Welcome back to Pat Quinn's Thursday ramblings, where I pretty much just ramble. Or as I would say I … RAMBLE ON!

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Henrik Haapala has been called up by the Florida Panthers to try and help them address the teams depth scoring needs as he looks to line up on line two with Trochek and Bjustad (currently Trochek’s new winger). Haapla has posted seven points in 11 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds after have a great training camp for the Panthers. Haapla has the skill to produce in the NHL so this situation bares monitoring. And as of me writing this he has one assist on the only goal versus Toronto.

Denis Malgin has 10 points in 10 games and should be up with the Panthers as well considering he is too good for the AHL.

Jared McCann is also back for the Panthers and still only 21 (lol that trade with Vancouver). His progression has stalled due to injuries and being rushed into the NHL, but there is a nice ceiling there if you can sit and wait.

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Filip Chytil has been hurt off and on this year for Hartford in the AHL. When he has been in the lineup he has been one of the Wolfpack’s best players and as an 18-year old that is no small feat. He is beginning to look like a Pastrnak-like late first round steal for the Rangers and appears as though he could make an impact on the Rangers sooner than later.

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Nick Suzuki is one of my favorite prospects out there. The end.

No no, but honestly, he is just walking all over OHL competition routinely winning the possession battles and piling up the points for the Owen Sound Attack. I loved this pick for Vegas at #13, along with Vegas’ other two first round picks, and actually I loved pretty much their entire 2017 draft. That just brings into question how Vegas constructed its roster, which they did poorly (aside from Florida giving them two great players, lol Dale Tallon as a good GM) even though they are winning. They had to want to lose. But back to Suzuki, I think he has the highest upside of Vegas’ 2017 picks and I would look to own him if you could.

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Here is something I did not know happened, but apparently it happened in October 26, 2017, so it was likely written about Nikita Popugaev left the WHL’s Prince George Cougars to go back to Russia. There had to be something wrong for him on that team as his production stayed low, with 25 points in 44 total games. He previously had 98 points in 110 games for his original team the Moose Jaw Warriors.

In Russia, Popugaev started in the VHL with Zvezda Chekhov, where he had two assists in six games. He was called up to CSKA Moskva (Moscow) of the KHL where he recorded an assist in his first game. Hopefully his production can get back on track in the KHL but he is on the second best team which will likely keep his minutes low. In summation, don’t expect big scoring for a while.

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Eeli Tolvanen has slowed down some in the KHL and is currently sitting at 29 points in 30 games for Jokerit. Hopefully he can play at the Oylmpics as it’ll give me something to watch, but the KHL and IOC spat may not allow that:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/hockey/russia-bill-khl-olympics-ban-1.4410406

Imagine if both the KHL and NHL prevented their players from participating. Yikes.

Side note: I swear I read that non-Russians (more specifically North Americans) may still be able to go because the way they get contracts in the KHL is through the IIHF and not the KHL itself. But I am no expert, except if you ask trade advice!

Kirill Kaprizov is still producing over a point per game with 29 points in 27 games with CSKA as he is their top player, and please come over to the NHL. It would give Minnesota a high-end legit threat player they have been lacking throughout their solid line up.

Oh! Also! Linden Vey is leading the KHL in scoring, bet you never would have thought that. Perhaps this will lead to an NHL contract next year as he always had the skill to produce, and is only on a one-year KHL deal. So if you can stash him when the season ends do it.

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The rookie class this year is sure looking great, I thought it would be slightly dull with only a few leading the way, but instead the NHL has 14 rookies in double-digit points. Couple quick observations on what I have watched so far with rookies (early in the year I watch waaaaay too much NHL hockey before evening out with the other leagues):

• Clayton Keller is as advertised, but he is also getting ALL THE ICE TIME so his points are likely somewhat inflated. He is getting prime minutes that other rookies are not blassed with. It is a great opportunity on a bad team.  

• Man, Mathew Barzal (whose name I will always spell as Matthew) is so much fun to watch. What team would trade the ability to draft him for a defenseman that is AHL-caliber, or pass him up three times in a row…

• I am glad the Canucks are not limiting Brock Boeser like they initially planned too, they still may but he has to be making it hard on them.

• I do not trust Will Butcher’s current point totals and think a lot of assists have been lucky (as a Devils fan I watch a lot of their games).

• Charles Hudon has 61 shots in 21 games, he is so incredibly unlucky it is crazy. He is playing approximately five minutes less per game than Keller, averaging 13 minutes, and is only 12 shots behind. The Habs need to find him more ice time.

• How do the Islanders not keep Ryan Pulock in the line up

• Watch Yanni Gourde in Tampa he will be an underrated great player for a long time

• I know the Avalanche have Cale Makar but if they keep Tyson Barrie long-term it’ll be incredibly difficult for Makar to get #1PP time as Samuel Girard is going to lock himself inthat unit  ASAP.

Thank for reading and if there are errors, or you think I should focus on other things, let me know in the comments.

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