Just wanted to get some quality insight. Other than the world juniors, where he looked great, I have not seen much of him. I have heard many good things.
For those that have seen him play extensively, how do you see him panning out ? What are his strengths & weaknesses and how do you think he would fit into the Kings lineup in the future ?
Just wanted to get some quality insight. Other than the world juniors, where he looked great, I have not seen much of him. I have heard many good things.
For those that have seen him play extensively, how do you see him panning out ? What are his strengths & weaknesses and how do you think he would fit into the Kings lineup in the future ?
Zero offense in fourth-line minutes on a bad KHL team? I'd say his future... isn't.
Though this year's performances might raise some concern he was way too good at the WJC & the OHL(specially in the playoff) last year to be giving up on him.
LA needs to get this kid out of Russia asap. Not doing a thing for his development to be chucking around on the 4th line and given his limited role, I'd imagine that Kitsyn might be open to the AHL.
It's easy to get players out of Russia though, right?
wasted year. I don't know why he went back to russia after trying the OHL. It would have been great for his development to stay one more year instead of getting zero point this year.
wasted year. I don't know why he went back to russia after trying the OHL. It would have been great for his development to stay one more year instead of getting zero point this year.
Because he still had two more years on his deal in Russia.
He looked good on the Majors, but not great. When I watched the Majors last season guys like Cizikas, DSP, Percy and Shugg stood out more than Kitsyn. I could see him being an NHLer, but not a particularly special one, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he simply "busts" (probably a bit harsh to talk about a 6th rounder busting, but I could easily see him never making the NHL). Good size, simple game, not a huge amount of high end talent, seems more like a 3rd liner offensively, though his hustle/defense is a bit "meh" for a 3rd liner, and he's a decent but not great skater. I think he got a bit overhyped because of one good WJC tourney, and it wasn't like he was THAT amazing at the WJCs, I thought he was clearly outclassed by Tarasenko, Kuznetsov and Orlov.
He looked good on the Majors, but not great. When I watched the Majors last season guys like Cizikas, DSP, Percy and Shugg stood out more than Kitsyn.
Not true, he often stood out the most for the Majors in his first NA season and wasn't always the best player but usally top three.
Loved watching him in Mississauga, so much skill, poise, and ability to use his size to protect the puck. He's a future top six if they develop him well. The problem is that LA haven't done that great of a job with their forwards lately with Loktionov being an example...he hasn't been put in the right situations so far. I don't see Penner or Stoll or whoever else continuing on in LA so they do need to bring in the wingers with Toffoli or Kitsyn and remember that they're a team that's still rebuilding rather than buying into the hype that they did earlier.
3 pts in the KHL so far this season looks pretty bad, maybe he was better suited to the NA game in the OHL, I dunno but Kings should try to get him to Manchester if he accepts.
Just kidding, I think there are random elements to attributes that get developed when you start a new file but I've done it. I've gotten him to be a 1st line RW.
Not true, he often stood out the most for the Majors in his first NA season and wasn't always the best player but usally top three.
Loved watching him in Mississauga, so much skill, poise, and ability to use his size to protect the puck. He's a future top six if they develop him well. The problem is that LA haven't done that great of a job with their forwards lately with Loktionov being an example...he hasn't been put in the right situations so far. I don't see Penner or Stoll or whoever else continuing on in LA so they do need to bring in the wingers with Toffoli or Kitsyn and remember that they're a team that's still rebuilding rather than buying into the hype that they did earlier.on a very
3 pts in the KHL so far this season looks pretty bad, maybe he was better suited to the NA game in the OHL, I dunno but Kings should try to get him to Manchester if he accepts.
Money post right here. He was a landslide better than anyone else in Mississauga. I watched him a hand full of time in the playoffs and mem cup, he would make great passes and his teammates would fumble them or be confused. This guy is the master of puck possession + slick passes + wicked shot. I remember the announceers even commenting on how his teammates weren't used to his passes because he put a lot of zip on them, they said he was professional ready in terms of passing, shooting, strength, hockey sense etc...
Back in Russia, he has been playing a limited role on a very low scoring, defensive minded team where other young guys have also struggled to score (ie. Sleyshev, Lazarev, Fisenko). So ignore the numbers. I watch the highlights from all of the MNK games and I've seen him a few times making nice moves + scoring chances. We'll see what happens next year or him.
ok.. but why could he leave them, last year? Is it because there was an agreement with his club since he wasn't good enough? Simple question here.
He was on loan when he went to the OHL last year after the WJC. He still had a contract to fulfill in Russia so he went back after the season.
I believe next year is the final year on that contract. As for how to get out of it like others have suggested, I have no clue what the process is like, if one exists at all, between Russian teams and the NHL.
He was on loan when he went to the OHL last year after the WJC. He still had a contract to fulfill in Russia so he went back after the season.
I believe next year is the final year on that contract. As for how to get out of it like others have suggested, I have no clue what the process is like, if one exists at all, between Russian teams and the NHL.
Sure hope it is cause that seems like a lost year for him
Sure hope it is cause that seems like a lost year for him
Hard to say. Time will tell though. I'd like to see him next year in the Kings system, but it might be another year. That said, if he's not working out for his Russian parent club they may be willing to let him out of his contract early in exchange for a few dollars from LA. A win-win sort of scenario. We could use him in Manchester next year.
Agree to disagree about how he looked on the Majors, I wasn't THAT impressed by him in any of the Majors games I caught, didn't look like a future top 6 NHL talent IMO, looked more like a 3rd liner who doesn't really grind hard enough, like a Luca Caputi type.
Agree to disagree about how he looked on the Majors, I wasn't THAT impressed by him in any of the Majors games I caught, didn't look like a future top 6 NHL talent IMO, looked more like a 3rd liner who doesn't really grind hard enough, like a Luca Caputi type.
To be honest, he was never really seen as a top 6 talent, so perhaps you had too high expectations. I dont see it either, despite his goals in the wjc and super series.
To me he has always been a Tomas Holmstrom kind of player. He's a typical 3rd line player but even that, you dont really see. That's a mystery to me.
Back in Russia, he has been playing a limited role on a very low scoring, defensive minded team where other young guys have also struggled to score (ie. Sleyshev, Lazarev, Fisenko). So ignore the numbers. I watch the highlights from all of the MNK games and I've seen him a few times making nice moves + scoring chances. We'll see what happens next year or him.
Unfortunately, Kitsyn was nothing short of terrible this year.
He has shown zero progress, couldn't finish (though he created some chances using his combination of lower body strength and good hands), couldn't even crack Metallurg 4th line often (and for a good reason). Malkinfan points out that other young players didn't score a whole lot as well, but both Slepyshev and Fisenko played better hockey.
He played some games in MHL's Kuznetzkie Medvedi, his stats there are 7+1 in 10 games - fine, but it's concerning that he was -8. He now plays for Yermak in VHL playoffs and is scoreless in 4 games playing 4th line minutes.
His strengths and weaks are the same as years before: good size, good hands and playing well in dirty areas but average skating, bad defensive play and inconsistency. He's a role player who plays well around the net but isn't good in anything else. Comparing him to Holmstrom was a good point.
I guess the outcome is obvious - he needs to go to NA, smaller ice and a grinding game fits him better. I doubt he'll ever be a Kings' regular, but who knows.
Just kidding, I think there are random elements to attributes that get developed when you start a new file but I've done it. I've gotten him to be a 1st line RW.
