Prospect Info: Nikita Popugaev

[HugeInTheShire]

What happened to this guy, feel like I haven't heard his name in a loooong time. I remember being excited about the Devils picking him, big right shot winger with good upside.

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[The Wumpus]

The last time he was remotely good was the first half of his draft season

 

[Brodeur]

We took a home run swing on high upside in the 4th round but it didn't pan out. Looks like he's still on our reserve list according to CapFriendly. He'll be in the KHL this season but I wouldn't hold my breath for a Sharangovich-esque unexpected breakout.

 

[Triumph]

What happened to this guy, feel like I haven't heard his name in a loooong time. I remember being excited about the Devils picking him, big right shot winger with good upside.

Most players get better as they age into maturity and he did not. Was a fringe AHLer, didn't dominate the ECHL like a player with his pedigree should, and is now a 4th/5th line KHLer. Playing for 7 teams in 4 years can't help, but I imagine this is a case where teams see a talented player and keep taking a chance.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

Most players get better as they age into maturity and he did not. Was a fringe AHLer, didn't dominate the ECHL like a player with his pedigree should, and is now a 4th/5th line KHLer. Playing for 7 teams in 4 years can't help, but I imagine this is a case where teams see a talented player and keep taking a chance.

Sucks, I was just scrolling the steals of the 2017 draft and saw his name, hadn't thought of him in a long time
I was hopeful that he'd make the NHL but that ain't happening

 

[HyperX]

Thought we lost his rights, either way he wont ever make it over here so it doesnt matter

 

[Darkauron]

He had a good shot. But that is about it. Really ended up playing pretty lazily and was not a good skater.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

Apparently he still in the “Popugaev” stage. When he turns into a butterfly, he’s ours.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

But that pass to Nico in the Cherry Orr game tho....

 

[Clam Jensen]

I remember him being raw and tall.

 

[Patrik26]

Pop at 2017 Development Camp. Dude is huge. Too bad his game wasn't.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I found the clip. Dat pass:

 

[Cheddabombs]

Darn thought something might've happened and Big Poppy was back

 

[njdevils1982]

I found the clip. Dat pass:

love how its the nolan patrick giveaway that leads to the play up ice and goal

 

[devilsblood]

He had a good shot. But that is about it. Really ended up playing pretty lazily and was not a good skater.

Ya, low motor guy. And in addition to being low motor in the near term, those types of guys tend to lag in terms of development.

 

[AfroThunder396]

IIRC he had a pretty great 1st half of his draft season, people were talking about him being a 1st rounder. Then he was traded and his game fell off a cliff. He dropped to the 4th round and we decided to take a flyer on him thinking if he could turn it around we might have a steal on our hands. He never turned it around. Didn't do anything in the AHL, was okay but not great in the ECHL.

 

[Billdo]

IIRC he had a pretty great 1st half of his draft season, people were talking about him being a 1st rounder. Then he was traded and his game fell off a cliff. He dropped to the 4th round and we decided to take a flyer on him thinking if he could turn it around we might have a steal on our hands. He never turned it around. Didn't do anything in the AHL, was okay but not great in the ECHL.

That's about it

 

[Guttersniped]

His 6 points (1G 5A) in 25 games in the KHL, is .24 PPG and that’s tied for 47th among U23 forwards in the KHL.

It’s better a PPG than German Rubtsov, who had 11 points (3G 8A) in 46 games (.23 PPG), and the Flyers took him 22OA in the 2016 draft. (Rubtsov more of a defensive minded two-way player but I’m going to still mock his production because f*** the Flyers.)

 

[Devils Army]

I found the clip. Dat pass:

Holy Nico hands. Hoping for more of that this year with Zacha and Bratt on his wings.

 

[MadDevil]

Pop at 2017 Development Camp. Dude is huge. Too bad his game wasn't.

View attachment 460706 View attachment 460707

Who is #32 next to him? He looks stoned as hell.

 

[devilsblood]

IIRC he had a pretty great 1st half of his draft season, people were talking about him being a 1st rounder. Then he was traded and his game fell off a cliff. He dropped to the 4th round and we decided to take a flyer on him thinking if he could turn it around we might have a steal on our hands. He never turned it around. Didn't do anything in the AHL, was okay but not great in the ECHL.

Didn't he asked to be traded? I thought even then there were some motivational concerns.

 

[MartyOwns]

he's exactly the type of player you take a chance on later in the draft. shame it didn't work out

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Who is #32 next to him? He looks stoned as hell.

D Michael Kapla

 

[Patrik26]

D Michael Kapla

Yep. That be who it is.

 

[OmNomNom]

His 6 points (1G 5A) in 25 games in the KHL, is .24 PPG and that’s tied for 47th among U23 forwards in the KHL.

It’s better a PPG than German Rubtsov, who had 11 points (3G 8A) in 46 games (.23 PPG), and the Flyers took him 22OA in the 2016 draft. (Rubtsov more of a defensive minded two-way player but I’m going to still mock his production because f*** the Flyers.)

man, i remember @StevenToddIves and the rest of our board were so high on rubtsov. crazy how he flopped

edit: maybe not flopped yet, but not eyepopping