A bust in the making ?

[PTH]

I admit there's cause for concern..... if he doesn't turn it around by January I'll start to worry, and if he doesn't at least have some hot spurts before the end of the year he'll be going from prospect to suspect in my books. Still, we'd keep him around next year, just in case he's a late bloomer.

You never know though, I haven't seen him, so maybe he's improving but the numbers aren't there, yet. That final "yet" is very important though.

[NWTHabsFan]

4 points tonight against Grand Rapids. He also scored in the shootout. I guess he was listening. Dogs win in a shootout.

Dogs scored in OT but it was called a high stick even though Brad Winchester had his stick on the ice. Hmmm. Derek Wills was dumbfounded, so I guess the refs transported from the ACC to Grand Rapids, MI. Hmmm.

[seventeen]

Here's the box score. Andrei was also 3rd star of the game. As a bit of irony, especially for HFLA, both teams had to go to their 8th shooter to decide the game, with Corey Locke scoring and (ahem) Jiri Hudler missing. To be fair, there were no reports of where the heck Tomas Linhart was during the shootout.


ahl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1001292

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Andreï Kostitsyn: a disappointment...

Saturday November 26, 2005 - (CP) - If the 2003 draft were to be held based on today's data, it's not certain that Andreï Kostitsyn would be claimed in the first round. Not by the disappointment Kostitsyn, the Habs' first choice and the 10th player claimed two years ago, is causing.

There is nothing easier than rewriting history. Each year all the teams without exception make a bad choice. But, with the passage of time, one realizes that Kostitsyn is not progressing at the same rate as the others.

Names? Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Brent Seabrook, Robert Nilsson, Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, Brent Burns, Ryan Kesler, Mike Richards, Anthony Stewart, Corey Perry, and Patrick Eaves. All these players were claimed in the first round after Kostitsyn, and they all play in the NHL this season. Others are in the American League and are knocking on the door of the Bettman circuit.

Other names are Patrice Bergeron, Vojtech Polak, Jeremy Colliton, and Maxim Lapierre, all players who were claimed in the second round in 2003 and all who have played at least one game in the NHL in 2005-2006.

No progress

After a first season of 12 goals and 11 assists in 66 games with Hamilton, Kostitsyn has produced at hardly a higher level this season, in spite of a year's experience in the American League. The Belarussian has scored four goals and collected six assists in 21 matches while having a differential of -11, the worst on the Bulldogs.

"He has improved his defensive play. It was rather unfocused at the beginning of the season. That explains his differential. But he has progressed well since," says his coach Don Lever. "His offensive output is, on the other hand, disappointing. However he has an NHL shot. Except that he isn't able to get free and exploit it."

Kostitsyn has the reputation of being difficult to coach. It's not that he is self-centred. But he has difficulty assimilating the team concept well, especially as he still does not have command of the English language.

"It's a long process in his case," Lever remarks, struggling to find words in order not to appear too negative.

"Andreï must learn to better complement the work of his linemates. He tends to want to do everything himself. He must also work harder. He believes that he does enough but that is not the case.

"The fact that he does not speak English adds to the difficulties," continues Lever. "When we meet, it is more of a monologue than a dialogue. It's a subject which we often tackle with his agent.

"His girlfriend must take English courses and he accompanies her when he is in town. He is finally showing a little initiative," concludes the Bulldogs' coach.

- www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/192796.html (French)

[clear observer]

He tends to want to do everything himself. He must also work harder.

Hmmm....selfish AAAAAND lazy. Not good.


CO

[Bob]

mrbozo said:

Andreï Kostitsyn: a disappointment...

After a first season of 12 goals and 11 assists in 66 games with Hamilton, Kostitsyn has produced at hardly a higher level this season, in spite of a year's experience in the American League. The Belarussian has scored four goals and collected six assists in 21 matches while having a differential of -11, the lowest on the Bulldogs.

Timely comments... Andrei tied his best point production of the year last night scoring once and adding three assists... then scored in the S/O. He now stands at 5 goals and 9 assists in 22 games.

Maybe RDS needs to write more of these kinds of articles.

But seriously... before we jump all over Kostitsyn we should keep in mind he is playing on one of the youngest teams in the AHL and could probably use some guidance from a veteran. Not to belittle the players in Hamilton but many of the other names mentioned in the article have players like Forsberg to set an example for them.

Add in some of the other factors and there is a good reason to believe that Kostitsyn still has a very high ceiling when it comes to hockey ability.

I am not even close to giving up on this guy.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Growing up is more difficult for some. And that is what seems to be holding Kostitsyn back right now—maturity. Accepting that you are not required to carry your team as you became by necessity accustomed to doing. Being a kid a very long way from home, and dealing with different customs and language. It will come. It did for Markov, Perezhogin, and Plekanec. It must happen, or his little brother might well have a more significant NHL career. How would that play out at the family dinner table, I wonder?

[Deleted]

What's preventing Kostitsyn's growth is the same that prevented Markov's: Lack of understanding in the English language.

[duster]

I went through something similar when I moved to another country as a teen and didn't speak the language. It can get frustrating for people when they try explaining advanced concepts using sign language, and bewildering for someone trying to understand them. It's way too soon to call him a disappointment.

Perhaps I'm stating the obvious, but a solid veteran to take him in hand wouldn't be bad idea, imho. Perhaps even a Russian speaking assistant coach. There isn't anyone in Hamilton right now that can fill either role.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

seventeen said:

Here's the box score. Andrei was also 3rd star of the game. As a bit of irony, especially for HFLA, both teams had to go to their 8th shooter to decide the game, with Corey Locke scoring and (ahem) Jiri Hudler missing. To be fair, there were no reports of where the heck Tomas Linhart was during the shootout.


ahl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1001292

Seventeen 1, HFLA 0....


to be continued...................