This article is the first of hopefully many that will help give insights into European prospects. I am a Co-Commish in multiple keeper leagues and a member of a few and prospects can be the key to success. Depending on the build of your team it could be lesser known prospects or separating the top talents from each other that can prove vital, I will cover both over the course of these posts. Today I start with the Top 3 Russian prospects to own in a keeper in my opinion:

Top Russian Prospects Summer 2011

The early 90's brought NHL fans new styles and talents from the former Soviet Union. Some of the holdovers from the old Soviet juggernaut, which had faded over the years, came over with the likes of the KLM line: Vladimir Krutov, Igor Larionov, and Sergei Makarov among others including Slava Fetisov bringing their relatively big names with them. The "Kid Line" of the Soviet Union at the time: Pavel Bure, Sergei Fedorov, and Alexander Mogilny probably had the larger impact.
Looking at today it is safe to say as much as we play up the "Russian question," which has its' merits and truths, it is nothing compared to the question marks surround Russian players back then when a team could draft a high-end Russian player at 113th overall like Bure was by the Vancouver Canucks in 1989. It could be because scouts know more and have more specialized areas of the globe to focus on than before. It may also be because there have been some high-profile Russian success stories in the NHL now.
Beyond the scouting, another new change to playing roulette with Russian prospects is the emergence of the KHL as the main complication now for NHL teams assessing a Russian or European player. It is a mind game: how good is he or will be versus how much does he truly want to play in the NHL with the final question being if he is worth a draft selection.
This list has quite the range of players in various leagues and stages in their career for a prospect list. There may not be an Alexander Ovechkin in them but you never know and there certainly are some sources of potential and unique styles that may improve or hurt their chances of being dynamic NHL players. Russians at the draft have the reputation of sleeper steals or big-time busts and that is something that will likely not change.

1) Vladimir Tarasenko- St. Louis Blues- 1st round #16 overall 2010 NHL Draft
Right Wing/ Center
6'0'' 192 lbs.

The St. Louis Blues snagged Tarasenko in 2010 later than would have been possible if he had been a North American with the same skills he possesses. There are concerns about his KHL contract status since his father coaches the team he plays for, Sibir Novosibirsk. Tarasenko had a very good WJC in Buffalo recently and has played against men since he was 16. Although his numbers in the KHL are not earth shattering, his game is quite explosive with his shot, skating, and ability to "turn it on" making him have all the makings of a game-changer. Another nice asset is that he is far from a "soft European" with his willingness to take hits to make a play which, despite the consequences he usually executes well.
St. Louis did acquire Chris Stewart, a very skilled right winger in his own right with a good power forward game. However, Stewart has had a knack for getting hurt particularly in fights but regardless this should not hinder Tarasenko's chances of getting quality minutes quickly. In an organization that certainly still has the fingerprints of former director of amateur scouting, Jarmo Kekalainen, who they can thank for bringing in some top talent as well as depth especially on the blueline to their prospect corps, center Jaden Schwartz who has been a force in the NCAA with the Colorado College Tigers and Tarasenko are hands down the best and most exciting prospects not in the NHL for the Blues, who could use the offensive boost.

2) Evgeny Kuznetsov- Washington Capitals- 1st round #26 overall 2010 NHL Draft
Center
6'1'' 176 lbs.

The 19-year-old, Kuznetsov was drafted by a team that recently has been known for its' Russian talent with superstar Alexander Ovechkin and sniper Alexander Semin leading the Russian invasion in Washington. The Capitals took a different approach to developing those two with both Semin and Ovechkin making the NHL jump relatively quickly. Kuznetsov, on the other hand, has a contract that currently would keep him from coming to the US capital until the 2012-2013 season. However that can be negotiated financially, as usually the case in Russia, as everyone has their price. The Capitals might not be in a rush to push Kuznetsov to come to the NHL since the young Russian has posted very impressive numbers with Chelyabinsk Traktor this past season with 32 points in 44 games and seems to be developing fine, as evidence by his co-starring role with Tarasenko in the gold medal-winning Russia's comeback roller coaster at the WJC.
Kuznetsov has the combination of strength and skill that many current Russian players display at the highest levels, although his style is closer to the generally more tactful play of Evgeni Malkin rather than the wild all-out style of a player like Ovechkin. His skating is very smooth and fluid. He displays good play-making abilities both on his own with good stickhandling and with his ability to find others through his vision and passing skills and receive passes too. Kuznetsov probably won't be an Ovechkin caliber player but he could better Alexander Semin's production. Semin has a world-class shot but lacks the overall skill set of a player like Ovechkin or Kuznetsov.
He will have some competition from the likes of Niklas Backstrom and Marcus Johansson if he stays at center but for a player of Kuznetsov’s ability he should be able to pass Johansson given enough time and opportunity. Depending on how he does against NHL centers with faceoffs, Kuznetsov and Backstrom could form a formidable first and second line center depth similar to a Yzerman-Fedorov or Sakic-Forsberg we saw in the 1990s that is quite effective, which would add an element to a team that has been searching for a second center for awhile. He also can play the wing and assuming Semin is healthy and on the Capitals then there too would be some excellent depth.

3) Nail Yakupov- Undrafted- 2012 NHL Draft Eligible
Right Wing
5'10'' 170 lbs.

Yakupov like many other European prospects who are leaving their home countries and trying to make evaluating easier for North American-centric teams by playing in North America. He has made the jump as a member of the OHL's Sarnia Sting alongside countryman, Alex Galchenyuk. In his 2010-2011 rookie season he posted 101 points in 65 games.
Since he is still a draft away it is hard to tell where the talented Russian will end up but whoever selects him will probably have to do so with an early selection. He has a lot of talent in a classically Russian way. He is more reminiscent of Soviet great, Valeri Kharlamov than any other current Russian NHLer except for perhaps Pavel Datsyuk. Kharlamov had the ability to mesmerize opposing defenders with his skating speed and deft stickhandling on end-to-end rushes. In addition to his highlight-reel abilities, he also has the hockey intelligence and decision-making, especially offensively that is a Russian hockey trademark. However, no one is partying like it is 1972 anymore, which means no one gets away with a Bobby Clarke-like slash as lightly as Kharlamov suffered, which is good news for Yakupov. However, the increase of head injuries partly because of higher rates of their diagnoses should encourage Yakupov to bulk up more which would only help his overall game against larger opponents in any case.

Hope you enjoyed your read. I would love lots of feedback and views.

Yas Guthe

Great read Yas, looking forward to more.
Don't consider Yakupov a prospect yet as he hasn't been drafted. For third Russian I would consider Kabanov. What do you think of him, as well as Petrov on the Islanders?

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Dirty Thirty Dynasty League - Dallas Stars
Kane, Stastny, Lucic
Galiardi, Richards, Fehr
Fedotenko,Christenson, Stafford
Letestu, Gordon, Hejduk
Gillies,Dupuis

Hedman, Schultz
Murray, Butler.
Brewer, Gragnani
Morrison, Ference

Howard, Osgood
Emery

Prospects:
Blum, Tokarski, Petrov, Howden, Jones, Sterling, Gustafsson, Lehtera, Sauve, Rodney, Zherdev, Oleksiak

thanks for reading Magicstew. Thanks for the feedback.

I consider Yakupov an undrafted prospect. I figure he is close enough to his draft year that he can be called an NHL prospect now very safely. You won't see me mix in guys 2 years away with guys already drafted as the varying timetables really messes with things.

As for Kabanov most know he is the quintessential high risk/high reward prospect. Kabanov makes sense to own in a keeper depending on what you have to give up/ how early you pick him. He always interviews well and maybe he finally has turned the corner on the maturity/character issues he has had been known for as well as his high-end skill. As an Isles prospect, the fact that he won't have to fight too many established players for an NHL job if he really shines plays in his advantage. He has a good way to go in development in many ways (the already mentioned attitude concerns) and on-ice consistency especially in nightly/ shift-to-shift effort. If you need/want a home run it might be worth it to swing for the fences just know you might miss completely too.

Petrov is a similar guy but might come at a lower price than Kabanov and it should not be forgotten that he is still in the KHL and that carries its own risks. So to summarize both Kabanov and Petrov are boom or bust guys with some similar risks and strengths such as high-end skill.

Great article Yas, like always.

Any chance you can focus on some lesser rankend and known Russian prospects in your next article?

Chudinov,Telegin etc.? I´m in some deep leagues and could use some closer input there.

sure I'll try to come with 3 relatively unheralded Russian prospects for my next one specially for you key. Glad you enjoyed the article.

Great article! Thanks for the time spent and the insight provided. Keep them coming!

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12 team H2H dynasty league
Start 4C, 4LW, 4RW, 6D, 1UTIL, 2G
9 man farm (<60/30 GP)
G, A, PPP, SHP, PIM, +/-, SOG, HIT, BLK, FW / W, SV, SV%, GAA, SHO

C: Kopitar, Toews, Krejci, M. Koivu, Plekanec, Johansson
LW: Eriksson (RW), Hartnell, M. Richards (C), McDonald (C)
RW: Malkin (C), St. Louis, Eberle, Gaborik, Atkinson, Cole
D: Karlsson, Pietrangelo, Doughty, Suter, Goligoski, Carle, Beauchemin
G: Lundqvist, Fleury, Hiller

Farm: Chiasson, Killorn, Jenner, T. Johnson, Merrill, Rattie, Vatanen, Visentin, Wilson

thanks maya. There is plenty more coming, have no fear. I'll let you know when I post more (might be sooner than every week since I have some time the next few weeks).