Paging Paigin
7 years ago
The KHL has never been known for being kind to younger
players. Even the really highly skilled kids generally have to earn their
ice-time the hard way. For that reason it can be really hard to tell how these
kids are coming along in their development just by looking at the numbers. As
frustrating as this can be from the perspective of a North American fan trying
to gauge how a European prospect is doing overseas, it can also lead to happy
surprises.
players. Even the really highly skilled kids generally have to earn their
ice-time the hard way. For that reason it can be really hard to tell how these
kids are coming along in their development just by looking at the numbers. As
frustrating as this can be from the perspective of a North American fan trying
to gauge how a European prospect is doing overseas, it can also lead to happy
surprises.
The Oilers selected Ziyat Paigin 209th overall in
2015 as a 20 year old. Even with the extra years of viewing compared to the
average draftee, teams like Edmonton didn’t have a lot to go on. That late in
the draft (Edmonton’s final pick, third last overall), the picks are
happening because someone in Edmonton’s scouting staff made an impassioned
plea. The squeakiest wheel got the last bit of grease and the Oilers took a
chance that the 6’6” Paigin had more in him than he had shown to date.
2015 as a 20 year old. Even with the extra years of viewing compared to the
average draftee, teams like Edmonton didn’t have a lot to go on. That late in
the draft (Edmonton’s final pick, third last overall), the picks are
happening because someone in Edmonton’s scouting staff made an impassioned
plea. The squeakiest wheel got the last bit of grease and the Oilers took a
chance that the 6’6” Paigin had more in him than he had shown to date.
He was taken June 2015 by the Oilers, but during the
2014-2015 season the numbers give some light to just how much this pick relied
on the scouts. He only played 33 KHL games with Ak Bars Karzan of the KHL and three games in Russia’s second tier VHL with the Bars Karzan club. Beyond
that he appeared in several international matches with Russia’s U20 club, plus seven at the World Junior Championships. It’s one short stint after another and
completely disjointed.
2014-2015 season the numbers give some light to just how much this pick relied
on the scouts. He only played 33 KHL games with Ak Bars Karzan of the KHL and three games in Russia’s second tier VHL with the Bars Karzan club. Beyond
that he appeared in several international matches with Russia’s U20 club, plus seven at the World Junior Championships. It’s one short stint after another and
completely disjointed.
Here are the point totals from his time with the different
clubs in his draft year:
clubs in his draft year:
KHL – Ak Bars Karzan – 33GP, 1-1-2
VHL – Bars Karzan – 3GP, 0-1-1
Russia U20 WJC – 7GP, 1-2-3
Russia U20 (All) – 16GP, 1-2-3
No matter which way you slice that, there just isn’t much to see
there. It’s most certainly the reason he almost slipped through the draft again
at age 20. Two points in 33 KHL games leaves a whole lot left to be desired,
even from a defender.
there. It’s most certainly the reason he almost slipped through the draft again
at age 20. Two points in 33 KHL games leaves a whole lot left to be desired,
even from a defender.
The limited ice-time for young players we talked about at
the beginning has a lot to do with the low totals and subsequently the low
draft position. He played the most games with his club team in the KHL. During
that time he averaged just 9:00 minutes per game. NINE MINUTES. As a
defenseman, it’s almost impossible to play just nine minutes per game in major
North American leagues.
the beginning has a lot to do with the low totals and subsequently the low
draft position. He played the most games with his club team in the KHL. During
that time he averaged just 9:00 minutes per game. NINE MINUTES. As a
defenseman, it’s almost impossible to play just nine minutes per game in major
North American leagues.
In the NHL, there were exactly three players who averaged fewer
than 11 minutes per game who had appeared in more than 10 games (two of them
were Sharks): Matt Tennyson (Sharks), Mirco Mueller (Sharks), and Andrey Pedan
(Canucks). That’s the grand list. This past year in the KHL I counted 31 defenders who averaged
under 11 minutes per game and appeared in more than 10 games. It’s a normal
thing in Russia to keep those kids on the bench.
than 11 minutes per game who had appeared in more than 10 games (two of them
were Sharks): Matt Tennyson (Sharks), Mirco Mueller (Sharks), and Andrey Pedan
(Canucks). That’s the grand list. This past year in the KHL I counted 31 defenders who averaged
under 11 minutes per game and appeared in more than 10 games. It’s a normal
thing in Russia to keep those kids on the bench.
So while he was buried on the Ak Bars Karzan club he wasn’t
providing a lick of offense. I can only guess that the Oiler scout who pushed
the hardest for Paigin argued that if he had more then he would get his
offensive opportunities. Well, this past year that scout must have been walking
around with a smug smile on his face when Paigin’s season came up in
conversation.
providing a lick of offense. I can only guess that the Oiler scout who pushed
the hardest for Paigin argued that if he had more then he would get his
offensive opportunities. Well, this past year that scout must have been walking
around with a smug smile on his face when Paigin’s season came up in
conversation.
Paigin was once again buried on Ak Bars Karzan and unable to
get any ice with the club in 2015-2016. After eight games he was averaging even
lower at 7:55 per game. He picked up just one point and was traded in early
October to HC Sochi. His new club finally let the kid play and Oiler fans can
be thankful that HC Sochi were rewarded for giving the kid a chance to play. In
37 games he averaged 17:45 per game, almost 10 minutes more than he was getting
previously, and the offense came seemingly out of nowhere. Paigin led his new
club in scoring from the defense going 37GP, 9-18-27.
get any ice with the club in 2015-2016. After eight games he was averaging even
lower at 7:55 per game. He picked up just one point and was traded in early
October to HC Sochi. His new club finally let the kid play and Oiler fans can
be thankful that HC Sochi were rewarded for giving the kid a chance to play. In
37 games he averaged 17:45 per game, almost 10 minutes more than he was getting
previously, and the offense came seemingly out of nowhere. Paigin led his new
club in scoring from the defense going 37GP, 9-18-27.
Edmonton has plenty of left shot defenders and they aren’t
depending on Paigin to pan out as a prospect. They can let him develop at his
own pace and while it happens in Europe they have even more time on their side.
But if this kid can follow up this breakout season with another equally strong
one then there might be a lot to be excited about here. And we might just have
to thank the KHL for the short leash they keep on young players because in this
case it might have allowed a gem to fall to 209th as a 20 year old.
depending on Paigin to pan out as a prospect. They can let him develop at his
own pace and while it happens in Europe they have even more time on their side.
But if this kid can follow up this breakout season with another equally strong
one then there might be a lot to be excited about here. And we might just have
to thank the KHL for the short leash they keep on young players because in this
case it might have allowed a gem to fall to 209th as a 20 year old.
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