Kirill Kabanov a Happy Islander, Just Needs a 2011-12 Home

that he can practice with the Islanders or Bridgeport?

Does the CBA say he can’t go only to the AHL? (In that case, what about the ECHL?)

and that can be done professionally, without personalizing it, acting like a dick for the media to look tough (see leafs and rags couches)…both have a job in TV after Cherry moves on

essentially, the junior team needs to know they are there to develop and feed for the NHL, it is the NHL team that is always top priority, what is best for NHL team and in this case, the Isles asset KK…if necessary, you don’t worry about stepping on the toes of some junior team owner who probably won’t even own the team in a few years.

If not forbidden by some legally binding contract, Snow should give the junior team a a polite, but firm and to the point deadline. You either trade KK to another junior team by such and such a date, release him to us so he can be sent down to BP one year under age, or, we will be acting on what we feel is in the best professional interests of the islander’s franchise and its asset, KK…which means we have a team in the SEL willing to take him, and that is where we will be sending him…of course, before they all walk into the meeting room, they’ll shake hands in the hall, exchange small talk etc….and after the closing of the media the small talk starts again…how’s the weather down your way, the wife and kids, heard you just had an election, what do you think of this kid Yakupov…in reality, it will be interesting how this plays out between the CHL and SEL…will the SEL welcome it as retaliation for the CHL taking their top kids? What if junior kids or Europeans opt for SEL? Will the CHL react by striking back at SEL and increase the number of Euros allowed per team? How will N. American hockey respond to that? This could be the tempest in a teapot of a lot more drama..or, all parties could just look at it as a rarity, and decide best to ignore it, let him go to Sweden and forget about it…

you’d never know it today, but it clearly looked like both parties may part ways and Spezza would never play for the Sens. Spezza was the consensus 2nd overall pick, and sure enough was drafted there. (don’t want to talk about Yashin or Chara). Spezza was left in Juniors for his two years, did more than the usual time on the farm, and under constant media criticism to bring him up to NHL, the Sens (I think it was Bryan Murray who was GM) held their ground, bringing him up when they felt he was ready. Of course, Spezza, being a high pick was very disappointed and not happy about it…

what KK said is literally nothing, and I don’t see any of it as an issue other than the journalist who obviously was inventing some news.

Can anyone blame KK for being disappointed? Seriously, if he isn’t, something is wrong.

Perhaps it wasn’t the best thing to discuss so openly and trusting with a journalist. And for his game, in hindsight, maybe staying in Europe until he is ready to play in the NHL would have been a better idea. I could be wrong, just my opinion, I’ve taught many kids KK’s age and my gut feeling is that the QMHL is not the best place for him…I see KK as a kid with a good heart, wants to be liked no matter how much he may let on it doesn’t matter…I also see him as a kid that gets bored and needs to be constantly challenged, hence the better play in big games. He also strikes me as a kid who loves to seek a thrill and adrln. rush that provides. and of course, he is a little immature, so sure, their is some nurturing to do. I know pro-sports, especially CHL like to control and maintain their image, but neck tatoos, “sleave tatoos” piercings…there is a sub-culture among the young where this is pretty mainstream. KK has yet to get a tatoo somewhere where at least 100,000 haven’t done it first. It’s not like he’s leading anyone’s kid astray.

KK is obviously not NHL ready, but is only a year or two away…needs to add some muscle to his 6’3 frame…SEL will teach him positional D, and him not being a checker, this may actually be the best place for him over the more physical AHL…

the main detractors would be, will he get the ice time in the SEL, which is a none factor if he can’t play in N. America…and, will this negatively impact his transition to N. American Ice, which again is a non factor if KK can’t play in N. America.

this Kabanov’s ACTUAL GAME as many of you, I’m a little lost as to what the big deal is with this guy. Everytime I turn around there’s some stir about him not showing up for something, or being late for a practice, or not seeming to play hard or criticizing the borscht in North America. I’ve been hearing and reading about this stuff with this guy for so long already it’s hard believe he’s 19, and he still hasn’t come close to playing an NHL game yet. Talk about high maintenance. Is this player so talented and such a ’can’t miss’ prospect that it’s worth enduring his whole act, and the worse that’s sure to come once he’s actually in the NHL? Or is there a chance this guy’s gonna turn out to be fraud and total bust like Brian Bosworth and end up in some idiot action movie or on some underwater gladiator show?

that a guy who hasn’t done anything gets so much ink.
If it’s more overblown nonsense from the hockey press than anything else, and the guy has even close to Malkin, Ovechkin talent, then all the dopey coverage about meaningless issues is fine with me.