Prospect Info: Round 3, Pick 80: Kirill Ustimenko, G, St. Petersburg (MHL) aka the Zac Rinaldo Pick

[FLYguy3911]

Fletcher mentioned trying to snag this go over to NA for next year.

a Sandstrom/Ustimenko duo in LV would be super fun.

Come again?

 

[Hiesenberg]

Come again?

What the hell did I type?

Bottom line, Fletcher wants him in NA next year. Sandstrom is coming over also.

 

[FLYguy3911]

What the hell did I type?

Bottom line, Fletcher wants him in NA next year. Sandstrom is coming over also.

He'd probably be better off playing somewhere else in Europe but that gets tricky with Russians.

In hindsight, if the goal was to get him to NA next year, he probably should have played in the CHL this year as they just allowed import goalies again.

 

[Hiesenberg]

Ustimenko was drafted into the CHL?

 

[FLYguy3911]

Ustimenko was drafted into the CHL?

No but he could have gotten drafted this summer if the Flyers pushed for it. Certainly a team would have taken a chance on him being a former 3rd round pick.

 

[Hiesenberg]

No but he could have gotten drafted this summer if the Flyers pushed for it. Certainly a team would have taken a chance on him being a former 3rd round pick.

Oh yea. Probably, he looks like a solid player so far.

 

[Tripod]

Is he actually AHL ready? I would rather he play lots of games elsewhere so Sandstrom can split duties with Lyon...or whoever.

 

[deadhead]

He needs a year in the KHL before he comes over, unless he's totally blocked.

 

[Appleyard]

 

[Appleyard]

 

[Hiesenberg]

He needs a year in the KHL before he comes over, unless he's totally blocked.

I don't think you really have any idea if he's ready.

 

[Chinatown88]

And all for the low price of one Rinaldo.

 

[Tripod]

So next year...VHL or KHL? He should be in VHL now because it's clear he needs more of a challenge.

 

[Appleyard]

So next year...VHL or KHL? He should be in VHL now because it's clear he needs more of a challenge.

VHL or... maybe AHL.

Would be my guess.

 

[FLYguy3911]

MHL to the AHL would be quite the jump.

Kinda would like to see him maybe play in a top pro league like Finland (like Georgiev did) if the KHL is not an option. But that is not a common path at all.

 

[deadhead]

I don't think you really have any idea if he's ready.

MHL is low level league, he hasn't even played in the VHL, though as Appleyard points out, he's been blocked so far.
Big jump to NA and the AHL at the same time.
There's no reason to rush him, he's probably 3-4 years away from the NHL, if ever.

Ersson is probably ahead of him, and should be in the SHL next year.
Fedotov is now in the KHL and he's only 22, which isn't old for a goalie prospect.

 

[Tripod]

If Sandstrom comes over, then it makes sense to go with Sandstrom and Lyon/Stolie. Then the following year, Lyon or Stolie move on, and Sandstrom gets the full time gig. And at that point, we can replace them with another young goalie.

I don't see 2 AHL rookie goalies happening especially with what we have seen with injuries lately to goalies.

Let Usti, Ersson and Fedotov work their way up the overseas chain first.

 

[Ghosts Beer]

Really happy to see Ustimenko seemingly back on track. I loved the pick; he’s got good size & always put up excellent stats prior to early this season. Also looked talented in the very limited amount of game action I watched. I’d imagine they’d like to start him in the ECHL next season, as a number of 20 y/o goalies (European especially) have done to begin their North American pro careers.

 

[renberg]

as Appleyard points out, he's been blocked so far.

This is the issue. There are times when the Russian teams jack around their players in order to keep them down and away from other leagues. IIRC, they did this with Bobrovsky. If they’re stymying this guy, the Flyers should get him in another location ASAP. If he flops there, then he can go back to Russia.

 

[Hiesenberg]

MHL is low level league, he hasn't even played in the VHL, though as Appleyard points out, he's been blocked so far.
Big jump to NA and the AHL at the same time.
There's no reason to rush him, he's probably 3-4 years away from the NHL, if ever.

Ersson is probably ahead of him, and should be in the SHL next year.
Fedotov is now in the KHL and he's only 22, which isn't old for a goalie prospect.

Thanks for mansplaining stuff I know.

Bottom line, again, is you have no idea what he can and can't do.

 

[Appleyard]

In an ideal world he would be in the VHL now...

but I could imagine him splitting next year between ECHL and AHL.

I mean, ECHL is between MHL and VHL anyway in terms of league level.

 

[landsbergfan]

In an ideal world he would be in the VHL now...

but I could imagine him splitting next year between ECHL and AHL.

I mean, ECHL is between MHL and VHL anyway in terms of league level.

Do you see him being blocked from playing in the VHL next year? I don't follow that league outside of some Flyers prospects. I obviously would like him playing higher levels, and I think there could be benefits to him in NA at the ECHL/AHL level. One of which is he is closer to the team for development, but also there is a good chance Hart/Sandstrom are the only waivers exempt goalies on the team next year. The reason I didn't want him to sign just yet is because they get to keep his rights anyway.

 

[FLYguy3911]

From Russia to the Cheese Toast League. Talk about culture shock.

 

[Appleyard]

Do you see him being blocked from playing in the VHL next year? I don't follow that league outside of some Flyers prospects. I obviously would like him playing higher levels, and I think there could be benefits to him in NA at the ECHL/AHL level. One of which is he is closer to the team for development, but also there is a good chance Hart/Sandstrom are the only waivers exempt goalies on the team next year. The reason I didn't want him to sign just yet is because they get to keep his rights anyway.

It depends so much on things partially out of his control.

Salavat own his KHL rights... and can sign him, and could then send him to Tolpar. But they are crazy deep in net.

Metsola (Finnish NT goalie, top KHL starter)
Kareyev (One of best young Russian goalies in KHL, been picked for NT a few times)
Fedotov (Would be a KHL back-up already some places)
Tarasov (Alongside Ustimenko one of the 2-3 most talented Russian goalies age 20 and below... was a WJC)

If one left then maybe he fits there.

Dinamo could have space for him if they want to... but all it takes is for a KHLer to be sent down (Dinamo are an affiliate of some KHL teams... but dont have a KHL "parent" club if that makes sense.) and he is riding pine.

 

[Tripod]