Could you compare Kitsyn and Tyler Toffoli, thanks.
Is Toffoli better skater than Kitsyn? Kitsyn really is not prettiest or fastest skater. I think, that some way Ryan Smyth and Kitsyn reminds each others (net presence, good in tights, so and so skating).
What kind of player Toffoli is? Pure sniper/shooter or can he also made plays?
Could Toffoli and Kitsyn be linemates? I mean could they compliment each other or are they too much same kind of players, that they can't play same line.
Just throwing my two cents in.
Kitsyn reminds me of Ponikarovsky with his skating. He's a big guy with an awkward stride. Somehow he gets from A to B but it's never the most efficient route. I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up a similar player. A physical forward who's good for around 15-20 a year with most of his goals coming from the slot and around the net. He might be even better than that, being that he has the typical stick skills that are so heavily drilled in the Russian system. His hands are surprisingly soft and quick for the style of game that he plays with an accurate shot that he disguises well. I think the questions are: a) Is he going to be as efficient and creative with the puck against NHL checking? and b) Does he have the hockey sense to overcome his lack of skating? To this point, he's been great against younger players and weak competition but has had some trouble playing against men in the KHL. I wouldn't be surprised if it took a long time for him to reach his potential while he works out his kinks, but you can't deny he's got talent.
As for Toffoli, he's not a totally different player. He's efficient in his positioning. He doesn't move around a lot in the offensive zone without the puck, he has a knack for watching the guys around him and noticing holes in coverage. Most of his goals come from the slot as well, or around the net, partially from jamming home rebounds but also from skill plays around the net. Quickly moving the puck off rebounds to get a better shooting angle and then shooting before the goalie can adjust. He's also got good finishing skills on one-timers and can also bring the puck down the wing and absolutely pick his spot and laser it. Think Heatley. Not sure if he has the same potential, it'll be hard to gauge until he's playing against pro goalies, but they're pretty similar players. Justin Williams comes to mind as a more reasonable upside.
Both guys are complementary players. You'd want to have them with playmakers who can hold onto the puck for a while. I don't know how well they'd work together because the both make their living near the crease and they're both a little slow of foot. They'd be a little redundant together.
Schenn continues to underwhelm me. Sure he's got the tools to be a solid all around player but something i haven't seen at all is anywhere close to high-end playmaking/scoring touch. With a 5th overall pick, i think having some expectations of something a little special offensively is completely reasonable. Schenn in the memorial cup was OK, he was OK in last years WJC, and despite the stat sheet, he was pretty much underwhelming today for the forward with the most experience. The more i watch Schenn, the less excited I get about his top end potential.
Kitsyn however was great today with tarasenko. However the most eye catching forward for me on Team Russia was Burdastrov, anybody know his draft status? I have a feeling he was passed on in previous drafts. Reading up on Kitsyn it seems like he was the best player in the Subway Series. Overall i'm very encouraged by Kitsyn's play today against a very tough opponent.
Forbort... was watching the kings game so i missed a lot of that US game.
Could you compare Kitsyn and Tyler Toffoli, thanks.
Is Toffoli better skater than Kitsyn? Kitsyn really is not prettiest or fastest skater. I think, that some way Ryan Smyth and Kitsyn reminds each others (net presence, good in tights, so and so skating).
What kind of player Toffoli is? Pure sniper/shooter or can he also made plays?
Could Toffoli and Kitsyn be linemates? I mean could they compliment each other or are they too much same kind of players, that they can't play same line.
Terve Vino!
Well I think that Josh has pretty much given a solid reporting on these two and I am putting a breakdown on all three of our prospects that I will put up later on (for anyone who'd care to read it) but I can add a couple of things.
Toffoli is a better skater than Kitsyn in my opinion. Toffoli has a powerful first step and when he winds up can move pretty well. His strength is in his choppy first two or three motive steps and once gets going his mid foot balance is very good. I see him as having the foot speed to play in the NHL easily.
His hands are coming along nicely. He has a pretty hard shot and can get his wrist shot off very quickly though he is more of a deflective scorer. He has breakaway speed and looks like he is trying to become a break away style of player but as Josh said, right now he is more suited to being a complimentary player.
If he continues developing at his current rate I can see him as a very good top 3 wing. Not a power forward but a very good sniper. His entire game needs work before he gets there but he has taken some seriously big strides over the past two years so I can't imagine that he won't at least get a shot.
I have watched Kitsyn for a couple of years now and saw him play in person several times during my time in Russia last year (7 times to be exact) and he is a fun player to watch.
He has deceptive speed for his size and while he is still developing his overall skating style and ability, his natural balance and drive keep him in the game and even if he doesn't improve too much he can still make it as an NHL caliber forward.
Of course where and how he would fit in is to be determined on his skating. If he is able to bring it up to par then I see him as a solid 2nd line LW. I would compare his game to Ryan Malone of TB. Kitsyn has allot more skill in his hands/stick work than Malone and Malone is more physical but the two players balance out overall in my opinion.
For Kitsyn to make it as a top line LW he is going to have to continue to drastically improve his power skating and his stride but so far he looks to be improving at a nice pace so it shouldn't be a problem.
I hope that my additions were helpful.
It looks like we have two more excellent young talents on our hands.
Did I miss something? Do Canadians really hate Brayden Schenn? If so, why? How long has thing been the case?
Leaf nation wants him to fail as they couldn't draft him. I thought he looked real solid, very composed. They (TSN) even said he really settled down the Canadian bench after Russia scored in the first period. He comes as advertised: solid, smart, temacious second line center...he just isn't flashy.
Leaf nation wants him to fail as they couldn't draft him. I thought he looked real solid, very composed. They (TSN) even said he really settled down the Canadian bench after Russia scored in the first period. He comes as advertised: solid, smart, temacious second line center...he just isn't flashy.
Added to which he's related to a leaf so non-leaf fans hate him
Joking aside, Canada doesn't hate him, they're just disappointed.
Schenn didn't play terribly in the opener. Shook the nerves off and look what happens. Lots of hockey left but I hope he can continue to dominate or at least play a significant role for Canada.
Can the kings recall him later or is he stuck in the WHL this year?
Schenn didn't play terribly in the opener. Shook the nerves off and look what happens. Lots of hockey left but I hope he can continue to dominate or at least play a significant role for Canada.
Can the kings recall him later or is he stuck in the WHL this year?
He has to stay there, then he can play in the AHL once his WHL season ends.
I love the world juniors. I get to go back to my student house in a few days and listen to my buddies roar drunken advice at proffesional players concerning a sport they only somewhat understand. Its one of my favourite times of the school year.
