Brian Huddle: Top 10 Prospects: Washington Capitals

Pretty good when Holtby is your #4.

Kuznetsov is 6"3?

Kuznetsov is 6"3?
- TheFondler

Gah, should say 6'2. But ya.

Good stuff, Brian. Starting to wonder with this lockout if our hopes of ever seeing Kuznetsov in a Caps uniform are lessening by the day. Very excited to see how out top two picks from this season develop in the next few years : would be fantastic if Wilson developed into a Lucic-type (less the whining, "what did I do" nonsense).

Gah, should say 6'2. But ya.
- Brian Huddle

Kuznetsov "looks" bigger out there, at least he did in the World Jrs.

Kuznetsov "looks" bigger out there, at least he did in the World Jrs.
- MadCap2008

Probably because some countries dress guys that are 5'5" 156lbs

Pretty good when Holtby is your #4.
- Lahey

And you've already got a lineup full of top players, and have been one of the better teams in the league for many years now.

It’s funny listening to fans of the Canucks yap about their piss-poor prospect pool, and say it’s a result of being so good in the recent past. Yet, when you look at prospect pools of teams like Washington and Chicago, who have done just as well (better in the case of Chicago), yet still have well stocked prospect pools.

Maybe Gillis just can’t draft? I’m sure they’ll blame it on Burke and Nonis, but Gillis has had four years now, and there are few decent prospects to speak of in their prospect pool, and NO high end ones.

And you've already got a lineup full of top players, and have been one of the better teams in the league for many years now.

It’s funny listening to fans of the Canucks yap about their piss-poor prospect pool, and say it’s a result of being so good in the recent past. Yet, when you look at prospect pools of teams like Washington and Chicago, who have done just as well (better in the case of Chicago), yet still have well stocked prospect pools.

Maybe Gillis just can’t draft? I’m sure they’ll blame it on Burke and Nonis, but Gillis has had four years now, and there are few decent prospects to speak of in their prospect pool, and NO high end ones.
- prock

WSH took advantage of the teams scared of Russians, they also kinda had no brainer picks last year.

With that being said they've done well with other picks as well.

WSH took advantage of the teams scared of Russians, they also kinda had no brainer picks last year.

With that being said they've done well with other picks as well.
- Lahey

They’ve unquestionably done well with their picks. Kuznetsov at 26, Johansson at 24, Carlson at 27, Orlov at 55, Holtby at 93. More recently, did anyone expect Forsberg to drop to 11?

Only two are Russkies.

Just curious why Holtby is 'classified' as a 1a? Why not a "1"?

I am impressed how Washington has keept a very competitive team and still manages to keep a good stock of high(er) end prospects at the same time

the leafs should take notes

Just curious why Holtby is 'classified' as a 1a? Why not a "1"?
- dawgzhouse

I classify a 1 as a guy who I see playing like a Luongo or Kipper -- 70 games a season and being an absolute freak of nature.

Holtby strikes me as a top end goalie who you want to have a good backup with to carry some load as well.

I classify a 1 as a guy who I see playing like a Luongo or Kipper -- 70 games a season and being an absolute freak of nature.

Holtby strikes me as a top end goalie who you want to have a good backup with to carry some load as well.
- Brian Huddle

It wasn't that long ago that people were saying the same about Kipper as he was getting burnt out and well everyone is saying that about Lou now.

It wasn't that long ago that people were saying the same about Kipper as he was getting burnt out and well everyone is saying that about Lou now.
- Lahey

I don't think burnout is Luongo's issue. Unless burnout strictly applies to games where the stakes are high.

And you've already got a lineup full of top players, and have been one of the better teams in the league for many years now.

It’s funny listening to fans of the Canucks yap about their piss-poor prospect pool, and say it’s a result of being so good in the recent past. Yet, when you look at prospect pools of teams like Washington and Chicago, who have done just as well (better in the case of Chicago), yet still have well stocked prospect pools.

Maybe Gillis just can’t draft? I’m sure they’ll blame it on Burke and Nonis, but Gillis has had four years now, and there are few decent prospects to speak of in their prospect pool, and NO high end ones.
- prock

Isn't this a blog about Capitals prospects?


I'd really prefer to have a serious discussion about Travis Boyd. What's his favourite food? What are his thoughts on the lockout? How cold is it in Minnesota?

These are the types of things we should be discussing.

Isn't this a blog about Capitals prospects.


I'd really prefer to have a serious discussion about Travis Boyd. What's his favourite food? What are his thoughts on the lockout? How cold is it in Minnesota?

These are the types of things we should be discussing.
- Nucker101

Pizza, great because he can catch up on hockeybuzz tv hockey, 6 C with a high of 11 and low of 6 with rain coming overnight but warming up to 19 tomorrow.

Isn't this a blog about Capitals prospects.


I'd really prefer to have a serious discussion about Travis Boyd. What's his favourite food? What are his thoughts on the lockout? How cold is it in Minnesota?

These are the types of things we should be discussing.
- Nucker101

Well, let's discuss them. What do you know of these things?

Pizza, great because he can catch up on hockeybuzz tv hockey, 6 C with a high of 11 and low of 6 with rain coming overnight but warming up to 19 tomorrow.
- Lahey

that seems unseasonably warm for Minnesota in mid-October.

Probably because some countries dress guys that are 5'5" 156lbs
- Lahey

Maybe, but I thought he stood out in this manner even among his own teammates as well as when playing Canada/Sweden.

I classify a 1 as a guy who I see playing like a Luongo or Kipper -- 70 games a season and being an absolute freak of nature.

Holtby strikes me as a top end goalie who you want to have a good backup with to carry some load as well.
- Brian Huddle

Thanks for the response Brian. I wasn't sure if you were suggesting he was more suited to a tandem situation.

lol

"Evgeny Kuznetsov, NHL Comparable - Illya Kovalchuk"

pfftt...pease....

if he was comparable to Kovy he'd have come to the NHL by now, Kovalchuk's been good from the start

thats a FAR stretch

right now imo he's just as likely to be a star as Zherdev, and Filatov till he actually steps on NHL ice or has the balls to do so

dont get me wrong tho i hope he proves me wrong...but thats a crazy comparison for a whole lot of unproven...

lol

"Evgeny Kuznetsov, NHL Comparable - Illya Kovalchuk"

pfftt...pease....

if he was comparable to Kovy he'd have come to the NHL by now, Kovalchuk's been good from the start

thats a FAR stretch

right now imo he's just as likely to be a star as Zherdev, and Filatov till he actually steps on NHL ice or has the balls to do so

dont get me wrong tho i hope he proves me wrong...but thats a crazy comparison for a whole lot of unproven...
- Habitants98

All prospect are unproven.

I'm not sure if you noticed, but he's second in the KHL in scoring right now, ahead of guys like Malkin, Datsyuk, and Ovechkin. Performing the same or better than those guys at the same age.

I'm not saying he WILL be as good as those guys, but to do what he's doing at his age, and what he has done in his young career, its not a big stretch to say he has that potential.

i guess in this case your opinion is just as good as mine here, european leagues just dont help when it comes to determining how good a player will be in the NHL, most of the european superstars that are in the NHL now didnt really have spectacular euro stats coming into the NHL.....

which is why i'd rather go glass half empty on this one....and based on the fact that he doesnt seem to be in that much of a hurry a la Yakupov/Grigorenko to get into the best league in the world.....imo he's likely to be a radulov...i jus think Passion especially when it comes to Russians is key, passion for the NHL, the WANT to be in the best league...when it comes to goalies or D its fine imo to stay and get some real experience at a higher level...since ur likely to play in the AHL for a few years anyways

but if ur supposed to be as good as they say and your a forward...whats the reason u arent here? whats really the reason?

i'm not hating but im HIGHLY skeptical

you're right tho i did see his stats in the KHL they definetly are impressive....but i mean Radulov's stats in the KHL are spectacular.....whats really the reason? is it contract? what is it, its not like ur stuck playing in Nashville or Phoenix, u'd be coming on OV's team u got a fellow russian....etc...

i dunno man the lack of hurry to get to the NHL worries me...imo Filip Forsberg is the truth he'll probably make that team since there's an open spot left by Semin...the caps shouldnt hold their breaths of mr Kuznetsov