Comments on: More Red Lamp-Lighting from Russia

By: Rosters for Capitals rookie and full training camp released « the red skate

Rosters for Capitals rookie and full training camp released « the red skate — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:36:59 +0000

By: Eli

Eli — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:55:28 +0000

I’ll be the first to say that the Caps put themselves in better position going forward from the lockout when they hired away one of the Avalanche’s top scouts. I’m also frankly amazed at the success the Caps had in the 2004 draft, before the new guy got started. The odds of turning three picks in the same first round into an MVP wing, an all star defenseman and a stay-at-home guy who can occasionally handle top four minutes are incredibly, incredibly low.
Still, the amazing thing here isn’t the scouting. Every team knew Kugryshev was good. The other twenty-nine just didn’t want to risk a 1st round pick on a talented player who appeared too likely to head to the KHL.
It’s great that the Caps took the time to make sure they found a guy who was indeed headed to N.A. It’s also great that their team has enjoyed such a surge of popularity in Russia that they are now in a better position to lure him across the pond than any other squad.
Even if the Caps can’t offer Kugryshev as big a rookie contract under the current CBA as some Russian clubs will probably offer him, the Caps alone in the world can offer Kugryshev a chance to play with the best players Russia has to offer.
When your team features the starting forward line from the winning Russian world championship squad, you can take a risk on a Russian kid that other teams can’t afford.

By: Lee (PTO)

Lee (PTO) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:42:15 +0000

I dub thee….
COUGAR!!!!! *rrowwwrrr*
Now get down here and hoist the cup with us soon!

By: Muddapucker

Muddapucker — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:39:05 +0000

I like him!

By: pepper

pepper — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:17:44 +0000

That is good to read that he’s able to at least understand coaching instructions in English. Imagine what added value he would have if he were able to become conversant in Russian, English, and French. Wish I could say that.

By: Sombrero Guy

Sombrero Guy — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:36:24 +0000

Its also goo to note that he is able to receive coaching instructions in English. For some reason I thought he was still very much in need of an interpreter.

By: b.orr4

b.orr4 — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:10:25 +0000

Ho, hum, just another Caps prospect tearing it up juniors. Seriously, how improved has the Caps scouting department become in the last five years? I know I’m biased, but I look at the young players in the system and I’m hard pressed to find too many teams doing a better job of identifying and drafting top talent. The knock on McPhee had always been that he never had much success after the first round. Well, that certainly doesn’t seem to be the case any longer. Between Hershey and the draftees now in Juniors, the Caps are building a farm system that could keep them very good for a lot of years.

By: Sombrero Guy

Sombrero Guy — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:45:50 +0000

Well here’s hoping he continues to dominate