Who's the best player outside the NHL

[Zine]

Totally. Which is why 6 months from now he'll be enjoying boiled cabbage in Omsk while they'll all be at NHL camps with a decent chance to make a real pro hockey team.

Yes those guys have a “decent chance to make the NHL”.

Meanwhile wonder-kid Demidov will make the Habs next year despite being, at 19, not quite as good as Shabanov.

Funny how age correlates to level of play, yet isn't necessarily a reflection of potential. Who would have thought!

 

[Garbageyuk]

If we are being technical and true to the question, it’s clearly Nikishin. Demidov is the better prospect, but Nikishin is the better player at this point in time. It makes sense - Nikishin is older and much further along in his development and he’s SKA’s most important player. If Nikishin went down before the playoffs, they’d be absolutely f***ed; without Demidov, they’d get by. In fact, it’s looking like Rotenberg might just bench Demidov for the playoffs anyway, for some of the games at least.

 

[Garl]

I have said it already, but it is worth repeating: russians do overrate their hockey players and hockey program. When at hf there is a question of the strength in the hockey world usually it goes smth like this:
1.Canada
2.USA
3.Sweden
4.Russia
5.Finland


6.Czechia

etc

For russians it is like this:

1 Canada/Russia



3 USA



4 Sweden/Finland

6 Czechia

etc


So it is natural, that if Europe has no prospects worth mentioning and all good NA guys go straight from "kids leagues" to NHL, all the best U25 players in the World not in the NHL are russians from KHL.


In reality there are probably 30+ players in AHL who are better than Buchelnikov, Shabanov or Aimurzin.

 

[Kshahdoo]

I have said it already, but it is worth repeating: russians do overrate their hockey players and hockey program. When at hf there is a question of the strength in the hockey world usually it goes smth like this:
1.Canada
2.USA
3.Sweden
4.Russia
5.Finland


6.Czechia

etc

For russians it is like this:

1 Canada/Russia



3 USA



4 Sweden/Finland

6 Czechia

etc


So it is natural, that if Europe has no prospects worth mentioning and all good NA guys go straight from "kids leagues" to NHL, all the best U25 players in the World not in the NHL are russians from KHL.


In reality there are probably 30+ players in AHL who are better than Buchelnikov, Shabanov or Aimurzin.

Yeah, just don't forget to add it's your personal opinion and you have no facts to support it...

 

[Hanji]

I have said it already, but it is worth repeating: russians do overrate their hockey players and hockey program. When at hf there is a question of the strength in the hockey world usually it goes smth like this:
1.Canada
2.USA
3.Sweden
4.Russia
5.Finland


6.Czechia

etc

For russians it is like this:

1 Canada/Russia



3 USA



4 Sweden/Finland

6 Czechia

etc


So it is natural, that if Europe has no prospects worth mentioning and all good NA guys go straight from "kids leagues" to NHL, all the best U25 players in the World not in the NHL are russians from KHL.


In reality there are probably 30+ players in AHL who are better than Buchelnikov, Shabanov or Aimurzin.

Russia is actually underrated on these forums. Nowadays (for obvious reasons) you can't click on a thread about them without being spammed with RUSSia sUX!!, OvERaTEd!!, woRSE ThAN SLOVAKIA!!

 

[Czechboy]

Russia is actually underrated on these forums. Nowadays (for obvious reasons) you can't click on a thread about them without being spammed with RUSSia sUX!!, OvERaTEd!!, woRSE ThAN SLOVAKIA!!

Actually, most those threads end in political talk and get closed. Rarely do they discuss hockey at all. But, when they can stay on topic, pretty much we are being told that Russia is the big dog in international hockey and it can't survive without them. Which is funny because Russia has no history of winning big tournaments. Last world's was record attendance. 4 nations was a hit. Both without Russia.

Soviet Union was a hockey power. Russia since being established isn't. But definitely better than the Slovaks and Czechs. And definitely top 5. I would not consider them a fav in any matchup against the big 4 and they'd be my preferred QF opponent of the big 5 by a mile. I should actually make that poll!

And you cannot be underrated if you don't play. The rating is the same as Jamaica, Lebanon and Wakanda. They all have an equal chance right now at winning an international tournament. So the rating is currently zero chance at winning.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

My logic is the same age players from other leagues are either not good enough or already NHLers. And younger players are just not there yet.

I mean look at NCAA, who's the leading scorer of the league right now? Nashville's 7th rounder Aiden Fink. If you ask hfers about him, i'm pretty sure 90% will answer "never heard of him", and such stats don't usually mean a lot anyway.

I hope you eventually realize how ignorant this statement is.

 

[Mattb124]

You know you're posting this on a "PROSPECT" board, right? Why would anyone list anyone other than a PROSPECT on a PROSPECT board?

Cope is why

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

If we are being technical and true to the question, it’s clearly Nikishin. Demidov is the better prospect, but Nikishin is the better player at this point in time. It makes sense - Nikishin is older and much further along in his development and he’s SKA’s most important player. If Nikishin went down before the playoffs, they’d be absolutely f***ed; without Demidov, they’d get by. In fact, it’s looking like Rotenberg might just bench Demidov for the playoffs anyway, for some of the games at least.

That speaks more to Rotenberg being generationally bad at his job than anything tbh

 

[newsportsfan123]

Nikishin is the best Russian defense prospect since Fetisov and Kasatonov (If we look at Russian league totals). If we look at u25 stats for defenseman in the KHL, Nikishin is at 0.64 points per game. The next closest with at least 100 games played is 0.44 points per game. Hedman during the lockout when he was 22-23 was 0.83 point per game, Nikishin at the same age had the same amount (KHL probably worse than when Hedman played though).

 

[viceroy]

When at hf there is a question of the strength in the hockey world usually it goes smth like this:
1.Canada
2.USA
3.Sweden
4.Russia
5.Finland
6.Czechia

Personally I set the US at #1. Hockey Canada are just a bunch of Oilers cronies whereas USA Hockey is a legit organization. The only thing HC has going for it is a, for now, larger pool of players. I'm just bewildered on how well run the USNTDP is. Give it 5-10yrs and the US will dominate all international events.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Probably some kid who’s name no one knows who will go on to be a multiple Hart/Art Ross winner when he reaches the NHL

 

[Kshahdoo]

Nikishin is the best Russian defense prospect since Fetisov and Kasatonov (If we look at Russian league totals). If we look at u25 stats for defenseman in the KHL, Nikishin is at 0.64 points per game. The next closest with at least 100 games played is 0.44 points per game. Hedman during the lockout when he was 22-23 was 0.83 point per game, Nikishin at the same age had the same amount (KHL probably worse than when Hedman played though).

Don't forget that Nikishin didn't play his usual offensive hockey this season while being with DeAngelo. As soon as DeAngelo left and Nikishin moved back to his typical position, he's PPG+.

So back to the topic, it looks like most people here agree that Nikishin is the best player outside the NHL at the moment.