Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Did He Mean to Say That?

As I checked "The Pipeline Show" today, they interviewed highly touted Russian player Krill Kabanov who's eligible for the 2010 Draft. For a 16-year-old, he handled the interview very well. He said he took English for eight years.

The biggest thing to come out of the interview is when Guy Flamming asked him about the Canadian Hockey League. Kabanov dropped a bombshell. He said he had "contract offers" from the Quebec Remparts (QMJHL), the Windsor Spitfires (OHL), and the London Knights (OHL). No big surprises on the teams he mentioned but the fact he went public about the offers.

Maybe it was word confusion on Kabanov which could be the case. What does the KHL think of Kabonov comments. The reason the KHL was created is to keep their younger players at home. At the same time, one of their brightest prospects, goes on record saying three teams have interest in selecting him next summer.

What does the three teams think of his comments. I am sure all three knew they will be dealing with other teams for his services. Will a team just select him to block him from going to one of the three possible destinations.

Kabanov said he knows Alexander Radulov and Radulov told him he enjoyed his time with Remparts. Just going by that, I will hypothetically make the Remparts the front runner for his services. Right now, Patrick Roy has two Import players on his roster. Mikhail Stefanovich is a late 89 born that was selected in the fourth round by the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer. I believe he will be eligible for the AHL next season. The second player is Dmitry Kugryshev who was selected in the fifth round this summer by the Washington Capitals. They will have one Import opening.

The Windsor Spitfires have Andrei Loktionov on the roster. He was a fifth round selection of the Los Angeles Kings this summer. They have one Import opening but next summer they will be trying to get 2009 eligible Richard Panik to come over. I think they will be willing to trade Loktionov if they can get a deal done with Kabonov next summer. Not only the Spitfires are looking for this year but the next three years. In 2011, the following players could be in their line up: Taylor Hall, Austin Watson, Richard Panik, Kabanov, Brandon Maxwell, Steve Gleeson, Jack Campbell, Cam Fowler, Ryan Ellis, and Stephen Johns

The London Knights only have Vladmir Roth on their roster. I will never count the Hunters out because they will grab any player they want. Maybe one of the reasons that they traded Sergei Korostin is to open a slot for Kabanov. He's an 89 born so he could move onto the AHL though. Maybe the Knights knew that the Stars wanted him to play juniors as a twenty-year-old.

The hot stove never shuts off.

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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