Before we get back in the open forum groover… With all that’s been going on in recent weeks, I haven’t had time to flush out the answer to a question I’ve had a couple people ask: What’s the deal with Maxim Kitsyn. Well, if you’re looking for the short answer, Kitsyn is going to play in the KHL this coming season, and likely the season after that. If you’re looking for the long answer, here it is…
When the Kings drafted Kitsyn — sixth round, 2010 — he was under contract to a KHL team. He was allowed, by his team, to come to North America to play junior hockey for a year — he played for the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors — but now he’s going back to play pro hockey in KHL, and has two years remaining on his contract. The Kings will still retain his NHL rights.
He also gets to satisfy his mandatory military service by doing this. Semin did the same thing.
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Shakes Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 10:49 am
@Token, Whoa good point
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Good for him, better competition, he can learn and develop a lot faster over there. The Kings dont need him any time soon.
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wavesinair Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 10:09 am
@Sebastian, On the other hand, after his junior experience, I’m betting he’s regretting signing that 2 year deal right about now… he’s going to be dreaming about socal beaches for the next two winters.
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Well, at least he will be playing with grown men, I guess that’s a plus. On the the other hand, so was 25 year old Johann Fransson in the Sweedish Elite League. He came over here with high expectations and was eaten alive by our Junior and AHL prospects. We will see how he does in 2 seasons over there, and if any success he has will translate over here in the NHL.
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Bluecoconuts Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 9:50 am
@puck73, Luckily it’s only a 6th round draft pick. It’s a high reward, low risk type deal. Let’s hope he comes back to the NHL ready to go.
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Crown Royal Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 10:48 am
@puck73,
In Fransson’s case his skating and puck handling skills exceeded the level of most established NHL’ers. He was overwhelmed by the system played here and had major difficulty adapting to less time and space in the North American game. If he had gone to Manchester for a season he might have been potentially a top four guy.
As a forward Kitsyn is looking at the game from a completely different perspective. He should have less difficulty in adapting for that reason. Also the KHL is currently a better league than the Swedish Elite Series which has gone downhill somewhat in recent years.
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puck73 Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
@Crown Royal, Good point about Fransson, nver thought about it that way. I am still surprised though that he didnt go down to Manchester for a stint and get used to the NHL game at that level so he could be ready for the Kings. Instead, he chose to go back to Sweeden. Too bad, he is a good skater and stickhandler as you pointed out. What he needed was to be trained properly by Mark Morris and his staff and I think with his tools he might have been able to play here.
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Dos vidanya!!
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Kistyn might be the next Frolov and stay in Russia.
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nykingfan Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 9:58 am
@Marbles,
If he’s the next Frolov, shouldn’t he come here first, steal some paychyecks, and prove to everyone he’s lazy?
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DLB Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 10:23 am
@nykingfan, That is terribly unfair.
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puck73 Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 10:26 am
@nykingfan, My Main Man with a Froloaf Blast !!
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jess Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 10:31 am
@nykingfan,
Hilarious
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Really, the short answer on this is that he’s going to the KHL to play against Juraj Mikus. If he can stay alive, he’ll dominate the NHL.
Pretty simple.
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DesertKing Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 10:50 am
@Cynic,
If he is going up against JM, we will never see him again
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mash-ola Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@DesertKing, His name was Maxim Kitsyn… His name was Maxim Kitsyn… His name was Maxim Kytsin…
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Seems to me one should respect Mr. Kitsyn for honoring his commitments. I’d guess there is a fairly good chance his KHL club might lend him back to North America, depending on the situation over there (and over here). Kitsyn remains a good prospect.
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He heard Cloutier had signed with a KHL team
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Yep, we will never see Kitsyn again.
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mash-ola Reply:
July 15th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@fuzzerson, His name was Maxim Kitsyn… His name was Maxim Kitsyn… His name was Maxim Kitsyn…
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The pros and cons of the KHL is it’s better competition than the AHL but I think it pays more than the NHL. He might want to stay close to home and make more money but he will miss out on the better competition.
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Plenty of NHLers have done this so we shouldn’t be worried
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