Top Russian Prospects from the KHL: Who's Coming Over in 2020?

[themelkman]

I also think Denisenko should've proved himself in the KHL more before coming to NA. He should've signed for another 2-3 years in the KHL because he's not close to NHL ready. You'd rather he play in the KHL than AHL. Look what's happening with Kravtsov. Do Panthers fans want Denisenko playing 100 AHL games? I wouldn't want him to. I'd want him to develop more in his home country, become one of the best players in the KHL, and then step right into the NHL lineup in a few years. These players have started rushing over to North America before being ready. Tarasenko and Kuznetsov were first round picks, and didn't. Why did these kids? Lets hope Podkolzin doesn't either if he isn't NHL ready after next season.

Teams would much rather work personally with a struggling kid than leave it to a russian team who knows he wants to leave

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Teams would much rather work personally with a struggling kid than leave it to a russian team who knows he wants to leave

If you put a player in a bad development environment, you are asking for trouble. Let the player develop well in his own environment. If he can't do that, he's not going to make it anyway. No one was keeping either of those kids from success. They simply didn't play well enough. A team that thinks the secret to them playing better is controlling their development environment is not a smart team. A team that lets the player work through their struggles is a smarter team. There's a proven formula with these high-skilled Russian forwards. It's not to move them to the AHL when they start struggling because they are high picks and fans get jumpy to see these players signed by the team.

 

[themelkman]

If you put a player in a bad development environment, you are asking for trouble. Let the player develop well in his own environment. If he can't do that, he's not going to make it anyway. No one was keeping either of those kids from success. They simply didn't play well enough. A team that thinks the secret to them playing better is controlling their development environment is not a smart team. A team that lets the player work through their struggles is a smarter team. There's a proven formula with these high-skilled Russian forwards. It's not to move them to the AHL when they start struggling because they are high picks and fans get jumpy to see these players signed by the team.

Calling it proven is pretty crazy. Yes it has worked now a few times, but id like to see the stats on the times when it doesnt work and the guy just ends up back in russia in a year or two. Every player is unique in development. Also they can still loan him back to russia if thats what they deem best.

 

[lakai17]

I also think Denisenko should've proved himself in the KHL more before coming to NA. He should've signed for another 2-3 years in the KHL because he's not close to NHL ready. You'd rather he play in the KHL than AHL. Look what's happening with Kravtsov. Do Panthers fans want Denisenko playing 100 AHL games? I wouldn't want him to. I'd want him to develop more in his home country, become one of the best players in the KHL, and then step right into the NHL lineup in a few years. These players have started rushing over to North America before being ready. Tarasenko and Kuznetsov were first round picks, and didn't. Why did these kids? Lets hope Podkolzin doesn't either if he isn't NHL ready after next season.

The ahl is also a great league for developing.

 

[57special]

I'd rather leave a player in his home country to develop if it has a strong league. That goes for Russia, Sweden, FIN, SWI, and a couple of others. However, there are always exceptions. Some players crave a change of scenery, or are stuck in a bad team environment in their home country, and need to get away to develop.

Nothing against the AHL, which is a really good league that is constantly underrated here. What people forget is that it is very competitive- the players there are so close to the NHL they can taste it, and will give no quarter to any player, foreign or not, who gets in their way. I remember Taylor Hall smashing Brodin's face, crushing his cheekbone when he first came over from Sweden as a teen in the AHL. Welcome to North America!

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Calling it proven is pretty crazy. Yes it has worked now a few times, but id like to see the stats on the times when it doesnt work and the guy just ends up back in russia in a year or two. Every player is unique in development. Also they can still loan him back to russia if thats what they deem best.

Tarasenko, Kuznetsov, Panarin, Buchnevich, Kaprizov, Gusev, Dadonov. It’s pretty proven. What does the AHL have to show for with producing the best Russian skill forwards of the last 10 years? The closest thing you could say the AHL has is Guryanov.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

The ahl is also a great league for developing.

Not for Russian skill forwards.

 

[Caser]

 

[Caser]

 

[McGilliScout]

The Tsar has arrived to MTL. Very, very exciting.

 

[Caser]

Another one signed:




As for the guys, who decided to stay, Pavel Kraskovskiy has re-signed for another 2 years.

 

[ozo]

As for the guys, who decided to stay, Pavel Kraskovskiy has re-signed for another 2 years.

I heard rumors that he is staying against his will, at Lokomotiv that is. He had hoped to move to a different KHL team, but Loko matched the offer to RFA.

 

[Caser]

I heard rumors that he is staying against his will, at Lokomotiv that is. He had hoped to move to a different KHL team, but Loko matched the offer to RFA.

"Against his will" sounds a bit too shady to me, but yeah, he was offersheeted by Metallurg and wanted to play there, but Lokomotiv repeated the offer. Not like they needed him much, but there's no great compensation in case of offer sheets in the KHL, just some money and Loko has cap space to repeat the offer, so they thought that it is better to do it and possibly ask for a better compensation later.

 

[ozo]

"Against his will" sounds a bit too shady to me, but yeah, he was offersheeted by Metallurg and wanted to play there, but Lokomotiv repeated the offer. Not like they needed him much, but there's no great compensation in case of offer sheets in the KHL, just some money and Loko has cap space to repeat the offer, so they thought that it is better to do it and possibly ask for a better compensation later.

Agreed, I should have wrote, "wish" and not ''will".

 

[Mrfenn92]

@Caser

Just wondering if you've seen anything about Max Shalunov or Ivan Nalimov.
I know they aren't prospects because of their ages.

 

[Caser]

@Caser

Just wondering if you've seen anything about Max Shalunov or Ivan Nalimov.
I know they aren't prospects because of their ages.

As for Nalimov, it was mentioned that he is ready to sign in the AHL again when the next season starts. As for Shalunov, apparently his goal is to sign with Blackhawks, but not sure if there's any progress.

 

[Mrfenn92]

As for Nalimov, it was mentioned that he is ready to sign in the AHL again when the next season starts. As for Shalunov, apparently his goal is to sign with
Blackhawks, but not sure if there's any progress.

Thanks for the info and getting back to me.

 

[Caser]

Didn't post updates in this thread for some time, but not much has been happening: Tyutyayev has signed for 1 year with Yunost Minsk in Belarus, Dergachyov has signed a 1 year deal with Vityaz in the KHL and the big fish is waiting for the end of NHLPA v. NHL debate, which probably will be ongoing until July.