FWIW: NHL scouts consider Kuznetsov the #1 ranked prospect outside the NHL in their latest Hockey News top 50 prospects ranking.
Washington stole him #26th overall in 2010 as teams that are unafraid to draft Russians pass on talent in the entry draft. Similarly how Leafs got Kulemin in the 2nd due to his birth certificate, and falling out of the 1st round on his talent.
He potentially could be far better in the NHL than Grabs or Kulemin and might even become an elite NHLer statistically like Datsyuk or Malkin..
An OV -- Backstrom -- Kuznetsov top line might soon become the NHL's most dangerous trio in time.
Well first Kuznetsov has to decide he wants to come to the nhl first, what if he pulls another Radulov
Kulemin was on Malkin's line that scored 2 of the 3 goals and was out at the time. Only 1 assist given out on both goals. Enver Lisin had 2 goals 1 assist. As mentioned Kulemin, Malkin, Lisin add pluses to their totals. Malkin's starting to get respectable now, at +0.
Not leaf related but Kovalchuk has 20 points in 11 games, guy is a god over there. Good for him.
First, the defense there is terrible. If it was like that in the NHL, Kovalchuk would have crazy point totals. Problem is, he has to go back to NJ and play defensive again. It's going to be weird for him.
7GP 2G 1A 3Pts despite being on the strong CSKA team
Looks like he can't score consistently in the KHL either.
In comparison Datsyuk, 8GP 10 Pts.
Nik Kulemin, a little better but modest stats for Metallurg .
10GP 3G 2A 5Pts
In comparison Malkin 11GP 11 Pts.
Glass half empty: "Grabovski and Kulemin are not putting up good stats this year..."
Glass half full: "Grabovski and Kulemin are drawing comparisons to Datsyuk and Malkin... W00t W00t!"
First, the defense there is terrible. If it was like that in the NHL, Kovalchuk would have crazy point totals. Problem is, he has to go back to NJ and play defensive again. It's going to be weird for him.
Sure. That's why Ovi's PPG pace and Kane's 0 pts in 6 games show how they are bad...
First, the defense there is terrible. If it was like that in the NHL, Kovalchuk would have crazy point totals. Problem is, he has to go back to NJ and play defensive again. It's going to be weird for him.
Kovalchuk has had streaks of similar production many times in the NHL. His skills translate well to a bigger ice surface because hes just really good at everything. Ditto for Malkin.