Oliver Kapanen
20y, KalPa, Liiga, Finland
Being reunited with Mäenpää and Kantner made all the difference. Kapanen started January hot, but cooled down as the month went on and KalPa started to shuffle the lines around. When Kapanen got his usual linemates back, he proved that it was a line that shouldn’t be split up again as he had four assists against HIFK.
Two of the assists came from Kapanen’s hard work in front of the net. The others were more in the build-up to the goals. He was on the ice for two goals against, and one could argue that he should have gotten the puck out of the zone on one of them.
The biggest weakness with Kapanen’s game is really the way that he runs hot and then cold for a few games, it would be good to see consistency in his production going forward. I see him in the AHL next season, the question is on which line.
Bogdan Konyushkov
20y, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL, Russia
I had the opportunity to speak with a few NHL scouts from different teams last week and took the opportunity to ask them about Konyushkov and the development in a weaker KHL compared to a few years ago.
They all said that the most important thing was that Konyshkov showed some progress this year compared to last. However, they also pointed out that there wasn’t enough offence from an offensive-minded defenceman in the ‘new’ KHL to be a standout with the skill set that he projects to have in the NHL.
They also pointed out that his skating needs to improve, especially if he wants to make it into the NHL. If he were bigger than the 60′ and 172 pounds he is listed at it might not have been the same problem for his NHL projection. The skating issue along with his ‘smaller’ size impacts his defensive game negatively.
There are not many Russian players in their prime in the KHL; it is mostly older players and young up-and-coming ones. It makes for a difficult league to understand, and relate to compared to a couple of years ago when the cream of the European crop was playing in the Russian league. Scouts expect more import players next year, however it was pointed out that it most likely would be “second- or third-string North American players as Europeans wont go there.”
There is also the problem that the ‘big’ teams won’t play at their peak level until the playoffs. They will make the post-season as rested clubs ready to go all-in for the championship. This is a product of the discrepancy in quality and depth between the different teams.
A good thing the scouts did point out was that; Konyushkov got a lot of minutes. When he makes mistakes he isn’t getting benched, and they all thought Fetisov was a good good coach with regard to development. “He is in the right team, with the right coach. It’s not as structured and more fun to play in than the big teams like CSKA and SKA which are all very organized.” Torpedo is a good team for development, not set in the old style like the main clubs, and this should benefit Konyushkov’s long-term progress. The Canadiens can let him develop due to the long contract, something that might be beneficial in the end.
Last week Konyushkov played three games, playing 24:20 per game, and came away with an assist and a -2 rating. He was on the ice for the game-winning goal against Dynamo Minsk, but was left alone in coverage by his teammates.
Filip Eriksson
18y, Växjö Lakers, SHL / Nybro Vikings, HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden
Eriksson has continued his show in HockeyAllsvenskan, and after Saturday’s game he has 12 points (7G, 5A) in nine games. He scored twice in the 6-5 loss against Kalmar.
On Monday night, Eriksson had his first game without a point during his stint in HockeyAllsvenskan, in a game where goalie errors and defensive penalties really cost Nybro the game.
Eyes On The Prize got a chance to talk to Växjö’s coach, Jörgen Jönsson, about Eriksson and the progress this year.
Eriksson has had an impressive first two to three months in Växjö, especially during the World Juniors when he stepped up, and now showing off in HockeyAllsvenskan.
Yes, it is exactly what we want. That’s why he’s there: to get experience, to show how good a hockey player he is, and to take a big role in that team. Right now he is playing on the power play, on the penalty kill. He’s playing all the different styles of hockey that he needs to learn. He’s showing that he’s a tremendous hockey player and prospect.
Interestingly, you are on top of the table, and with the players that you have accessible in the team Eriksson has played third-, fourth-line minutes. In Nybro he gets the chance to play first-line minutes and, as you say, PK, power play. Did you expect the kind of production that he’s having?
No, you can never expect that. I was hoping for him to find a good spot. I know the coaches liked him before he came there, so I knew that he would get a spot where he could show off, which he hasn’t been given a lot in Växjö. Like you say, we have a full roster of top players. It’s a tough spot to find those minutes in. Right now I think he needs to play a lot, and he’s doing that in Nybro. I mean he’s doing it really, really well.
He’s showing his decision-making, the skill set, and his ability to read a game is almost too good to be in HockeyAllsvenskan.
You mentioned before the SHL season started that he would probably go out on loan because under–20 was a little bit too easy for him and playing professional hockey is always better when you look at it. Now you have the option to call him back if something happens, and the under-20 playoffs are coming up as well. Is that something you’re looking at, or do you want to keep him in Nybro the whole season?
Well, I think right now he’s in a good spot. I want to keep him there as long as we’re good in the Lakers. We will probably keep him there, but he is on a signed deal that he can go back and forth since he’s a Junior. He could for sure end the season with us. There’s no question about it. Will he play with us? I don’t know. Will he play with Nybro? Yes, he will play a lot of minutes in Nybro and that’s good for him.
What has surprised you in his development this year?
The huge step he’s taking right at the start. He’s showing that he’s learning fast. He’s growing, he’s getting faster, stronger, he’s eager to learn and eager to practise. I would say the whole package. I think he’s a mature young kid who really … when I asked him, ‘Do you want to go to Nybro?’ he said, ‘Yeah, I want to play hockey. I want to play a lot of hockey.’ And you have to love that.”
David Reinbacher
19y, EHC Kloten, NL, Switzerland
The fifth overall pick from the 2023 NHL Draft played strong games for Kloten, even if the team lost 3-0 against Bern and 4-0 against Fribourg-Gottéron, both top teams in the league. Reinbacher wasn’t on the ice for any of the goals against which is a testament to his defensive skill set, and he played more than any other player in Kloten.
He is composed, solid, and performing well in man-to-man coverage, especially on entries, becoming very difficult to beat even for seasoned professionals. He is the rock that Kloten needs in the dire straits that it is in, being second-to-last in the table and facing a relegation series if that continues.
Vinzenz Rohrer
19y, ZSC Lions, NL, Switzerland
It’s a familiar stat line for Rohrer, around 12 to 13 minutes a game as he adds an assist to his totals.
Adam Engström
20y, Rögle BK, SHL, Sweden
On Thursday, Rögle lost 2-1 in what was arguably the worst game of the whole SHL season — until Saturday when HV71 crushed Oskarshamn 10-1 — as Växjö’s structure and setup just shut down Rögle’s more free-flowing attack. The ray of light for Canadiens fans was that it was probably Engström’s best defensive game since he reached the SHL, and he was given the honour as Rögle’s best player on the ice.
Engström has taken a huge step forward in his defensive development. It might not be the most interesting thing to read about, but it is the best thing possible for his future chances of playing in the NHL. It would be interesting to see him play on the power play as well, but more senior (and higher-paid) players occupy those spots for the time being.
Petteri Nurmi
21y, HPK, Liiga, Finland
Heavy minutes for Nurmi, HPK is still struggling, as evidenced by the 7-1 loss to Jukurit. Nurmi finished -3 in that game. Only one of the goals for Jukurit came on the power play, and that says a lot about the state of HPK’s defensive play.
Yevgeni Volokhin
18y, Mamonty Yugry, MHL, Russia
Gleb Saranchuk (SKA-1946), Dmitry Dagestansky (Chaika) and Volokhin are battling it out for the best goalie in the MHL, and it is close between them. Volokhin is an interesting prospect and as goalies mature slower than skaters, it is worth letting him develop at his own pace in Russia.
Alexander Gordin
22y, Ryazan-VDV, VHL, Russia
Four games; two goals and two assists last week for Gordin.
Dmitri Kostenko
21y, VHL, Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Kostenko adds a goal to his stat line.
