Welcome to the Thursday prospect ramblings. I sadly do not have a great rhyme for this week, I apologize. Anyway, anything controversial go on in this last hockey week, I had not noticed.

To start, here is my #GoodTweet of the week

{source}<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Lol I almost believed this one. Then I remembered Fenton is gone <a href=”https://t.co/jxAs3kVwTk”>https://t.co/jxAs3kVwTk</a></p>&mdash; Pat Quinn (not that one) (@FHPQuinn) <a href=”https://twitter.com/FHPQuinn/status/1193269626261532672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>November 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
{/source}

There is also my awesome gif thread of 2019 Capitals draftees

{source}<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Make sure to check out the gif recap of the Capitals 2019 drafted prospects <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/ALLCAPS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#ALLCAPS</a> <a href=”https://t.co/uyzStt9kqX”>https://t.co/uyzStt9kqX</a></p>&mdash; Pat Quinn (not that one) (@FHPQuinn) <a href=”https://twitter.com/FHPQuinn/status/1192878617878904832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>November 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
{/source}

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Vitali Kravtsov (NYR)

Back in the USSR KHL, after an extremely odd start to his NHL/AHL career where the Rangers feel grinders are better for the 2019-2020 squad than more promising young players, and then some healthy scratches in the AHL, Kravtsov is back with Traktor in the KHL. As well as a game for Chelmet Chelyabinsk in the VHL. Kravtsov has two points in three games and is getting a good amount of ice time, albeit on a poor KHL team. Hopefully the Rangers are more willing to give opportunity and him ice time in 2020-2021, as you need to let rookies grow with mistakes.

Speaking of New York Rangers rookies now figuring the NHL out:

Adam Fox

Fox has eight points in his last 10 games as he begins to feel more comfortable on the Broadway stage. His shooting is still sporadic but he is probably the Rangers’ second-best defenseman right now (what the heck happened to Brady Skjei), and he also is not on the 1PP as DeAngelo is running it. I also thought DeAngelo would not be able to stay in the NHL because of how he gets lost in his own zone, but he has sure shown me.

Kaapo Kakko

Since going -4 to the Boston Bruins (coaches care about that stat I do not), Kakko has six points in his last seven games, including a two-goal game where he scored the OT winner versus the Penguins Tuesday. It is good to see him start to get a hold of the NHL game but I feel as though the Rangers line up, and coach Quinn (no relation), will hold him back enough that he settles around the 45-52-point mark.

Well let me stay on the Rangers as I want to highlight:

Nils Lundkvist 

He is essentially the forgotten 2018 first round draft pick that no one seems to talk about (I added him in a keeper in September from free agency, no idea how). Currently for Luleå HF of the SHL he has 10 points in 16 games, the same 10 points he had in 41 games last season. The kid is getting more ice time and showing that he was deserving of that first round selection. I slightly prefer him to K’Andre Miller as well, am I crazy we shall see.

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Jonatan Berggren (DET)

Berggren is not really lighting the world on fire for Skellefteå AIK in the SHL but I want to highlight how he is back and healthy which is a huge step for him. He has played 15 SHL games, which is one game less than he played in the 2018-2019 SHL season. Compared to last season he does have over twice as many points too (seven is more than three) but still has not scored a goal since the 2017-2018 season.

Denis Gurianov (DAL)

He has six points in his last seven games as he is being used in the top six due to injuries. In those last seven games he has seen his ice time over 14 minutes five time, as he usually saw 11 minutes of less in the other 10 games he has played. It is good to see him start to get an opportunity to produce in the NHL as he has the skill to be a solid middle six forward for the Stars. The organization has really brought him along slowly, especially with how long it took them to trust him in the AHL.

Connor McMichael (WSH)

McMichael has a point streak of 27 points in nine games since October 18, as he looks to be toying with the OHL nightly with 41 points in 16 total games. He just needs to keep the momentum going and the Capitals may be forced to open a roster spot for him in the 2020-2021 season.

Egor Afanasyev (NSH)

USHL to the OHL (or NCAA) can sometimes be a difficult jump for a player but for Afanasyev his transition has come along smoothly. He sits with 16 points in 16 games as he continues to get better game after game. Once he figures out how dominate a kid of his size can be in the OHL he will produce more points. The Predators got a very good player 45^th overall in 2018 but they just have to make sure they develop him properly as they are not the best organization when it comes to developing forwards, or trusting them in the NHL.

Cole Perfetti (2020)

Perfetti has brought his game up another notch this season as his playmaking has been incredible, even with his goal scoring being down. He will be a top 10 pick in the 2020 draft but where will he go? I think depending on the teams choosing (some teams barely go to Europe and Russia) he will go from three to eight.

Also, FYI every time I hear “Cole Perfetti” I think “Mom’s Spaghetti” you now will too

Akil Thomas (LA)

Thomas in his fourth OHL season is continuing to kill it for the Niagra IceDogs. Coming off of a 102-point season the 2019-2020 team captain has 27 points in 17 games and can absolutely dominate games. I assume the Kings will bring him along slowly as they usually let the team’s prospects stew in the AHL for a bit, but they also need help up front with scoring and speed as soon as possible. Thomas can help those two categories for sure.

Thanks for reading, tune in next week same Pat time same Pat channel

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Also be nice to one another life is too short to be angry