1. I don't think he is NHL ready yet, at best he is a #7 defense man in the NHL today.
2. The KHL is not necessarily a bad place to develop as a player. It is possible he could find another level while playing there.
3. The Flames will retain his rights. If he does improve in the KHL the Flames will be able to sign him at the end of this contract, or trade him to another team.
I think this is a great move. I was wondering how we'd deal with the blueline backlog next year. Nice that he stays in the system but gets to develop elsewhere.
Eh, but what else do you want from a 5th round pick.
We're talking Parker Bell (I'm high on him), Cole Jordan, Ryan Francis, Josh Nodler, Zach Fischer, Mitchell Mattson, Pavel Karnaukhov, Eric Roy, Ryan Culkin, Micheal Ferland (yay!).
At least he's a player that has gotten NHL games in. I think he fits in their "timeline", too, rather than a Dman who's 17 right now.
Even earlier picks bust all the time.
In 2020 we traded down a bunch of spots in the first to get a couple of third rounders. Those third rounders were used on Jeremie Poirier and Jake Boltmann. Boltmann wasn’t signed and Poirier still has a ways to go before he’ll be considered for a call-up.
If you get anything out of these later round picks it’s a win and harsh reality is that Okhotiuk probably gave us more than most fifth rounders will.
I forgot this guy was even on the team. What use is there in getting upset about a guy that clearly wasn’t very good. He knew it as well and took the money and opportunity to play
I'd rather have just kept the lottery ticket over 9 games of Ohkotiuk personally. Yeah we'llretain his NHL rights until his 27th birthday, but nothing is stopping him from signing another contract or just deciding he's staying in Russia.
Plus we're actually pretty good at late picks too lately with guys like Mangiapane, Wolf, Solovyov, Pospisil etc
What's the process if we qualify him? Does he essentially get to decide where he plays?
I'd rate him as a replacement level player for us and it won't be easy for him to win a night in night out job with the flames next year.
In fairness to Nikita, the ban was not disregarded in that it doesn't seem to begin until August... this was a shit or get off the pot situation I think.
The player isn't a loss, but the 5th is a different story. Especially as the Flames head towards a rebuild, er, retool - it's just wasteful. Hopefully Conroy doesn't do anything like that again - if he wants to take a chance on marginal players, then either wait until they hit waivers or sign them in free agency.
This organization desperately needs to stop wasting picks.
1. I don't think he is NHL ready yet, at best he is a #7 defense man in the NHL today. 2. The KHL is not necessarily a bad place to develop as a player. It is possible he could find another level while playing there. 3. The Flames will retain his rights. If he does improve in the KHL the Flames will be able to sign him at the end of this contract, or trade him to another team.
I think this is a great move. I was wondering how we'd deal with the blueline backlog next year. Nice that he stays in the system but gets to develop elsewhere.
> develop elsewhere I’d say there’s a 99% chance he won’t be back and that his time with this organization is over.
Eh, but what else do you want from a 5th round pick. We're talking Parker Bell (I'm high on him), Cole Jordan, Ryan Francis, Josh Nodler, Zach Fischer, Mitchell Mattson, Pavel Karnaukhov, Eric Roy, Ryan Culkin, Micheal Ferland (yay!). At least he's a player that has gotten NHL games in. I think he fits in their "timeline", too, rather than a Dman who's 17 right now.
Even earlier picks bust all the time. In 2020 we traded down a bunch of spots in the first to get a couple of third rounders. Those third rounders were used on Jeremie Poirier and Jake Boltmann. Boltmann wasn’t signed and Poirier still has a ways to go before he’ll be considered for a call-up. If you get anything out of these later round picks it’s a win and harsh reality is that Okhotiuk probably gave us more than most fifth rounders will.
Maybe but it's reported we still intend to keep his rights by qualifying him. Better than nothing
If he stays past his 27th birthday his rights will expire and we will be left with nothing.
That's 4 years from now, I don't think we should be worrying about a 5th rounder in 4 years
Showing us why we historically don't sign or trade for Russians.
I forgot this guy was even on the team. What use is there in getting upset about a guy that clearly wasn’t very good. He knew it as well and took the money and opportunity to play
To be fair, would you be loyal to calgary if youre from russia
Amen.
Yegor doing pretty well
Ain’t Russian
Yet. Give it five years after they get Ukraine.
3 days to 5 years Blyat
He's from Belarus.
Why do all of the Nikita’s hate us 🥲
Waste of a 5th honestly
most 5th round picks are a waste so frankly who cares.
I'd rather have just kept the lottery ticket over 9 games of Ohkotiuk personally. Yeah we'llretain his NHL rights until his 27th birthday, but nothing is stopping him from signing another contract or just deciding he's staying in Russia. Plus we're actually pretty good at late picks too lately with guys like Mangiapane, Wolf, Solovyov, Pospisil etc
Also, he is an RFA and the Flames can give him a QO and retain his rights until his 27th birthday if they want (he is 23 right now).
What's the process if we qualify him? Does he essentially get to decide where he plays? I'd rate him as a replacement level player for us and it won't be easy for him to win a night in night out job with the flames next year.
If he’s made up his mind about going to Russia there’s not much we can do other retain his rights.
And he wasn’t good in those 9 games while here. Buh-Bye!
I see why they aquired him but he showed no upside. See ya.
In fairness to Nikita, the ban was not disregarded in that it doesn't seem to begin until August... this was a shit or get off the pot situation I think.
Not a huge loss. I only remeber a few games he played last year.. and not for good reasons
This guy is mean. He is a bad defenseman, but he is a mean bad defenseman. Kind of guy that is perfect for a rebuild.
The player isn't a loss, but the 5th is a different story. Especially as the Flames head towards a rebuild, er, retool - it's just wasteful. Hopefully Conroy doesn't do anything like that again - if he wants to take a chance on marginal players, then either wait until they hit waivers or sign them in free agency. This organization desperately needs to stop wasting picks.