The Prokhor Poltapov Appreciation Thread

[RochesterExpat]

4 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Will he be moving up our Sabres Space prospect rankings?   He is not talked about much anymore.  

Unfortunate consequence of playing outside North America and only made worse by the international politics with Russia.

[Mr. Allen]

Feel like a lot of people (especially on here) had written him off.  Glad to see how well he’s playing.  He’s The type of player we could use.  

[LGR4GM]

13 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Will he be moving up our Sabres Space prospect rankings?   He is not talked about much anymore.  

Hasn't played very well until this season. Sometimes things just snap into place with guys, it's the hope with krebs.

[LGR4GM]

Just now, Mr. Allen said:

Feel like a lot of people (especially on here) had written him off.  Glad to see how well he’s playing.  He’s The type of player we could use.  

Yea, cuz he wasn't playing well. I've seen this a bunch but I'm confused by it. Poltapov was not great the last 2 years. He tried to play hero puck and skated into trouble.

[Crusader1969]

7 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Yea, cuz he wasn't playing well. I've seen this a bunch but I'm confused by it. Poltapov was not great the last 2 years. He tried to play hero puck and skated into trouble.

Could have been him trying to do too much to get ice time.  
It has to be tough to be 3 or 4 years younger than every other forward on your team , getting 6 mins one night , 13 minutes the next 

plus I would think he may not have been strong enough to play a heavy game of hockey vs men.  
but now he is 21 and things seem to be coming together for him.  However, he did start last season well before he hit a scoring slump. 
The most important thing for him is that it is great that he is scoring but that's not how he will be a difference maker for the Sabres.  He needs to keep up being a $hit disturber,  Heavy forecheck, creating turnovers and opening up space for his linemates.

it will be fun tracking his progress this year.   

over the years I would say he is in my top 3 favourite prospects.   

One seems to have hit in JJP, the other missed very badly in Justin Bailey - so we will see.  
 

 

[Flashsabre]

 Bakes on Poltapov

[Crusader1969]

9 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

 Bakes on Poltapov

In Baker We Trust 

 

[Crusader1969]

 Another goal  for Poltapov.  Now up to 9 points in 5 games 

Tied for second in the KHL.   Let's hope he can continue at this pace! 

Edited September 14 by Crusader1969

[Crusader1969]

Scored another goal today but that's not what impressed the most ....

 

 

[K-9]

10 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

Scored another goal today but that's not what impressed the most ....

 

 

That wasn't a crosscheck at all. Seems KHL refs are as inept as the NHL variety.

[French Collection]

2 hours ago, K-9 said:

That wasn't a crosscheck at all. Seems KHL refs are as inept as the NHL variety.

The guy he hit looked bigger than him, he’s a solid skater.

[DarthEbriate]

Was the cross check called on the initial hit or offscreen during some reprisals?

At any rate, there will likely be a 4th line/13th forward vacancy next year if he doesn’t need too much AHL seasoning. 

Edited September 22 by DarthEbriate

[Captain Caveman]

7 hours ago, K-9 said:

That wasn't a crosscheck at all. Seems KHL refs are as inept as the NHL variety.

You can't skate into a check with both hands on the stick like that, that definitely can be called a cross check.

A cross-check is defined by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in their Rule 127 as "check to the body of an opponent with both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice".

[K-9]

3 minutes ago, Captain Caveman said:

You can't skate into a check with both hands on the stick like that, that definitely can be called a cross check.

A cross-check is defined by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in their Rule 127 as "check to the body of an opponent with both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice".

Even if he hits with his shoulder and not his stick? 

[Captain Caveman]

If the stick makes any contact with the guys body and he had both hands on it it's a penalty, especially in most international play.  You're taught very early that you have one hand on your stick any time you're making body contact with another player.

[K-9]

Just now, Captain Caveman said:

If the stick makes any contact with the guys body and he had both hands on it it's a penalty, especially in most international play.  You're taught very early that you have one hand on your stick any time you're making body contact with another player.

I appreciate the edification because no part of Poltapov's stick appeared to make contact with the opponent.

[Captain Caveman]

2 minutes ago, K-9 said:

I appreciate the edification because no part of Poltapov's stick appeared to make contact with the opponent.

I disagree - it's a little hard to see because it happened so fast, but to me it looks like he has his stick out in front of his body (with two hands) when he skates into the other player.  At the last second it looks like he kind of tries to avoid making stick contact but it seemed likely too late. 

[steveoath]

https://sabresprospects.com/2024/09/24/the-poltapov-machine-keeps-humming/
 

2nd highest scorer (points) in the khl. 2 points off first spot

Edited September 29 by steveoath

[That Aud Smell]

On 9/22/2024 at 8:23 PM, Captain Caveman said:

I disagree - it's a little hard to see because it happened so fast, but to me it looks like he has his stick out in front of his body (with two hands) when he skates into the other player.  At the last second it looks like he kind of tries to avoid making stick contact but it seemed likely too late. 

Yeah - I guess it's the physics of the matter - and I see why that rule exists as it does.

If you've got both hands on your stick and you're holding it at waist level - you will generate more force (and/or withstand more force coming the opposite way) regardless of whether you conspicuously drive the stick into your opponent.

In all events, the firmly-held stick played a role in the outcome of that open ice hit. Which was a beauty.

[Crusader1969]

With an early goal in today's game, Poltapov has already eclipsed the amount of points he had last season

he had 14 points last season in 63 games

he now has 15 points in 18 games this year.   

 

Edited October 23 by Crusader1969

[Pimlach]

3 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

With an early goal in today's game, Poltapov has already eclipsed the amount of points he had last season

he had 14 points last season in 63 games

he now has 15 points in 18 games this year.   

 

So Rochester next season then.  

[Crusader1969]

Just now, Pimlach said:

So Rochester next season then.  

Think he might be too good for Rochester.  Maybe a short stint? 
I could see him stepping in to the wing on the 3rd line right away 

 

[Ctaeth]

4 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

So Rochester next season then.  

With the sort of season he is having, it would be difficult to convince him to move from Russia in order to play for the amerks.  

[Pimlach]

2 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:

Think he might be too good for Rochester.  Maybe a short stint? 
I could see him stepping in to the wing on the 3rd line right away 

 

I hope not.  That means veterans like Zucker and Greenway are gone and more reliance on developing kids in the NHL.  A bad habit for this team that needs to end.  

2 hours ago, Ctaeth said:

With the sort of season he is having, it would be difficult to convince him to move from Russia in order to play for the amerks.  

He has to prove he belongs in NHL.  

[matter2003]