Ranking Prospects 2020-2021

[herman]

https://twitter.com/dylan_griffing/status/1332931121168920577
I like the way this team cycles low-high to mix up the defensive structure (pretty similar to the Leafs and Lightning).

Ovchinnikov had himself a game (see the rest of the thread for his 5-pt night). He is leading his team with 30 pts in 19 games of Russian junior (MHL). The team has played 27 games.

https://twitter.com/leafs_watch/status/1333150038919409665
More video options

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Ovchinnikov had himself a game (see the rest of the thread for his 5-pt night). He is leading his team with 30 pts in 19 games of Russian junior (MHL). The team has played 27 games.

7th in that league in points, but 1st in points per game. Tough to say what that means though, I looked through the last few years of point leaders in that league and none of the names really jumped out at me. Still, better than not being 1st in points per game.

 

[herman]

Ovchinnikov had himself a game (see the rest of the thread for his 5-pt night). He is leading his team with 30 pts in 19 games of Russian junior (MHL). The team has played 27 games.

7th in that league in points, but 1st in points per game. Tough to say what that means though, I looked through the last few years of point leaders in that league and none of the names really jumped out at me. Still, better than not being 1st in points per game.

I'm going to go with cautious optimism. Like, I'm excited to see our 5th rounder, who probably should've been a 3rd round pick, is working out nicely and playing a style that I find useful and pleasing to the eye.

The 5 pt night sort of shifts situation slightly into mirage territory. He recently got a taste of KHL minutes, which was paltry at best (his first three games' TOIs were 25s, 45s, 19s, before getting 6-7 min the next two. KHL is hard on youngsters like that because team owners/coaches need to win or else bad stuff happens when there's no money.).

Oh hey, he's at 32 pts in 20 games now (KHL stats updated ahead of EPs). He's playing all three phases of the game in junior and outpacing his 20-year old teammates as an 18-year old.

I really like this past Leafs draft class so far.

 

[Bullfrog]

Yep, not being bad is better than being bad. I'm always very cautious until I see someone at least put up points in the AHL.

 

[Frank E]

KHL is hard on youngsters like that because team owners/coaches need to win or else bad stuff happens when there's no money.

People disappear in Russia.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/kpapetti/status/1333464914745315328
https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1333485992414732289

 

[herman]

https://theathletic.com/2176728/2020/11/27/topi-niemela-leafs-draft/
Honestly, I'm still laughing about the Sens trading up to get Tyler Kleven at 44, for 59 (Roni Hirvonen) and 64 (Topi Niemela).

 

[Deebo]

https://theathletic.com/2176728/2020/11/27/topi-niemela-leafs-draft/
Honestly, I'm still laughing about the Sens trading up to get Tyler Kleven at 44, for 59 (Roni Hirvonen) and 64 (Topi Niemela).

This seems a little premature.

 

[Kin]

https://theathletic.com/2176728/2020/11/27/topi-niemela-leafs-draft/
Honestly, I'm still laughing about the Sens trading up to get Tyler Kleven at 44, for 59 (Roni Hirvonen) and 64 (Topi Niemela).

This seems a little premature.

Really? Don't you know that since 1967 fans of this franchise have been patiently waiting and hoping to win InsideHockeyHeatmaps.com's Organizational Rankings?

 

[Frank E]

https://theathletic.com/2176728/2020/11/27/topi-niemela-leafs-draft/
Honestly, I'm still laughing about the Sens trading up to get Tyler Kleven at 44, for 59 (Roni Hirvonen) and 64 (Topi Niemela).

This seems a little premature.

Really? Don't you know that since 1967 fans of this franchise have been patiently waiting and hoping to win InsideHockeyHeatmaps.com's Organizational Rankings?

That's not a real website.  I checked.

 

[Kin]

That's not a real website.  I checked.

It's not yet but it's doing really well in the Russian Website Development system.

 

[Frank E]

That's not a real website.  I checked.

It's not yet but it's doing really well in the Russian Website Development system.

I think we need to moderate our expectations when a website is doing well in the RWD.  The quality of website competition within that system isn't very strong. 

 

[Kin]

I think we need to moderate our expectations when a website is doing well in the RWD.  The quality of website competition within that system isn't very strong.

You say that but then an ordinary Canadian like BobJohnson88773606 #MCGA #TRUEPATRIOT *FIRETRUDEAU* says that actually Russia is terrific at everything so I don't know who to believe.

 

[Deebo]

I think we need to moderate our expectations when a website is doing well in the RWD.  The quality of website competition within that system isn't very strong.

You say that but then an ordinary Canadian like BobJohnson88773606 #MCGA #TRUEPATRIOT *FIRETRUDEAU* says that actually Russia is terrific at everything so I don't know who to believe.

@BobJohnson88773606
Joined Nov 2020

 

[Redleaf]

KHL is hard on youngsters like that because team owners/coaches need to win or else bad stuff happens when there's no money.

People disappear in Russia.

You make mother Russia proud or you sleep in igloo in Siberia.

 

[herman]

https://theathletic.com/2176728/2020/11/27/topi-niemela-leafs-draft/
Honestly, I'm still laughing about the Sens trading up to get Tyler Kleven at 44, for 59 (Roni Hirvonen) and 64 (Topi Niemela).

This seems a little premature.

I think I was laughing on draft day when the trade was made: haha classic Dubas
and then we drafted Hirvonen and I was like, okay, undersized late 1st rd talent at the bottom of the second haha classic Dubas
and then we drafted one of the guys I wanted at 44 in Topi Niemela

and then I read up on Tyler Kleven who looks like an excellent 4th or 5th round pick.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/ByronMBader/status/1329128545294008320

https://twitter.com/JhanHky/status/1334528708678443012
A bit of a taste of the style Keefe/Dubas are going for with high centres and active d driving plays off the wall and into the funnel towards the net

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/gilliankemmerer/status/1334498124656762895

GK: How do you contrast the style of play at Salavat versus Russia?s U20 team?

SM: The first difference is that over here in Ufa, we probably play a more systematic brand of hockey compared to Team Russia. On Team Russia, we?re trusted to improvise and we?re given more freedom on the ice. There isn?t a certain objective that you?re given and have to stick to. You feel more freedom [on the National Team], whereas in Ufa, the focus is on tactics and team-play. That?s probably one of the main differences.

RA: I don?t think you can compare what Igor Nikolayevich [Larionov] gives us on Team Russia to Tomi L?ms??s instructions on Salavat Yulaev. I believe these are two different tactics. Igor Nikolayevich trusts us more. There?s more room to be creative. We?re allowed to do more. Unorthodox decisions are welcome. In my opinion, it?s really great for a young player?s development. On Salavat, we play more systematic hockey. Arguably, it?s more defense-minded. So it?s difficult to compare the two styles of hockey. The biggest difference is the approach to improvisation. Say, breaking out of the zone ? [on Team Russia] we?re encouraged not to bang it off the glass, but to look for a way to exit the zone with a pass.

GK: Igor Larionov has stated that he wants to revive some of the principles of Soviet hockey. Were you able to feel that connection to your legacy at Karjala?

RA: Of course. I believe we played more of a passing brand of hockey at the Karjala Cup. No dump-and-chase. We tried to gain the offensive zone and exit our defensive zone via passing. It was all about passing. Give-and-go, give-and-go. That?s what makes Russian and Soviet hockey different. That?s the way the team used to play, and that?s what Igor Nikolayevich tries to teach us.

SM: Yes, I agree with that. We tried to play the possession game. We controlled the puck, avoided dumping it in and focused on the team play. Our forwards didn?t just play in the offensive end ? they also backchecked. Same goes for our defensemen?they had the right to join the rushes. Five-man units played at both ends of the ice. It was all about passing.

WJC should be fun to watch

 

[Highlander]

Sound like RA is throwing his Savalat coach under the bus (a little bit), loves Larionov a lot.  Can't wait for the tourney to begin.

 

[Bender]

https://twitter.com/gilliankemmerer/status/1334498124656762895

GK: How do you contrast the style of play at Salavat versus Russia?s U20 team?

SM: The first difference is that over here in Ufa, we probably play a more systematic brand of hockey compared to Team Russia. On Team Russia, we?re trusted to improvise and we?re given more freedom on the ice. There isn?t a certain objective that you?re given and have to stick to. You feel more freedom [on the National Team], whereas in Ufa, the focus is on tactics and team-play. That?s probably one of the main differences.

RA: I don?t think you can compare what Igor Nikolayevich [Larionov] gives us on Team Russia to Tomi L?ms??s instructions on Salavat Yulaev. I believe these are two different tactics. Igor Nikolayevich trusts us more. There?s more room to be creative. We?re allowed to do more. Unorthodox decisions are welcome. In my opinion, it?s really great for a young player?s development. On Salavat, we play more systematic hockey. Arguably, it?s more defense-minded. So it?s difficult to compare the two styles of hockey. The biggest difference is the approach to improvisation. Say, breaking out of the zone ? [on Team Russia] we?re encouraged not to bang it off the glass, but to look for a way to exit the zone with a pass.

GK: Igor Larionov has stated that he wants to revive some of the principles of Soviet hockey. Were you able to feel that connection to your legacy at Karjala?

RA: Of course. I believe we played more of a passing brand of hockey at the Karjala Cup. No dump-and-chase. We tried to gain the offensive zone and exit our defensive zone via passing. It was all about passing. Give-and-go, give-and-go. That?s what makes Russian and Soviet hockey different. That?s the way the team used to play, and that?s what Igor Nikolayevich tries to teach us.

SM: Yes, I agree with that. We tried to play the possession game. We controlled the puck, avoided dumping it in and focused on the team play. Our forwards didn?t just play in the offensive end ? they also backchecked. Same goes for our defensemen?they had the right to join the rushes. Five-man units played at both ends of the ice. It was all about passing.

WJC should be fun to watch

GK: Who were some of your hockey heroes growing up, and how did you pick your numbers?

RA: I had number 7 when I was a kid. It?s my favorite number. I?ve always liked it. When I joined Ufa, the number was already taken?so I had to take 27. It?s also rather beautiful. As for hockey heroes growing up, I didn?t have any, but I did follow several players. For instance, these days I follow [Nikita] Kucherov, [Auston] Matthews and [Patrick] Kane. I just look at the way they play, what they do with the puck and how they think on the ice.

I am officially old lol.