His development has been terrific and at this point is quite a well rounded player. As you say, he was a third line player this season and was on the ice a lot in key late game situations.
We agree on much, and you know I respect your opinion on prospects, but on this one you lost me completely. His first three years after the draft he saw a grand total of 16 games played for Kazan for all the reasons we know kids get little ice time in the KHL on teams with a load of vets. That's 16 games out of 150+ with an AHL level league, only to play 50+ games after reassignment to Ak-bars equivalent of an ECHL club. If you are going to say that didn't hurt his development, I have to state it definitely did. Similarly I think that kind of non-ice time hurt Nino, for as well as he rebounded. Otherwise, why not just send all newly drafted kids on a year+ vacation where all they do is train or play for scrub leagues? I can't believe you'd see that scenario as a good one except in rare examples of guys who need to add mass or greatly step up their skating. Petrov had both, but needed the full package of normal development, including ice time. Maybe today he is a 1st line player if he got it? Based on his draft card and international performances I expected more by this point than a checking unit specialist. IMO, his development has been significantly stunted. Maybe he becomes a great checking unit wing. That is a huge disappointment vs. a 1st line wing projection.
I haven't seen fans beating up on Petrov. There was disappointment, when it was reported his mother was ill and he'd be signing a new 2 yr contract in the KHL. But, most posters were supportive.
I can't recall many Petrov posts, since he signed his new deal. Isles have so many quality prospects who are already in the organization, I feel Petrov's gravy. If he joins the team great. if he doesn't, no big deal because the isles only used a 3rd rounder to draft him.
I bet some posters didn't state for the record that they didn't believe the ill mother cover story but were nice enough not to post their disbelief. I did state mine back then, and feel even more strongly about it now, and not that she isn't ill though I have strong reservation at buying the story outright, but that it was the reason he stayed. I don't need to see the Dr.'s notes, just what Kiril said, his agent said, and the chain of events right before he signed with Kazan, again. Two weeks before we heard his tale of helping his mother, his agent came out strongly stating he would be coming this way. Two weeks go by, and he signs there. Did his mom suddenly come down with something in those two weeks, and it just so happened to be the same two weeks he was angling for a fat contract with Kazan?
Or maybe his mother isn't so sick, he just used the Islanders as a way to pry a few extra bucks out of Kazan during their last contract talks?
My money is on choice two. Otherwise, why make the loud statements via his agent that he was going to play for the Isles? He wouldn't have, he would have instead said that likely he won't be heading here due to his mom and would likely sign with Kazan. But that's not what happened.
Some in here forgot the way the entire thing transpired.
