Little Kostitsyn is on fire!
Feb 8, 2007 15:11:50 GMT -5
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Feb 8, 2007 15:11:50 GMT -5
Thursday February 08, 2007
Little Kostitsyn is on fire!
Mathias Brunet
La Presse
Sergei Kostitsyn has always played in the shadow of his older brother Andrei.
The latter, after all, was the first choice of the Canadiens in the 2003 draft (10th over all), and some had even advanced that he would have been selected among the top three if not for his epilepsy problems. His talent has for a long time been the source of hopeful dreams and those hopes are still permitted in his case even if his development hasn't been as fast as envisaged.
The younger one was selected in the seventh round two years later and one always spoke about him as merely the brother of the other. But in light of the young man's performance in the junior ranks with the London Knights, one can from now on wonder whether he will surpass the elder. Or at least if he will constitute the hidden gem of the 2005 draft.
Since his return from the Junior World Championship after the holidays, Kostitsyn is the player of the hour in the OHL with 33 points in only 12 gamess, for an average of almost three points per match!
After a somewhat muted beginning to the season, Sergei Kostitsyn has a record of 83 points in 44 games, fifth among the league's scorers.
"Frankly, I am surprised that he was drafted so late in 2005, because he is probably one of the most talented players in his age group", confided Dave Gagner, former NHLer, and now assistant coach of the Knights, over the phone. "But often, when it'ss a question of scouting, certain youngsters aren't as familair as others of the same age when it's time to choose. In our league he is one of the most dominant players."
Gagner played 15 seasons in the NHL, including six for Gainey in Minnesota, then in Dallas (he finished among the top three scorers on the club during each of his first five seasons there). He knows his stuff. He is convinced that young Kostitsyn has the goods to satisfy his former boss.
"I know what Bob wants. He wants consistency. He wants reliability. He wants a player who will give the same effort every game. He wants a player who has a burning desire to win—who is ready to sacrifice himself for the team. And I think that in time he will like Sergei. Like all players his age, Sergei must learn how to be consistent. But that is learned. I was the same at 18-years old. That comes with experience. What is encouraging is that he pays attention. It's been explained to him that there are players in the American League who are probably more talented than a good majority of players who reached the NHL, and he's been told why. And he understands what one says to him and he applies it. He understands because for the past month all the aspects of his play have been solid. He will become an asset to the Canadiens. I am convinced of it. He has the talent to be on one of the top two lines of an NHL team. "
Kostitsyn was not in London by chance last year. Gainey suggested to one of the owners of the club, Mark Hunter, whoplayed with him in Montreal, to take him under his wing. Fortune had it that another close friend of Gainey's, Gagner, joined the London club this season.
"I know that Mark and Bob talk to each other during the season", says Gagner. "Bob keeps up to date with Sergei's progress."
Gagner coaches the defensemen but he works a lot with Kostitsyn because he plays the point onthe power play, one of Gagner's responsibilities. "Sometimes I even use him on defense during a penalty kill because he is solid in his battles for the puck", says Gagner. "He can really do everything. What's more, last week he played on average almost 25 minutes per game. He is a force on the power play. He has a wicked shot and can score from the point on one-timers. He is also an excellent passer."
When one asks Gagner what is the most surprising aspect of Kostitsyn's play, one hears him laugh at the end of the line. "His body-checks always surprise me. He has a perfect command of the hip-check and often uses it when he plays the point on the power play. Sometimes, a two-on-one takes shape for the opposition and he succeeds in forcing the player who has the puck out of the play. He has very good anticipation, which helps him in this aspect of the game. He's delivered a few good checks this season."
But what Gagner appreciates most about Sergei is his desire to succeed. "He always manages to make big plays at crucial moments. He wants the puck when it counts. And especially, he is not afraid of anything or anybody. He is never afraid to take a hit. That's a quality which makes us believe that he will succeed."
- tinyurl.com/ywh46c
Little Kostitsyn is on fire!
Mathias Brunet
La Presse
Sergei Kostitsyn has always played in the shadow of his older brother Andrei.
The latter, after all, was the first choice of the Canadiens in the 2003 draft (10th over all), and some had even advanced that he would have been selected among the top three if not for his epilepsy problems. His talent has for a long time been the source of hopeful dreams and those hopes are still permitted in his case even if his development hasn't been as fast as envisaged.
The younger one was selected in the seventh round two years later and one always spoke about him as merely the brother of the other. But in light of the young man's performance in the junior ranks with the London Knights, one can from now on wonder whether he will surpass the elder. Or at least if he will constitute the hidden gem of the 2005 draft.
Since his return from the Junior World Championship after the holidays, Kostitsyn is the player of the hour in the OHL with 33 points in only 12 gamess, for an average of almost three points per match!
After a somewhat muted beginning to the season, Sergei Kostitsyn has a record of 83 points in 44 games, fifth among the league's scorers.
"Frankly, I am surprised that he was drafted so late in 2005, because he is probably one of the most talented players in his age group", confided Dave Gagner, former NHLer, and now assistant coach of the Knights, over the phone. "But often, when it'ss a question of scouting, certain youngsters aren't as familair as others of the same age when it's time to choose. In our league he is one of the most dominant players."
Gagner played 15 seasons in the NHL, including six for Gainey in Minnesota, then in Dallas (he finished among the top three scorers on the club during each of his first five seasons there). He knows his stuff. He is convinced that young Kostitsyn has the goods to satisfy his former boss.
"I know what Bob wants. He wants consistency. He wants reliability. He wants a player who will give the same effort every game. He wants a player who has a burning desire to win—who is ready to sacrifice himself for the team. And I think that in time he will like Sergei. Like all players his age, Sergei must learn how to be consistent. But that is learned. I was the same at 18-years old. That comes with experience. What is encouraging is that he pays attention. It's been explained to him that there are players in the American League who are probably more talented than a good majority of players who reached the NHL, and he's been told why. And he understands what one says to him and he applies it. He understands because for the past month all the aspects of his play have been solid. He will become an asset to the Canadiens. I am convinced of it. He has the talent to be on one of the top two lines of an NHL team. "
Kostitsyn was not in London by chance last year. Gainey suggested to one of the owners of the club, Mark Hunter, whoplayed with him in Montreal, to take him under his wing. Fortune had it that another close friend of Gainey's, Gagner, joined the London club this season.
"I know that Mark and Bob talk to each other during the season", says Gagner. "Bob keeps up to date with Sergei's progress."
Gagner coaches the defensemen but he works a lot with Kostitsyn because he plays the point onthe power play, one of Gagner's responsibilities. "Sometimes I even use him on defense during a penalty kill because he is solid in his battles for the puck", says Gagner. "He can really do everything. What's more, last week he played on average almost 25 minutes per game. He is a force on the power play. He has a wicked shot and can score from the point on one-timers. He is also an excellent passer."
When one asks Gagner what is the most surprising aspect of Kostitsyn's play, one hears him laugh at the end of the line. "His body-checks always surprise me. He has a perfect command of the hip-check and often uses it when he plays the point on the power play. Sometimes, a two-on-one takes shape for the opposition and he succeeds in forcing the player who has the puck out of the play. He has very good anticipation, which helps him in this aspect of the game. He's delivered a few good checks this season."
But what Gagner appreciates most about Sergei is his desire to succeed. "He always manages to make big plays at crucial moments. He wants the puck when it counts. And especially, he is not afraid of anything or anybody. He is never afraid to take a hit. That's a quality which makes us believe that he will succeed."
- tinyurl.com/ywh46c
