Capitals Farm Report: The Season Approaches
by EmilyB on Aug 20, 2010 11:18 AM EDT
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Cody Eakin and the Swift Current Broncos will be skating on 25th anniversary ice this season.
(Photo courtesy Keen's Corner)
This week's month's Capitals Farm Report will attempt to round up the summer news for the Caps' prospects and peek ahead to their upcoming training camps -n- such.
Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitri Orlov, Team Russia U-20s
Forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, defenseman Dmitri Orlov, and the Team Russia U-20s have just completed a three-game sweep of a badly overmatched Team France. The French squad was visiting Russia as part of the celebration of the "Year of France in Russia," and their hosts welcomed them with a tour of the Kremlin and consecutive shellackings of 8-0, 7-4, and 7-1. They played the three games over four days in three different cities, with the final match contested on a "Canadian" dimensioned rink in a Moscow shopping mall.
Orlov in particular had a stellar tournament, finishing 1-6-7 for the three games, with 5 of those points (1-4-5) coming in game three on the smaller North American-size ice. Perhaps Caps development camp taught him a thing or two about playing hockey in a smaller rink at a shopping mall?
Kuznetsov had a bit more of an adjustment to his linemates, was moved from center to wing, and finished the tourney with a tidy 1-2-3. He also had 25 PIMs thanks to a fight/brawl in the third period of the third game for which he was assessed a 5 minute major and a 20 minute game misconduct. The French player was found to be the instigator.
Both players have returned to their KHL teams - Kuznetsov back to Traktor Chelyabinsk and Orlov to Metallurg/Kuznetsk Bears, currently training in the high mountain air in Switzerland.
Dima has some unfinished business from the previous season, however.
He was judged to be the MVP of the 2010 MHL (KHL youth league) playoffs as his 19 points nearly propelled his Kuznetsk Bears to victory in the Kharlamov Cup finals. The league is a little late in awarding him his prize, but the presentation they've planned will more than make up for the delay. They have named the top awards after the "living legends" of Soviet/Russian hockey, and each "living legend' has designed and commissioned his own trophy and will present it personally to the player:
Top scorer. Prize named after Boris Mikhailov: Airat Ziazov, "Reactor";
Best sniper. Prize named after Boris Mayorov: Fyodor Malykhin, "Auto";
Best defender. Prize named after Vyacheslav Fetisov: Sergei Tereshchenko, "Steel Foxes";
Best goalkeeper. Prize named after Vladislav Tretiak: Dmitri Voloshin, "Steel Foxes";
Best coach. The prize was named after Vladimir Yurzinova: Eugene Koreshkov, "Steel Foxes";
Most Valuable Player Cup Kharlamov. Prize named after Vitaly Davydov: Dmitry Orlov, "Kuznetsk Bears".
Hmm. Vitaly Davydov. I had to go look him up. He is currently a vice president of UHC Dynamo, and a look at his hockey bona fides show that he is indeed a living legend:
A rock-solid defenseman; though smaller than average, played on three golden Olympic squads, highlighting an international career that also included nine consecutive World Championships from '63 to '71. Also a legend at Dynamo Moscow.
Here's Vitaly looking all-world defensive:
- "My winner, Dima Orlov, wishes to become a top-class defender and play for the Russian national team," said Davydov.
- What do you know about Orlov?
- So far, unfortunately, not much. But I hope that at the meeting when the prize is awarded, I'll be able to take a closer look.
- How does your prize?
- Cup crowns figure hockey player. The inscription on the trophy says:
"The most fearless defender of the season."
Patrick Wey, Boston College
Then a June invite to the Massachusetts State House and a meeting with Lt. Governor Tim Murray and the numerous BC alumni in the legislature:
The team [was] warmly greeted by Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo and Rep. Kevin Honan '81 . After the Speaker addressed the team, the Eagles were escorted onto the floor of the House of Representatives.
After leaving the House chamber, the Eagles posed for several team photos - with House members, Senator Brian Joyce '84 , Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray and several others. The team presented Murray with a BC jersey with his name and "2" on the back. Murray also accepted a jersey for Governor Deval Patrick (with his name and "1" on the back).
The Eagles were then escorted by Senator Joyce to the floor of the Senate, where they again were welcomed with kind words (by Sen. Joyce) and a nice round of applause. After leaving the Senate floor, Sen. Joyce took the team out onto a balcony outside the Senate chamber that overlooks the Boston Common. There he explained some of the building's history to the BC contingent.
Stanislav Galiev, St. John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Camp continues through Saturday, with a final intrasquad scrimmage on Friday and then a preseason game against the Halifax Mooseheads on Saturday.
Bits and Pieces
That's the end of the hard/breaking news. Here's a roundup of the ol' bits and pieces:
Brett Flemming, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors (OHL)
Brett is the only Caps prospect guaranteed to play for the Memorial Cup this year as the Majors were chosen to host the tournament. In addition, Brett's coach Dave Cameron will have a very busy year as he was also selected to coach Team Canada in World Juniors.
Garrett Mitchell, Regina Pats (WHL)
Garrett and the Pats are looking forward to their own outdoor experience this season as they are scheduled to face the Calgary Hitmen at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on February 21. Their game is being held in conjunction with the Montreal/Calgary showdown for the Heritage Classic.
Cody Eakin, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Cody had a nice radio interview on "The Pipeline Show" on Tuesday night. Shorter version - he's had a pretty good summer. The Broncos' training camp begins next week - Cody will be playing for "Team Sakic" in the black sweaters. [Interview in MP3 format]
It looks like AnGus will have to work super hard to make the Hershey Bears this season - his Allsvenskan team Borås HC appears to have moved on:
Last year Borås borrowed Bengt-Ake Gustafsson's son Anton during the season. Now they've got a new legend - the son of Thomas Rundqvist.
Philipp Grubauer, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Philipp's former Spitfire teammates gathered in Windsor this weekend to receive framed team photos and their Memorial Cup rings. Grubauer did not attend as he remained home in Germany. Training camp for the Fronts begins on September 1. Of note - the Frontenacs recently traded away (a different) goalie in exchange for a draft pick.
Samuel Carrier, Lewiston MAINEiacs (QMJHL)
Sam's training camp began Thursday. But we find he'll be missing some time with the team in September, as he'll [presumably] be at Kettler for Caps rookie camp:
On the blueline, last year's top defenseman Samuel Carrier is back, along with Samuel Finn, who took home the award for being the team's most inspirational player in 2009-10. Carrier and Finn will both be attending NHL training camps in September...
Finally, take a look at the distances traveled by kids and coaches in Major Junior Hockey. It's really quite ridiculous.
That's it for now, it is amazing to me that I can find more information from Chelyabinsk, Russia, than I can from Minnesota or St. Cloud State.
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nice to see these bad boys showing up in the center column. (the farm reports, not our swedes and russians.)
by Natty Bumppo on Aug 20, 2010 11:20 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I like Galiev a lot, also! Came up the elevator with him several times at D-Camp and he’s a great kid. Hope he continues to develop!
He's a better skater than Nick, but he's big in the back[side]...BB
by Backeez Got Back on Aug 20, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I cannot get over how much ice is covered in advertising…to me its an eye sore…and it makes me sad for the game that its necessary…but I guess this is the way it is now…
Great report, Em. Sounds like the Caps will be well-represented in this year’s WJCs.
"HISTORY DOESN’T MATTER!!! .... Who cares if it’s never been done? We aren’t those teams who failed before. We are in control of our own destiny, and we will make it happen our own way.." - A Gordon, June 2010
The Orlov bit makes me want him in North America right now, today. He needs to start adjusting to the NHL sheet of ice; the best defenseman in the MHL didn’t look so hot at D-Camp. Maybe that was travel, maybe that was being paired with Joe Finley, but the talent looks like it’s there. The organization must start molding it into a useful shape if he’s going to have a future with the Capitals.
It’s a future they could really use, too. Unless a prospect develops from out of the blue (a la Duncan Keith or Shea Weber), ain’t nothin’ in the cupboard that looks like anything beyond marginal NHL talent besides Orlov.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Aug 20, 2010 2:29 PM EDT reply actions
It was interesting how well he reponded to NA-size ice after dev camp.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
By the way, great aggregation and writing. Farm Reports are one of my favorite features of the site.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Aug 20, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
He needs to start adjusting to the NHL sheet of ice;
If hockey players were totally incapable of adjusting to different ice surfaces there wouldn’t be any international competition because the country with the familiar ice size would always win. And no NHL team would allow their prospect to keep playing in Europe.
but the talent looks like it’s there. The organization must start molding it into a useful shape if he’s going to have a future with the Capitals.
I’m not against a buy out if that’s what he and the organization feels is the best thing for him in fact that’s the alternative I prefer if it was my choice. I’m sure French and Mann would do a great job with him.
But I’m not convinced that Dmitri Parkhomenko will totally destroy Orlov if he stays another year or two in Russia. I just don’t no enough about him do you?
Of course Orlov are born with some natural talent but other then that Russian hockey have made him into the player he is today.
Pft why play a small French guy when you have a Svensk viking.
How many defensemen have played in the KHL or MHL as a young player since the lockout and then become a steady NHL blueliner? I can’t think of any. Not one.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 22, 2010 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions
How many defensemen have played in the KHL or MHL as a young player since the lockout and then become a steady NHL blueliner? I can’t think of any. Not one.
Me neither but because I’m stupid I didn’t just say KHL suck and move on I first had to waste a couple of hours of my life, sigh.
52 Russian players were picked between 2005-2010 18 of them were defenders.
In 2010 Russia had 8 players picked in the draft (3.8% of the players picked were Russian) one was a d-man.
In 2009 Russia had 7 players that got picked in the draft (3.3%) 4 of them d-man. Dmitri Kulikov (14 in the first round) he played in the Q before he was drafted and he plays in the NHL now. Then there’s Orlov (55th second round) Anton Klementiev (122 round 5) played one NHL game and some in Russia and some in AHL famous for being used as leveraged between Islanders and the Russian WJC team in Islanders attempt to get Kirill Petrov to come to North America. Mikhail Pashnin (200 7th round) only played in Russia.
In 2008 Russia had 9 players that got picked in the draft.(4.3%) one of them a d-man Vyacheslav Voinov (32nd overall second round) he choose to come play in the AHL after the draft.
In 2007 Russia had 9 players that got picked in the draft. (4.3%) one of them a d-man Maxim Goncharov (123th overall round five) He have played in Russia but it looks like he will try to make it North America this year.
.
In 2006 Russia had 15 players that got picked in the draft (7%) five of them d-man: Ivan Vishnevskiy (first round 27th overall)he played in the Q one year before he was drafted he haven’t been able to move on from AHL to NHL yet. seYuri Alexandrov (second round 37th overall) only played in Russia so far but will come to North America this year. Denis Bodrov (second round 55th overall) played one year in the AHL. Kirill Tulupov (67th overall round three) played in the Q the year after he was drafted and last season he played in Slovakia.
Pavel Valentenko ( 139th overall round five) been back and fourth between Russia and North America.
In 2005 Russia had 11 players (4.9%) in the draft six of them d-man. Vitali Anikienko (third round 70th overall) he only played in Russia. Roman Derlyuk (164 sixth round) only played in Russia. And his only claim to fame so far is that he’s been in a fight with Sergei Fedorov. Dmitri Megalinsky (186 sixth round) only played in Russia. Andrei Zubarev (187 sixth round) only played in Russia but going to try to make it in N-A this year. Vyacheslav Buravchikov (191 round 6) a personal favorite of mine he have been fun to watch in the junior tourneys. Next up is our old friend Viktor Dovgan (209 round 7) he’s playing in Russia now.
So Kulikov is really the only one that have contributed to his NHL teams so far and he played in the Q the year before he was drafted.
There are still players on this list that can make it most of them are still young and there isn’t a lot of Swedish and American d-man that are steady blueliners for their NHL them from the last five year drafts. But there is certainly more then the single one Russia have.
56 Russian d-man have played in the NHL although it depends a bit on how you count. Looking at the established Russian NHL player from last season:
Gonchar (drafted14th overall in 92) played in Russia for two more years after he was drafted. it took him 4 years too play any NHL games and 5 years to become a regular in the NHL.
Andrei Markov (drafted 6th round162nd overall in 98) played two more years in Russia after he was drafted. had a steady NHL job three years after he was drafted.
Fedor Tyutin ( drafted in the second round 40th overall 2001) He did play one year in OHL the year after he was drafted but it’s hard to draw any conclusion about if northamerican hockey at an early aged helped because he has been back and forth between N-A and Russia a lot. He got established in the NHL 5 years after he was drafted.
Denis Grebeshkov ( drafted in the first round 18th overall 2002) stayed in Russia for one year after the draft. Played his first NHL game in 03-04 and had a steady job in NHL 6 years after he was drafted.
Anton Volchenkov (drafted in the first round 21st overall 200) played two more years in Russia after he was drafted and played regularly in Ottawa in 02-03.
Dimitry Kulikov (1st round 14th overall 2009) played in QMJHL the year before he was drafted. He played 68 NHL games last year.
Ivan Vishnevskiy (first round 27th overall in 06) played in the Q before he was drafted. Have played two NHL games so far.
It seems like Russia always have produced more and better forwards then d-man I’m not sure why possibly because it’s harder to change to the (traditional) North American style as a d-man then it is as a forward this was of course an even bigger problem before the lock out.
Without looking deeper into this it doesn’t look like Russia have become worse at developing d-man that are suited for the NHL it have pretty much just stayed the same.
The trend that Russian players are coming to North America to play junior hockey is strong maybe d-man will benefit more from this then forwards but it doesn’t look like there is a more d-man that take advantaged of it yet at least.
So far have the best Russian d-man played in Russia into their twenties but it feels logical to assume that will soon change when more and more young Russian players come to North America to play junior hockey. It’s a logical decision if the goal is to play in the NHL why not come early especially when some GM’s really seems to believe in the Russian factor.
Pft why play a small French guy when you have a Svensk viking.
by Malin A on Aug 23, 2010 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Awesome legwork, IW. I’m surprised the sample size is so small.
I was going to say it would be interesting to compare the success of Russian defensemen coming over to goalies or forwards, to see if defense are really lagging behind. But since forwards usually develop younger, it may not be that meaningful of a comparison for another few years. Goalies might be interesting to look at, but it’s probably a very small number of Russian goalies that have been drafted post-lockout.
Sometimes, you really just want to hit a b**ch.
Pat Wey
I could no disagree more with your comment empty cupboard after Orlov. Wey was reported to have done very well at Lake Placid with USA WJ evaluation group and reported was very strong defensively at the developmental camp for Caps. At 6’ 2 1/2", 214lbs, 19 years old he looks to be just what they so desperately need…a strong stay at home defenseman that takes care of business in his own end. Even coach B commented on his impresive year over year development. He will be one of the NCAA’s best in 2010-2011.
Just to clarify about the AnGus link. The article says that Borås have been pleased with how players on loan have preformed for them (AnGus are one of those players) and that they feel comfortable to take on more players on loan because of that.
The only Swedish “news” I found about Anton Gustafsson this summer have been pics from his vacation in Turkey and that’s it.
Pft why play a small French guy when you have a Svensk viking.
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
53 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 61 |
|
Washington
|
54 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
56 | 26 | 24 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
53 | 23 | 24 | 6 | 52 |
|
Carolina
|
55 | 20 | 25 | 10 | 50 |
(updated 2.10.2012 at 3:26 AM EST)
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