What's up with Prokorkhin?

[triplcrown]

The KHL's season must be just about over by now, right?

Is Prokorkhin expected to come over?

I believe his KHL contract is up. Or is it?

Do we have a chance of seeing him this year?

Maybe no one cares that much(?), since
His stats are not too impressive this year...
http://www.eurohockey.com/player/496583-nikolay-prokhorkin.html

Click to read more...

 

[damacles1156]

The guy's KHL season was a complete disaster, and probably set him back about a year or two in development.

He is not as skilled as some people on this board (think he is). The guy is a 4th round pick for a reason. Those reasons showed up in spades this year.

He is on record saying he doesn't want to play in the AHL or wing at the NHL level.

No one knows if he can even play the NA game.

Your guess is as good as anyone's, about his future.

 

[triplcrown]

Thanks for the quick response, damacles.

Prokorkhin's stock has clearly plummeted, and he lacks the apparent flexibility to make adjustments needed to turn pro any time soon.

Too bad.

 

[damacles1156]

If you are wanting to watch the future skill wingers the Kings are going to add. Watch Mersch and Brodzinski, both Skilled wingers with size.

Mersch is my pick for most growth that happened at the AHL level this year. Mersch scored 20 goals in his first AHL season. That's really hard to do, coming from the NCAA ranks.

Brodzinski is a pure sniper, the young man is going to kill teams around the net. Mersch is 6'1" 220 LBS, Jonny B is 6'0" 200 LBS, size is not a problem for these young men.

 

[triplcrown]

And hopefully, these guys are nice to their wives (or girlfriends), too.

 

[ru4reals]

And hopefully, these guys are nice to their wives (or girlfriends), too.

And pleeeease be drug free!

 

[Jason Lewis]

The guy's KHL season was a complete disaster, and probably set him back about a year or two in development.

He is not as skilled as some people on this board (think he is). The guy is a 4th round pick for a reason. Those reasons showed up in spades this year.

He is on record saying he doesn't want to play in the AHL or wing at the NHL level.

No one knows if he can even play the NA game.

Your guess is as good as anyone's, about his future.

Yea. He is really shooting himself in the foot. From what I've heard the Kings staff really don't have a lot of hope for him at this point. Not sure where exactly his game is at in relation to NA hockey, also not even sure if he will come over here at this point.

 

[Thrice]

Yea. He is really shooting himself in the foot. From what I've heard the Kings staff really don't have a lot of hope for him at this point. Not sure where exactly his game is at in relation to NA hockey, also not even sure if he will come over here at this point.

I wonder what was said by Prokorkhin or his agent to the scout/staff pre-draft that made them believe that he would come over and do things the Kings way.

 

[Ron*]

The guy's KHL season was a complete disaster, and probably set him back about a year or two in development.

He is not as skilled as some people on this board (think he is). The guy is a 4th round pick for a reason. Those reasons showed up in spades this year.

He is on record saying he doesn't want to play in the AHL or wing at the NHL level.

No one knows if he can even play the NA game.

Your guess is as good as anyone's, about his future.

Oh, really?

Well then he can go **** himself. Of course, this is about 40 years too late, but if I had the kind of talent that an NHL team would want me at "wing" I would ****ing jump at the chance.

Unbelievable, some of these prima donnas.

 

[Nashville Transplant]

I wonder what was said by Prokorkhin or his agent to the scout/staff pre-draft that made them believe that he would come over and do things the Kings way.

Maybe those 8 games he played with Manchester three seasons ago

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Oh, really?

Well then he can go **** himself. Of course, this is about 40 years too late, but if I had the kind of talent that an NHL team would want me at "wing" I would ****ing jump at the chance.

Unbelievable, some of these prima donnas.

Ron brings it. Everyday.

 

[bob77]

The guy's KHL season was a complete disaster, and probably set him back about a year or two in development.

He is not as skilled as some people on this board (think he is). The guy is a 4th round pick for a reason. Those reasons showed up in spades this year.

He is on record saying he doesn't want to play in the AHL or wing at the NHL level.

No one knows if he can even play the NA game.

Your guess is as good as anyone's, about his future.

This makes sense. Not that he might not still have some upside, but he still has a ways to go.

 

[kingsholygrail]

I don't know why people want him so badly on this team.

 

[hangons]

I don't know why people want him so badly on this team.

The same peeps that were desperate for Bud Holloway I guess.

 

[Primakov!]

Oh, really?

Well then he can go **** himself. Of course, this is about 40 years too late, but if I had the kind of talent that an NHL team would want me at "wing" I would ****ing jump at the chance.

Unbelievable, some of these prima donnas.

Prokhorkin didn't word it quite that strongly.

He said that he's always been a center and only played wing when circumstances like team composition and/or the directives of a coach dictated he had to do it, but he never enjoyed it. He's not one of those guys that can comfortably play every forward position and he thinks it would be really difficult to make the transition at this point in his career.

As a winger, he doesn't think he possesses the straight line speed to effectively skate in a lane (going from Point A to Point B) and gain separation from the defender to make himself available for a pass.

Playing as a center though allows him to see the entire sheet of ice in front of him to make a play, and because the position serves as a transition point between the forwards and defense, it allows him more touches with the puck.

Link (Russian)

Prokhorkin *did* say that he didn't want to play in the AHL and last off-season (before re-signing with CSKA) tried to get the Kings to guarantee that he wouldn't be re-assigned there and they flat out rejected that.

Link (English)

In yet another article (can't find the link right now) he said one of the reasons for staying in Russia was to physically mature against men at a high level of competition so that when he came to the States he'd be ready from the get-go to compete -- thus allowing him to bypass the AHL or needing to cut his teeth on the 4th line at the NHL-level.

 

[Ron*]

Prokhorkin didn't word it quite that strongly.

He said that he's always been a center and only played wing when circumstances like team composition and/or the directives of a coach dictated he had to do it, but he never enjoyed it. He's not one of those guys that can comfortably play every forward position and he thinks it would be really difficult to make the transition at this point in his career.

As a winger, he doesn't think he possesses the straight line speed to effectively skate in a lane (going from Point A to Point B) and gain separation from the defender to make himself available for a pass.

Playing as a center though allows him to see the entire sheet of ice in front of him to make a play, and because the position serves as a transition point between the forwards and defense, it allows him more touches with the puck.

Link (Russian)

Prokhorkin *did* say that he didn't want to play in the AHL and last off-season (before re-signing with CSKA) tried to get the Kings to guarantee that he wouldn't be re-assigned there and they flat out rejected that.

Link (English)

In yet another article (can't find the link right now) he said one of the reasons for staying in Russia was to physically mature against men at a high level of competition so that when he came to the States he'd be ready from the get-go to compete -- thus allowing him to bypass the AHL or needing to cut his teeth on the 4th line at the NHL-level.

That's fine and all and I will reserve judgment, but he absolutely has to do his time in the AHL. That's where the Kings develop their players. It is absolutely a deal-breaker if he refuses to ever play in the AHL, and he better make his decision soon.

 

[King'sPawn]

That's fine and all and I will reserve judgment, but he absolutely has to do his time in the AHL. That's where the Kings develop their players. It is absolutely a deal-breaker if he refuses to ever play in the AHL, and he better make his decision soon.

Well, he DID actually play in the AHL, and was willing to do so. He had an assist in 8 games.

But then the KHL came in and said he was still under contract, and he had to come back.

I understand the point you're trying to make, but it's not like he didn't try to come over and play in the AHL for the Kings.

 

[Ron*]

Well, he DID actually play in the AHL, and was willing to do so. He had an assist in 8 games.

But then the KHL came in and said he was still under contract, and he had to come back.

I understand the point you're trying to make, but it's not like he didn't try to come over and play in the AHL for the Kings.

You think 8 games in the AHL is enough? Really?

Didn't know this guy was a generational player like McDavid where he can come directly to the NHL. How lucky are we?

 

[regulate]

You think 8 games in the AHL is enough? Really?

Didn't know this guy was a generational player like McDavid where he can come directly to the NHL. How lucky are we?

I think everyone on the board agrees that if he signs with the Kings, unless he comes into camp as the second coming of Kopitar (would fix our third line C problem), then he has to play in Ontario on the smaller ice surface in North America to learn the system.

 

[King'sPawn]

You think 8 games in the AHL is enough? Really?

Didn't know this guy was a generational player like McDavid where he can come directly to the NHL. How lucky are we?

I think I made my point patently obvious. I'm sorry you chose not to read. My point was that he TRIED to come in and play at the AHL, as opposed to what's being represented in this thread. He would definitely benefit from playing in the AHL. I'm not disputing that. This assertion about him refusing to ever play in the AHL is misrepresenting the truth.

 

[damacles1156]

I think I made my point patently obvious. I'm sorry you chose not to read. My point was that he TRIED to come in and play at the AHL, as opposed to what's being represented in this thread. He would definitely benefit from playing in the AHL. I'm not disputing that. This assertion about him refusing to ever play in the AHL is misrepresenting the truth.

Not at all.

Porky had a chance to come to North America, and play in the AHL. He resigned in the KHL, and avoided doing so(last year, his contract in the KHL expired).

Actions speak louder than words. In this case. Porky has said he doesn't want to play in the AHL, and also made sure he wouldn't by resigning with his KHL team.

Now going forward, Porky will have another chance to make it to NA. But with his action so far, I doubt he comes over.

 

[MynameisKing]

Hold on a minute. IIRC Porky was under contract with CSKA and wanted to come to NA, so he asked to be bought out and it was granted by the team. The problem was that the KHL said he didn't ask the league for permission so they forced CSKA to return his money and re-instate his current contract which has another year left. He had every intention to play here either it be the AHL or the Kings but preferences were with the big club.

Now, this year he was demoted but rumors has it was either it was political or a cost saving move on the big club side.

Edit: somebody find me a link. On a 30 min lunch break and can't research this.

 

[King'sPawn]

Not at all.

"Prokhorkin refuses to ever play in the AHL."
*Prokhorkin played in the AHL*

And just because he "doesn't want" to play in the AHL doesn't mean he will refuse to.

That is where there is misrepresentation of truth.

Now, if he decides to stay in the KHL or refuse to pay his dues in spite of what management says, then sure, he's done. But there's still time to figure out what's going on; unfortunately, he's already being branded as some malcontent.

 

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

So the KHL sets back another one of our prospect's development. If he decides to come over hopefully he can recover like Kitsyn.

 

[damacles1156]

Hold on a minute. IIRC Porky was under contract with CSKA and wanted to come to NA, so he asked to be bought out and it was granted by the team. The problem was that the KHL said he didn't ask the league for permission so they forced CSKA to return his money and re-instate his current contract which has another year left. He had every intention to play here either it be the AHL or the Kings but preferences were with the big club.

Now, this year he was demoted but rumors has it was either it was political or a cost saving move on the big club side.

Porky was not under contract at all last season(with anyone), he could have gone anywhere he wanted to.

He resigned in the KHL. He asked the Kings for a guaranteed roster spot (according to the article Primokov posted, post #15) The Kings refused.

His demotion was performance related, he was a disaster on the ice.