Megaterio Llamas wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 4:29 pm
Klimovich, lol. He notched the OT winner last game on one of his 'patented' (lolol) solo efforts and thereby put himself back in people's good graces, but I'm afraid the book is closed on him by now. He just doesn't think well enough to play pro hockey at this level. When carries the puck into the offensive zone on a line rush, he never, ever passes it. He tries to skate through the entire defending team and score a spectacular goal like he did Wednesday night. It works three times a year but the rest of the time you're pulling out your hair. Zero awareness, very, very low IQ. Selfish, emotional, prone to taking infuriatingly dumb penalties. Doesn't like to come off the ice. This elementary stuff just cannot be coached out of him. At the same time, he has made some limited strides under Manny this year, and just maybe, he can get it to where he can continue playing pro hockey after his contract is up next season. I would say he's a poor man's Belarussian Jake Virtanen, but he's such a nice kid off the ice that I don't want to hang that label on him
Klim Reaper pissed Megs closed the door on him?
He was at fault for that period ending last second goal when he didn’t get it in deep and for some weird reason wanted a line change. He needs to be more dependable, but scoring two double OT goals is really clutch. The Canucks really could use that.
Truthfully, he's been a little bit better this year, at least until the playoffs. Manny might have actually saved his career.
The two goals were pretty mind bending
Last edited by Megaterio Llamas on Fri Jun 13, 2025 9:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Nuckertuzzi wrote: ↑Fri Jun 13, 2025 9:00 pm
Agree on Klimo. Whenever I watch him the feeling I get is I hope this guy never makes the bigs because he just looks like one of those big dumb guys who'll frustrate the shit out of me with inconsistency and obvious lack of any kind of hockey sense. That's ok, he was never on my radar anyway, so a few good plays once in awhile down in the A is good enough for me.
He did have a bounce-back year under Manny after last year's disaster, but there's a reason why he has sat out half the playoff games. The kid is dumber than dirt.
Klim’s positives are he skates really well for his size, straight ahead much better than Karlsson or Bains, he has very good size with a mean streak, and a good shot having lead the regular season roster in goals with on and off playing time.
His negatives are he can’t pass the puck very well. He doesn’t have vision to make plays or much hockey sense. So he gets the puck and it’s likely a solo drive or shot to the net (which isn’t necessarily a terrible thing). He has to be in a top six role because he doesn’t have the sense to defend well enough or the ability to be an elite penalty killer in the bottom six.
Still, goal scorers are a rare commodity. Maybe if he keeps grinding and stays mean on the ice, he can carve out an NHL call up at some point and get lined up with a couple strong defending play makers who can’t put the puck in the net much. The door is still open, but just a crack.
So, I’m saying there’s a chance.
“Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room.”
- President Merkin Muffley
Picker of Cherries wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 7:36 am
Klim’s positives are he skates really well for his size, straight ahead much better than Karlsson or Bains, he has very good size with a mean streak, and a good shot having lead the regular season roster in goals with on and off playing time.
His negatives are he can’t pass the puck very well. He doesn’t have vision to make plays or much hockey sense. So he gets the puck and it’s likely a solo drive or shot to the net (which isn’t necessarily a terrible thing). He has to be in a top six role because he doesn’t have the sense to defend well enough or the ability to be an elite penalty killer in the bottom six.
Still, goal scorers are a rare commodity. Maybe if he keeps grinding and stays mean on the ice, he can carve out an NHL call up at some point and get lined up with a couple strong defending play makers who can’t put the puck in the net much. The door is still open, but just a crack.
So, I’m saying there’s a chance.
If he does lack hockey sense, I wonder if its because of how little hockey he has played in his life?...
I think his chances of making it to the NHL rest with his ability to become a power forward vs a scorer like a Lekkermaki....
As you've said, he has all the tools in a way that we haven't seen in Vancouver since the days of Bertuzzi ...
Picker of Cherries wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 7:36 am
Klim’s positives are he skates really well for his size, straight ahead much better than Karlsson or Bains, he has very good size with a mean streak, and a good shot having lead the regular season roster in goals with on and off playing time.
Yah, I remember JB luved picking guys who could really rip the puck: McCann, Virts, Brockstar6, EP40, Gaudette to some extent & the KlimReaper. JB was pretty up front with Klimovich in that he was a project, but was willing to take a chance with that package of size and scoring potential and considering the draft position.
Picker of Cherries wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 7:36 am
Klim’s positives are he skates really well for his size, straight ahead much better than Karlsson or Bains, he has very good size with a mean streak, and a good shot having lead the regular season roster in goals with on and off playing time.
Yah, I remember JB luved picking guys who could really rip the puck: McCann, Virts, Brockstar6, EP40, Gaudette to some extent & the KlimReaper. JB was pretty up front with Klimovich in that he was a project, but was willing to take a chance with that package of size and scoring potential and considering the draft position.
He had a big U18 tournament for Belarus. He was off the scouting radar before that.