 47th among U23 forwards in the KHL.
It’s better a PPG than German Rubtsov, who had 11 points (3G 8A) in 46 games (.23 PPG), and the Flyers took him 22OA in the 2016 draft. (Rubtsov more of a defensive minded two-way player but I’m going to still mock his production because f*** the Flyers.)
It’s better a PPG than German Rubtsov, who had 11 points (3G 8A) in 46 games (.23 PPG), and the Flyers took him 22OA in the 2016 draft. (Rubtsov more of a defensive minded two-way player but I’m going to still mock his production because f*** the Flyers.)
Devils Army
Rebuild Over.
Holy Nico hands. Hoping for more of that this year with Zacha and Bratt on his wings.
Didn't he asked to be traded? I thought even then there were some motivational concerns.
MartyOwns
thank you shero
- Apr 1, 2007
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he's exactly the type of player you take a chance on later in the draft. shame it didn't work out
Tao Jersey Jones
Registered User
OmNomNom
Taco is Love, Taco is Life
man, i remember @StevenToddIves and the rest of our board were so high on rubtsov. crazy how he flopped
edit: maybe not flopped yet, but not eyepopping
