Andrei Kostitsyn will have to intensify his play

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

seventeen said:

I have my doubts about that list. Phaneuf not on it at all? Who will Canadian Press want us to watch after Phaneuf destroys half the forwards on that list.

I prefer not to think of who isn't on the list but rather of who is on it.

I consider it high praise for Kostitsyn that he makes the list ahead of other very talented players. That he is mentioned in the same breath as Ovechkin, Malkin, Crosby, O'Sullivan, Carter and Nilsson is a very definite thumbs up.

[blaise]

A. Kostitsyn was formidable against the Americans (he got their attention).

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

M. said:

The top 10 players to watch at the 2005 world junior men's hockey championship

posted December 21 @ 16:15, EST

(CP) - The top 10 players to watch at the 2005 world junior men's hockey championship, Dec. 25 to Jan. 4 in Grand Forks, N.D., and Thief River Falls, Minn.

1. Alexander Ovechkin, Russia - Powerful and talented forward will be the marquee player of the tournament. Was ready to play in the NHL even before the Washington Capitals made him the first overall pick at the draft in June.

2. Evgeni Malkin, Russia - Not as far a long in development as Ovechkin, but has the skills and talent of his countryman, which made Pittsburgh take him second overall.

3. Sidney Crosby, Canada - Played well with and against players three years older than him at the 2004 tournament. Now 17, he is expected to be one of Canada's top scorers.

4. Alvaro Montoya, U.S. - Cool under pressure in gold-medal effort against Canada at 2004 tournament in Helsinki. Was named tournament's top goaltender and drafted sixth overall by New York Rangers.

5. Patrick O'Sullivan, U.S. - Third year at world juniors and was a pivotal player in gold-medal win over Canada in Helsinki. Mississauga IceDogs forward and Minnesota draft pick will be relied upon to fill the scoring void left by Zach Parise.

6. Jeff Carter, Canada - Towering centre can score and can dish out painful hits. Philadelphia Flyers didn't sign Carter to a contract before the NHL locked out its players and Carter could make them wish they did.

7. Marek Schwarz, Czech Republic - Czechs will be threats for the podium if they get the goaltending out of Schwarz, the highest European goaltender drafted this year when St. Louis took him 17th overall. He plays for the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants.

8. Robert Nilsson, Sweden - Son of former NHLer Kent Nilsson born in Calgary when his dad played for the Flames. First-round draft pick of New York Islanders was Sweden's top scorer at 2004 tournament.

9. Andrej Meszaros, Slovakia - Like Canada's Patrice Bergeron, played for his country at the men's world championship in May. Ottawa drafted the defenceman 23rd overall this year.

10. Andrei Kostitsyn, Belarus - Hamilton Bulldogs forward drafted 10th overall by Montreal in 2003. His country's hopes of staying in the top-tier tournament rest on him.

*

Kostitsyn is now tied for third on the Dogs in goals scored with 6, 2 behind leader Locke and one behind second palce Plekanec. Not bad for a 19 year old kid who's been short-shifted, told to think defense first, and gets virtually no powerplay time (5 even strength goals and 1 short-handed).

I have a son who gets less than optimal treatment from his HS track coach, cross-country coach and now his wrestling coach. That's three different coaches!! Maybe it's not the coaches?
Kostitsyn has not been a coaches favorite in Russia where we blambed the autocratic coach. He's had more than his share of coaches on different teams.
I think that if Jarvis is not giving him the ice time he wants, the problem may not lie with Jarvis. I'm sure that Jarvis would love to see Andrei blossom under his tutiledge. Problem may lie with kasty.
Kostitsyn is a big strong widebody with speed and talent. I've seen him shoot too often (he does have a good hard shot). He drives to the net but doesn't utilize his teamates. Hamilton has lots of young guys who can score and a couple of old geezers like Ward who are proven scorers. If Kasty earns his ice time it will come.

[NWTHabsFan]

Habs_fan_in_LA said:

I think that if Jarvis is not giving him the ice time he wants, the problem may not lie with Jarvis. I'm sure that Jarvis would love to see Andrei blossom under his tutiledge. Problem may lie with kasty.
Kostitsyn is a big strong widebody with speed and talent. I've seen him shoot too often (he does have a good hard shot). He drives to the net but doesn't utilize his teamates. Hamilton has lots of young guys who can score and a couple of old geezers like Ward who are proven scorers. If Kasty earns his ice time it will come.

I think the ice time has definitely started to come for Andrei. In the 4 televised games before he headed off to North Dakota, Andrei was on the top line with Pleky and Ward and was getting premiere ice time along with the line of Higgins-Locke-Milroy. He clearly is taking in some of those lessons that the Coach is trying to pass on despite the language barriers. Andrei is getting more comfortable in his surroundings, and I really think is responding by being a more balanced and responsible player out on his shifts.

So, I don't necessarily agree that he is a chronic coach's challenge, instead he is being asked to abandon his offense-only approach that he has been able to use as the premier guy on all those Belarusian teams, and move to a more defensively-conscious approach that is so preached in North American pro hockey today.

I also think he is adding weapons to his already impressive offensive arsenal, as he is seeing his linemates much better and passing more. That game against the US in the WJC was a classic example of him creating space for his linemates and making great set-up passes that resulted in two goals that game. Sure he still shoots a lot, but he is far from the one-trick pony that we all saw at the start of the season.

It's a development league, and he is developing!!

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

NWTHabsFan said:

I think the ice time has definitely started to come for Andrei. In the 4 televised games before he headed off to North Dakota, Andrei was on the top line with Pleky and Ward and was getting premiere ice time along with the line of Higgins-Locke-Milroy. He clearly is taking in some of those lessons that the Coach is trying to pass on despite the language barriers. Andrei is getting more comfortable in his surroundings, and I really think is responding by being a more balanced and responsible player out on his shifts.

So, I don't necessarily agree that he is a chronic coach's challenge, instead he is being asked to abandon his offense-only approach that he has been able to use as the premier guy on all those Belarusian teams, and move to a more defensively-conscious approach that is so preached in North American pro hockey today.

I also think he is adding weapons to his already impressive offensive arsenal, as he is seeing his linemates much better and passing more. That game against the US in the WJC was a classic example of him creating space for his linemates and making great set-up passes that resulted in two goals that game. Sure he still shoots a lot, but he is far from the one-trick pony that we all saw at the start of the season.

It's a development league, and he is developing!!

I like Kosty and sometimes my sarcasm is overdone (sometimes?).
I didn't like a lot of things I heard about him (too many teams in one year, coaches not playing him etc.) so I didn't go along with the multitude that thought he was a saviour. He is strong and has a good shot, but I still rank him behind guys like Locke, Ribeiro and CCCChipChipChipchura that I really like. I initially didn't appreciate the wisdom of the Chipchura pick when Schremp was available, but I do change my mind and I'm glad that Gainey runs the team and not me. I hope Kosty becomes a great player but for now, I'm not sold on Kostitsyn and Perezhoegin as surefire greats the way I am on others.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Habs_fan_in_LA said:

I have a son who gets less than optimal treatment from his HS track coach, cross-country coach and now his wrestling coach. That's three different coaches!! Maybe it's not the coaches?
Kostitsyn has not been a coaches favorite in Russia where we blambed the autocratic coach. He's had more than his share of coaches on different teams.
I think that if Jarvis is not giving him the ice time he wants, the problem may not lie with Jarvis. I'm sure that Jarvis would love to see Andrei blossom under his tutiledge. Problem may lie with kasty.
Kostitsyn is a big strong widebody with speed and talent. I've seen him shoot too often (he does have a good hard shot). He drives to the net but doesn't utilize his teamates. Hamilton has lots of young guys who can score and a couple of old geezers like Ward who are proven scorers. If Kasty earns his ice time it will come.

Kostitsyn is now tied for third on the Dogs in goals scored with 6, 2 behind leader Locke and one behind second palce Plekanec. Not bad for a 19 year old kid who's been short-shifted, told to think defense first, and gets virtually no powerplay time (5 even strength goals and 1 short-handed).

I see no criticism of Jarvis or any coaches, or Kostitsyn's attitude, in my comments. I merely observed that Kostitsyn has managed to produce well, relative to other players on the Bulldogs, despite less ice time and the demand that he learn to incorporate defensive responsibility into his game (which he is doing). All good things.

[NWTHabsFan]

Habs_fan_in_LA said:

I initially didn't appreciate the wisdom of the Chipchura pick when Schremp was available, but I do change my mind and I'm glad that Gainey runs the team and not me.

The same Schremp who was was moved from OHL teams for "personality" issues, was benched in last season's playoffs, and who was only used in three shifts in the first two US games this WJC until one of their forwards was injured and the coach had to use him more (after being left off the team before because USA Hockey didn't think he was a team player). I sense a trend here that is a polar opposite to what we get in Kyle Chipchura. I too was tempted by the pure skills that Schremp has, but never had him on my top three list when our pick came around last June at #18 for those other reasons (my list by the way was Chipper, Korpikoski and Mezsaros).

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Andreï Kostitsyn showed beautiful maturity

François Lemenu

The Canadiens did not have any representatives on the Canadian team that won the WJC gold medal. Trevor Timmins, the Habs' director of player personnel, says he is nevertheless satisfied with the output of the four players belonging to the organization - Andreï Kostitsyn, Jaroslav Halak, Christopher Heino-Lindberg, and Alexeï Emelin - who took part in the tournament.

"Kostitsyn had a very good tournament", Timmins noted shortly after Canada's brilliant victory against Russia. "He managed to raise his play a notch against the United States when Belarus recorded the biggest surprise of the championship. Kostitsyn scored a goal and two assists and he could have added to his production if he had been better supported."

According to Timmins, the Canadiens first choice of the 2003 draft showed signs of maturity during the tournament.

"One could see that his development has accelerated in the American Hockey League. During the tournament he integrated into the collective play of his team instead of trying to do everything himself. He was even transformed into a playmaker despite having an excellent shot. It is a sign of maturity.

"He is now solid at both ends of the rink", added Timmins. "His defensive play, especially, has improved by better positioning on the ice. He is much more responsible defensively. The Bulldogs' coaches did a very good job. He should be even better on his return to Hamilton."

Kostitsyn, 19 years old, took part in five of the six Belarus games, recording a goal and four assists. He missed the last match against Germany, the victim of a slight injury to the nape of the neck in the preceding game against Slovakia. The Belarus-Germany match did not have any significance; the two countries were unable to avoid relegation.

Two goalies

The Canadiens had two goalies in the tournament, Slovak Halak and the Swede Heino-Lindberg.

"Halak played a very good tournament", said Timmins. "In each match, he gave his team a chance to win."

Last choice of the Canadiens in 2003, Halak plays for Lewiston, which is coached by Clément Jodoin.

"We have occasion to often see him work. He profits from many sessions with Roland Melanson", indicates Timmins.

At Grand Forks, Halak produced a record of 4-2-0, a save % of .915 and a GAA of 2.17. He also registered a pair of shutouts.

Heino-Lindberg had a more difficult tournament.

"He had ups and downs", remarked Timmins. "He is talented and very athletic. But it is obvious that he has not yet benefited from Melanson's advice. He challenges the attackers too much. One sometimes has the impression that he wants to go to the blue line to stop a shot. He will have to learn to curb his enthusiasm. But he has talent."

In four matches, Heino-Lindberg was 1-3-0, a save % of .852, and a GAA of 4,43. He had a shutout. The Swede was the team's seventh choice in 2003.

Emelin scored Russia's only against Canada.

"I was very glad to see him score", said Timmins. "Emelin is not an offensive defenseman. He plays in the manner of Darius Kasparaitis."

Emelin, 18 years old, is not very robust at six feet and 187 pounds.

"He is nevertheless tough", Timmins noted. "He does not give ground. One saw that well against Canada. But what I like most is that he is not outplayed in one-on-ones. One should keep an eye on him in the next WJC."

The Russian was the Canadiens second choice in 2004, behind Kyle Chipchura.

- www2.canoe.com/sports/nouvelles/archives/2005/01/20050105-153137.html

M. said:

It seems that Jarvis is taking the same tack with Kostitisyn as he did with Perezhogin last season, though the latter arrived on the team as a more rounded player. Perezhogin also had a slow start, but was lauded as one of the best forwards in the AHL in the second half of the season and averaged a point a game in the playoffs (and it looks like he will be selected to the Russian national team this year).

Kostitsyn has the skill and the physical tools. What's more he has the desire and intensity needed to succeed, as has been amply demonstrated by his being one of the outstanding players in virtually every international tournament he's palyed in, despite carrying the Belarus team on his back and being his club's target of "special" attention in every game.

M. said:

The numbers would seem to bear out the above observation.

Thus far Kostitsyn has played in all 12 Dogs games. However, his icetime has been carefully rationed by Jarvis, and Coach seems to have analysis and instruction to offer the young Belarussian after many a shift.

Kostitsyn's offensive skill and development are obviously not a concern. Despite his rather anemic production (12 games, 3-1-4, and only 13 shots) it doesn't appear that he has lost his greatest gift, as a team leading 23.1 shooting % indicates. What is pleasantly surprising, though not unexpected given the combination of Kostitsyn's drive and love of the game and Jarvis' decades of high-level experience, is that Kostitsyn is tied for the team lead with a +4 rating and has scored a shorthanded goal (which shows that Jarvis is not afraid to throw him into the deep end - and that Kostitsyn can learn to swim).

Onward and forward!

M. said:

Good coverage of AK-17's status guys. As I noted in the Kostitsyn thread just a little while ago, being 2 goals behind the team leader while being short-shifted, ordered to focus on defense and receiving next to no PP time, forebodes an explosion in the best hockey sense of the word.

*

The key thing is that Kostitsyn seems to be following his coach's dictums to good result. This just speaks to his overall skill level, as well as to his native hockey sense.

Apparently Kostitsyn is a pretty outgoing young guy (Perezhogin was much more shy) and has plunged into mastering English with enthusiasm.

*

Without a doubt.

I shall stick to my prediction that Kostitsyn will take off in the second half of the AHL season.

Hopefully the WJC will be a stage whereupon he can unleash some of his pent-up creative juices, and he can ride that wave of energy back into the AHL and compound it with his newfound defensive game.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

M. said:

Kostitsyn is now tied for third on the Dogs in goals scored with 6, 2 behind leader Locke and one behind second palce Plekanec. Not bad for a 19 year old kid who's been short-shifted, told to think defense first, and gets virtually no powerplay time (5 even strength goals and 1 short-handed).

I see no criticism of Jarvis or any coaches, or Kostitsyn's attitude, in my comments. I merely observed that Kostitsyn has managed to produce well, relative to other players on the Bulldogs, despite less ice time and the demand that he learn to incorporate defensive responsibility into his game (which he is doing). All good things.

Kostitsyn is much bigger and stronger than Locke. He is faster and has a harder shot. He was drafted ahead of Locke and is always listed as a better prospect.
Locke is small and slow and winner of two OHL scoring championships.
Locke in 35 games played, 11 goals, 10 assists, 21 points, +8 when playing at even strength.
Kastitsyn in 30 games, 6 goals, 3 assists, 9 points, -2 when playing at even strength.
Both are doing well for rookies, not bad for 19 year old kids, but Locke has passed Urquhart and Kasty on the development track in Hamilton. Many didn't expect Locke to make the team, and he didn't get the ice time that the higher ranked, more experienced players did at first.
I really like Ribeiro, who is not exactly a coaches favorite. I really look for hard working guys who get the maximun out of their natural talents, guys like Steve Begin, who looks like Chuck Wepner going after Mohammud Ali. I'm not crazy about talented guys like Hainsey who sit back and wait/expect for opportunities/second/third chances to be given to them.

Boy, do we miss NHL hockey! The Jr. Championship was a Buffet meal for starving fans.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

M. said:

...Kostitsyn's offensive skill and development are obviously not a concern. Despite his rather anemic production it doesn't appear that he has lost his greatest gift.... What is pleasantly surprising, though not unexpected given the combination of Kostitsyn's drive and love of the game and Jarvis' decades of high-level experience, is that Kostitsyn is tied for the team lead with a +4 rating and has scored a shorthanded goal (which shows that Jarvis is not afraid to throw him into the deep end - and that Kostitsyn can learn to swim).

Onward and forward!

M. said:

...The key thing is that Kostitsyn seems to be following his coach's dictums to good result. This just speaks to his overall skill level, as well as to his native hockey sense....

*

...I shall stick to my prediction that Kostitsyn will take off in the second half of the AHL season.

Hopefully the WJC will be a stage whereupon he can unleash some of his pent-up creative juices, and he can ride that wave of energy back into the AHL and compound it with his newfound defensive game.

According to Squeaky at the other place who attended the Rochester (29/01/05) game:

And gee, who else is there? I feel like I'm forgetting someone.....Oh yeah, Kostitsyn going into the game, I had decided to pay special attention to Kost, so my report on him is going to be much more in-depth.

Well, I wasn't really sure what to expect from him. I didn't want to get my hopes up, because he hasn't had a fantastic year. I should have. He was brilliant. In my oppinion, he was hands-down the most talented player out there on either team. I really cannot express how pleased I was with Kostitsyn today. The only way he seemed to struggle is in his chemistry with his teamates. I didn't see much there, he seemed to struggle a little to understand what his linemates were thinking. He wanted to though, he really did. He tried a few nifty passes and things, and he was often making room for teamates and helping them out if they got into trouble. He really looked like he wanted to use his teamates and be used by them. I get the feeling that Jarvis may have told him to do so, because he was making a very concious effort to do it.

Offensively, I really believe Kostitsyn is everything we were promised. He has moves. I didn't see much of his shot today, as he didn't get many chances to shoot. His passing game and his vision were better than I expected. He tried a couple of times to set up his teamates in just beautiful ways, but they often messed it up. I think he surprised the hell out of Ott on one play with a nifty little back pass. Whatever chances he got, he created himself. Kostitsyn is NOT a floater. He was skating very hard all game long, and forechecking very well. He's the sort of guy who just wants the puck. His time on the PP was limited at best, I would have liked to see more of him on special teams.

Defensively, I was pleased. He doesn't understand defense like he understands offense, but he was trying very hard. He was skating back hard, and watching his man pretty closely. In this game, it did not appear to be a weakness.

If anyone ever calls Kostitsyn a small, soft, Euro to my face again, I'm going to slap them. This was the best surprise, he wasn't just averagely physical, he was downright gritty. The only decent hit I saw a Dog give this game came from Kostitsyn. He looked almost eager to go play along the boards and in the corners. I sat on his side, so I saw a fair bit of him there, and the kid can play along the boards. In the first period he knocked a guy who was a couple inches taller than him at least off the puck, then knocked him down, then gave him a couple of shots when he tried to get up. He definately has a mean streak to his game. As a matter of fact, I thought Kost was the most physical player for the Dogs in this game.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Kostitsyn's stats pre- and post-WJC:

30 games, 6-3-9 (0.30 ppg), -2, 39 shots (1.3 shots per game)
9 games, 3-2-5 (0.56 ppg), +4, 18 shots (2.0 shots per game)

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

M. said:

Kostitsyn's stats pre- and post-WJC:

30 games, 6-3-9 (0.30 ppg), -2, 39 shots (1.3 shots per game)
9 games, 3-2-5 (0.56 ppg), +4, 18 shots (2.0 shots per game)

The plus four looks good on a minus team that's been losing.