C Alexander Khovanov - Metallurg Zhlobin, Belarus (2018, 86th, MIN released)

[nbwingsfan]

2+2 in 4-3 win over the QMJHL team. Zavgorodniy with 2+1. They are both so much of the product of their CHL linemates...

Zavgorodiny absolutely is, and I don’t really see how that’s even disputable.

Khovanov definitely has NHL level skills, but I still strongly doubt it ever translates to a meaningful NHL career. This is coming from someone who has seen him play live about 40times now.

 

[DANOZ28]

i'll just remind everyone that before the draft svechnikov said khovanov should be a first rounder and while he may be slightly bias due to friendship he could see what khovanov was capable of. wild may have got a steal.

 

[Tube Skates]

If I didn’t see him the first two years in Moncton and just started watching this year I could say he’s a top prospect. However I’m not going to forget this soon. I consider the first year a write off with sickness and adapting. No excuses the second season. He hurt more than helped the team. There were rumours in Moncton about the team not even wanting him back this year. I wonder if that’s what lit the fire under his ass.

 

[nbwingsfan]

i'll just remind everyone that before the draft svechnikov said khovanov should be a first rounder and while he may be slightly bias due to friendship he could see what khovanov was capable of. wild may have got a steal.

I believe he was rated as a mid to early first rd pick before his draft season began and he had all the health issues and a mediocre draft year (obviously in part because of those health issues). The skills have definitely always been evident and he’s not a late bloomer or anything

 

[nbwingsfan]

If I didn’t see him the first two years in Moncton and just started watching this year I could say he’s a top prospect. However I’m not going to forget this soon. I consider the first year a write off with sickness and adapting. No excuses the second season. He hurt more than helped the team. There were rumours in Moncton about the team not even wanting him back this year. I wonder if that’s what lit the fire under his ass.

No doubt Moncton’s coach has done a great job motivating him. He actually started off this season poorly and was benched for once again taking stupid penalties (FYI, I haven’t seen a player be goatee into penalties as easily as him in a LONG time).

After the benching his play has been noticeably better and he’s cut down on stupid penalties. He still has a long way to go in learning to use his passion and intensity for good, and not letting his anger get the best of him and hurting the team

 

[TopC0rner]

If I didn’t see him the first two years in Moncton and just started watching this year I could say he’s a top prospect. However I’m not going to forget this soon. I consider the first year a write off with sickness and adapting. No excuses the second season. He hurt more than helped the team. There were rumours in Moncton about the team not even wanting him back this year. I wonder if that’s what lit the fire under his ass.

We're talking about teenagers here. They are still learning and maturing.

 

[AKL]

As far as I’m concerned, this season shows exactly why he CAN become a pro. He’s capable of learning and growing.

 

[Nsjohnson]

Yes he was rated as a 1st round pick before everything happened.

We see why. But, he has a long ways to go. He does truly need to work on skating although it's not as bad as people said, but he's smart and skilled.

 

[Caser]

 

[Caser]

 

[Emerz]

Received a match penalty for biting someone today, may be looking at a lengthy suspension given his previous suspension history.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Received a match penalty for biting someone today, may be looking at a lengthy suspension given his previous suspension history.

Any video of this? Interested to see if it was caught on tape or not

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

The brad Marchand comparison continues

 

[Tube Skates]

Finished his suspension. Should be in Halifax Saturday where he is public enemy #1

 

[Caser]

 

[Nsjohnson]

So uh, I see why he was a 1st round #2 OA import draftee.

This guy has it all. He has even shown he is willing to learn to be more focused, thanks also to Torchetti.

He can skate well, though not elite, but well, uses his edges very well to get to open space especially on the rush. Has a laser wrister. He can pass well and has been making better plays passing, not forcing.

I think he projects to be a 2nd line NHLer if all goes well. I'd like to see him take that extra step (har har) with his skating and then he may truly develop into something very good.

As with all prospects, that's all they are until the prove themselves in the NHL.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

i'll just remind everyone that before the draft svechnikov said khovanov should be a first rounder and while he may be slightly bias due to friendship he could see what khovanov was capable of. wild may have got a steal.

And Gretzky also said Hemsky was the best player out there. Maybe we should trust scouts more than players?

 

[Nsjohnson]

He is averaging 2 points per game now.

Only behind Laf in that regard.

4th in scoring, would be 2nd if he had played more games to date.

 

[Caser]

 

[AKL]

And Gretzky also said Hemsky was the best player out there. Maybe we should trust scouts more than players?

Gretzky said Hemsky was among the elite forwards, and could see the ice with the best of them.

And Hemsky was a great player before the injuries started. Just about a point per game.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

I thought Khovanov looked real good today. His skating is miles better than when he was drafted, and he has real good playmaking ability. I saw some good 1 on 1 skill today, but he didn’t pull any of the moves off completely. I don’t think a 2C, power play specialist is out of reach.

 

[Nsjohnson]

You know what I was most impressed with so far at the WJ's?

His hustle. Yes, his skating is indeed improved, as we thought it would be. But, his hustle all over the ice and tenacity really stood out for me. You can try to teach that, but that's one of those things that is hard to 'engrain', better if it comes from within.

 

[thestonedkoala]

I think he's one of the more underrated prospects both in the NHL and in the WJC. There are 'flashier' players ahead of him, but he's been doing well in Moncton and we're seeing that at the WJ.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Wheeler says in the comments that he think Khovanov would go in the 1st round in a redraft

 

[FrodoBeggins]

For the second year in the third round, the bar of prospectuses of the level of the first round, and in the 1st round we take bust.