Prospect Info: Prokhor Poltapov, F (33rd overall, 2021) CSKA Moskva (KHL)

[Der Jaeger]

Managing the picks at the draft. Like, hockey has so many avenues from where players come from, managing where you pick players to get the most out of them all after you draft them, is huge.

How can we rush him through the pipeline if we ain't going to see him for 5 years? There is a good chance he never comes over, after staying that long. The quicker you get these Russians into NA, the better.

My response was written a few times above. You’re 180 off what player development is about.

Getting kids to NA as soon as we can is a great way to botch a European’s development.

 

[Fjordy]

Getting kids to NA as soon as we can is a great way to botch a European’s development.

Russians are very different from Finns and Swedes, it is more difficult for them to adapt at such an early age in North America, especially in a league like the AHL. Development in Russia is the best option.

 

[flashsabre]

He I’ll be 21 or 22. That is when you want to see him anyways.

 

[Fjordy]

He I’ll be 21 or 22. That is when you want to see him anyways.

Yes, and probably at 22 he will already be fully ready for the NHL and can immediately make an impact.

 

[The Blunder Years]

Drafting skilled Russians has the potential for incredible value. As flashsabre mentioned you look away for a few years and bam you could have an impact player that steps right in. Poltapov could be similar to Kucherov, Kaprizov, Afinofenov, Kuznetsov, or Tarasenko. All guys that had top 10 skill.

 

[Fjordy]

Drafting skilled Russians has the potential for incredible value. As flashsabre mentioned you look away for a few years and bam you could have an impact player that steps right in. Poltapov could be similar to Kucherov, Kaprizov, Afinofenov, Kuznetsov, or Tarasenko. All guys that had top 10 skill.

We also keep the rights to these players all time, unlike the college kids.

One more thing, the size of the ice is getting smaller every year, and earlier everyone played on wide ice and this was one of the problems when moving to the NHL, not every player could cope with small ice in the NHL.

 

[jc17]

Drafting skilled Russians has the potential for incredible value. As flashsabre mentioned you look away for a few years and bam you could have an impact player that steps right in.

Can't that be the case for anyone?

 

[The Blunder Years]

Can't that be the case for anyone?

My point of emphasis that I didn’t really hit on was that the Russian factor often leads to prospects with really high ceilings slipping. And JesterCheese mentioned that you hold their rights indefinitely, so you can just leave them in Russia without worrying about bringing them over or signing them soon.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

My point of emphasis that I didn’t really hit on was that the Russian factor often leads to prospects with really high ceilings slipping. And JesterCheese mentioned that you hold their rights indefinitely, so you can just leave them in Russia without worrying about bringing them over or signing them soon.

#FreeSlavaBuravchikov

 

[DolanPlsGoSabres]

#FreeSlavaBuravchikov

#NotbeforefreeingArtemKryukov

 

[missingmika]

#NotbeforefreeingArtemKryukov

Buravachikov has and always has had the higher upside.

If we could get Slava to come over and Dennis Denisov were a cup contender tomorrow.

 

[elchud]

The contract puts him on the same timeline as Marchenko and Morozov.

Morozov won't be ready to step into the Vegas lineup if he signs. A year or two in AHL for sure.

Marchenko, I think, is NHL ready, but I'm not sure if there is a spot for him in Columbus either.

Poltapov hopefully has a brighter future than either of those two. The only concern to me is that being out of the loop for four seasons means the team can't plan around you. With the volume of forwards prospects there is a ton of competition for limited slots. Poltapov is sort of in the Ryan Johnson zone in that way.

Anyhow nothing to be concerned about for the next 2 or 3 years.

 

[elchud]

An example of a player who should have spent a 3rd year (if not 4th year) in Russia is Denisenko.

Its his 4th season after being drafted and he is off to a slow start in the AHL.

 

[Fjordy]

An example of a player who should have spent a 3rd year (if not 4th year) in Russia is Denisenko.

Its his 4th season after being drafted and he is off to a slow start in the AHL.

It is better for Russians to develop in Russia, they have nothing to do in the AHL at that age. The only option is when they come to North America at an early age and have been playing in junior Canadian leagues for several years, otherwise they are better off playing in Russia for 2-4 years.

 

[BuffaloGooner]

It is better for Russians to develop in Russia, they have nothing to do in the AHL at that age. The only option is when they come to North America at an early age and have been playing in junior Canadian leagues for several years, otherwise they are better off playing in Russia for 2-4 years.

I was so excited when Kuznetsov finally came over for Washington, or Kaprizov in Minnesota. They’re kids, let them stay in their home country and develop properly. I’m so glad we stepped away from not going after players due to “The Russian Factor”.

Maybe we discuss in 4-5 years how excited for Polpatov we are after he destroys the KHL in his early 20s.

 

[Deevo]

What five years? If he on fire the KHL in two years, he can come to Buffalo by buying out his contract.

Is there a precedent for this? Not trying to argue, just genuinely curious.

 

[Fjordy]

Is there a precedent for this? Not trying to argue, just genuinely curious.

I'm not sure, but the rules seem to allow it. Although I would not want him to do this, recent examples show that it is better for him to come straight to the NHL at 22 and be good right away, there is no need to rush.

People who say that four years is a long wait for a player selected in the second round. Rasmus Asplund was selected in 2016 at #33. He started making an impact after four years and was able to gain a foothold in the NHL, this is just an example. Poltapov at 22 can come and immediately make an impact in the NHL, he probably will not need to play in the AHL

Other players selected in draft 2016, who began to show something in the NHL only four years later:

#4 - PoolParty
#13 - Jake Bean
#26 - Tage Thompson
#35 - Jordan Kyrou
#42 - Jonathan Dahlen
#43 - Janne Kuokkanen
#56 - Dillon Dube

 

[UnleashRasmus]

The contract puts him on the same timeline as Marchenko and Morozov.

Morozov won't be ready to step into the Vegas lineup if he signs. A year or two in AHL for sure.

Marchenko, I think, is NHL ready, but I'm not sure if there is a spot for him in Columbus either.

Poltapov hopefully has a brighter future than either of those two. The only concern to me is that being out of the loop for four seasons means the team can't plan around you. With the volume of forwards prospects there is a ton of competition for limited slots. Poltapov is sort of in the Ryan Johnson zone in that way.

Anyhow nothing to be concerned about for the next 2 or 3 years.

Good point, I really like Morozov. If he was available and willing to come over at a point, I'd love to have him in the system. He screams a sound 3rd line center if he reaches his power and stays on his ceiling.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Is there a precedent for this? Not trying to argue, just genuinely curious.

Kuznetsov and Malkin did it, I believe.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Not seeing much pop from him or Kisakov stats wise yet, In fact Glotov is the Sabres highest scoring Russian prospect currently.

 

[Fjordy]

Not seeing much pop from him or Kisakov stats wise yet, In fact Glotov is the Sabres highest scoring Russian prospect currently.

Glotov is 24 years old and he plays an average of 18 minutes per game in a team where you can get a lot of ice time. Poltapov is 18 years old and he plays in the top team for an average of 5-6 minutes per game, it is difficult to show something during this time. He needs to play in the VHL, he has 9 games and 6 points there this season in the VHL. Now, as I understand it, tomorrow he and Kisakov will go to the tournament with U20 team of Russia in Sweden.

 

[jc17]

4 points in 2 games back in the mhl

 

[tsujimoto74]

Russians are very different from Finns and Swedes, it is more difficult for them to adapt at such an early age in North America, especially in a league like the AHL. Development in Russia is the best option.

It can go either way. Coming to NA early seemed to work out all right for Kucherov, for example.

 

[Chainshot]

If you have the time and inclination -



Molot Perm is 5th in the VHL right now... Zvedz Moskva is 16th.

Eh, never mind. He's not even playing.

 

[Dingo44]

Wheeler has Poltapov as the Sabres #12 prospect in his annual ranking of NHL prospect pools (Sabres are #1)

Wheeler’s 2022 NHL prospect pool rankings: No. 1 Buffalo Sabres – The Athletic

12. Prokhor Poltapov, LW/RW, 19 (CSKA Moskva/Zvezda Moskva/Krasnaya Armiya Moskva)
Poltapov plays a tenacious, driven style that complements a decent skill package. He can take the play at the opposition and attack the slot. He’s the heartbeat of whatever line he usually plays on. He plays fast (he’s a strong, balanced skater and he makes decisions quickly), works hard off the puck to get open and apply pressure defensively, thrives in the guts of the ice and has enough skill to get to the net and fight through traffic with control to score around the home plate area. He can also involve his linemates and is the kind of player who is always in the mix and making something happen when he’s on the ice. But his skill doesn’t “wow” me and I’ve often told people that I usually come away from watching him play thinking “he’s good, but?” He tops out as more of bottom-six contributor, but I like his projection into that kind of a role. He’s a good player.