RW Alexander Kisakov (2021, 53rd, BUF)

[Doug Prishpreed]

A draft analytics darling gone wrong, or do the Buffalo Sabres fans think he can make the team one day?

Just stat watching him because I heard good things about him from the analytics crowd during the draft.

He's tiny and was always going to be a long shot. I can't even believe they put him in the AHL this season, he didn't seem ready for it physically but sounds like he handled it fine. Just not having statistical success.

From his Amerks coach:

"Right now we're sitting him in certain games because we need to lift him more," Appert said. "His mind and his stick skill and his creativity are near NHL-caliber, but his body isn't. We need to attack the part that is the biggest thing preventing him from getting there, which is his strength and his muscle mass."

 

[Faceboner]

A draft analytics darling gone wrong, or do the Buffalo Sabres fans think he can make the team one day?

Just stat watching him because I heard good things about him from the analytics crowd during the draft.

He just needs to gain more mass and strength long game prospect think around the age of 23 before he is physically mature enough

 

[Chainshot]

He's tiny and was always going to be a long shot. I can't even believe they put him in the AHL this season, he didn't seem ready for it physically but sounds like he handled it fine. Just not having statistical success.

From his Amerks coach:

"Right now we're sitting him in certain games because we need to lift him more," Appert said. "His mind and his stick skill and his creativity are near NHL-caliber, but his body isn't. We need to attack the part that is the biggest thing preventing him from getting there, which is his strength and his muscle mass."

Adding to that but they've used him in a role that has been very different than he was used in the MHL. When he is playing, he was frequently on a line with Kozak and Cederqvist in a more defensive/forecheck/grind role which for his size is something I was not expecting. At first I thought Appert had lost his mind but it worked - think of Gus-Krebs-KO but the Amerk version. Of late they have him in more offensive situations as the injuries have piled up and the craftiness is certainly there. He's got some stick-mean to him still too - he'll look for guys to give back to when he gets hit or worked over.

He's going to take a lot more time though. He's still too small, even if as Appert says they've added muscle mass over the season.

 

[threeVo]

A draft analytics darling gone wrong, or do the Buffalo Sabres fans think he can make the team one day?

Just stat watching him because I heard good things about him from the analytics crowd during the draft.

as many have said this is an upside swing. He has NHL level puck skill but just flat out needs to hit a late growth spurt somehow. If he ends up growing an inch and adding 15 lbs he could be a solid player.

 

[toddkaz]

It was a bad pick and I would have loved to have been in the room during the conversation to know the names they were tossing around. Loads of defensive prospects on the board and this was Adams drafting best player available?

When the draft happened I wondered if Raty was on their radar taken just the pick before.

 

[WarriorofTime]

It was a bad pick and I would have loved to have been in the room during the conversation to know the names they were tossing around. Loads of defensive prospects on the board and this was Adams drafting best player available?

When the draft happened I wondered if Raty was on their radar taken just the pick before.

Most late 2nds don't work out

 

[Chainshot]

as many have said this is an upside swing. He has NHL level puck skill but just flat out needs to hit a late growth spurt somehow. If he ends up growing an inch and adding 15 lbs he could be a solid player.

Even if he doesn't add an inch but puts on muscle mass. And probably closer to 20 lbs (or more) since he's such a wisp. I do like his compeeetz though - an example being the last night in Cleveland where he got boarded and got up chopping. He could stand to play a pointer game IMO, which may come with more size and more familiarity with the league.

 

[Chainshot]

It was a bad pick and I would have loved to have been in the room during the conversation to know the names they were tossing around. Loads of defensive prospects on the board and this was Adams drafting best player available?

When the draft happened I wondered if Raty was on their radar taken just the pick before.

Taking cuts at high-skill guys who are a bit of a gamble is fine. They're going to miss on some, they are often boom or bust folks. Maybe they went a round too high. They seem to have gotten decent value for their prospect pool in later picks with three guys taken after him that they signed including his linemate Kozak. Drafting and developing players is both an art and a science. We'll have to see where Kisakov works out, but he wouldn't be the first AHL rookie who was relatively light on counting stats who comes out considerably better in year 2 or year 3 of their time in that league.

 

[Raistlin]

I think Kisakov went right about where he should, if he does experience a growth spurt, it would be a great pick in mid to late 2nd, I remember quite a few publications pushing him to late day 1. There's still a lot to like about his compete. His size is what it is, just have to push pace to overcome it, look at Stankoven's trajectory picked 6 spots before.

 

[toddkaz]

I think Kisakov went right about where he should, if he does experience a growth spurt, it would be a great pick in mid to late 2nd, I remember quite a few publications pushing him to late day 1. There's still a lot to like about his compete. His size is what it is, just have to push pace to overcome it, look at Stankoven's trajectory picked 6 spots before.

Are you sure you aren't thinking of Poltapov? Most had Kisakov late second or even the third round aside from Puck Authority and Puck Authority was way off with most of their predictions.

 

[Raistlin]

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but I cannot find ones that ranked him in rd 1. I do remember one that said Montreal should draft him at 31.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

The only growth spurt most 20 year olds have is being miss-listed in game programs.

 

[Chainshot]

The only growth spurt most 20 year olds have is being miss-listed in game programs.

Eh, he can still stack some muscle onto that sinew and pipe clearer build. It's just going to be a ways off.

 

[SimGrindcore]

I remember having him late 2nd/early 3rd in my ranking.

 

[Caser]

 

[Kshahdoo]

PPG in AHL so far.

 

[Caser]

 

[Caser]

 

[vorky]

Dynamo Moscow?

 

[Chainshot]

Dynamo Moscow?

Something out there about him heading back or just speculating? Haven't seen it on his social (not a lot of posts though) but it was something Griffing hinted at after one of Kisakov's few games this year.

Edit or is it this?

 

[vorky]

Something out there about him heading back or just speculating? Haven't seen it on his social (not a lot of posts though) but it was something Griffing hinted at after one of Kisakov's few games this year.

Edit or is it this?

Yes, it is a rumour right now. We will see within two days (trade deadline)

 

[Chainshot]

Yes, it is a rumour right now. We will see within two days (trade deadline)

Thanks, appreciate it.

He's got great hand skills and is stick mean, but he just hasn't put on the weight for North American hockey IMO.