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RaginCajun · 01-12-2020, 02:03 PM

(1,224 words and graph. Ready for grading.)
With the conclusion of S51 it is another season done for Alexei Rykov and another set of statistics to look at and information to absorb especially after such an early end to the Kraken playoff run. Rykov had another solid season for the Kraken ending with 50 points total therefor another point per game season Rykov was second overall for Left Wings in points with a total of 50 to his name. Rykov also ended the season 7th overall for points per 20 minutes at a 1.05. Rykov also ended the season with a staggering 28 plus minus showing that once again that the top billing for the Kraken was a dominant force but even more so than previous seasons. Rykov also tied for 7th with point scoring streak of 5 games and was tied for first with penalty shots this season with a total of 3 to his name. Overall Rykov ended his season with a total of 23 goals and 27 assists for a total of 50 points. A plus minus of 28 with 26 penalty minutes to his name and a total of 53 hits and 9 shots blocked. On the power play Rykov had 5 goals and 8 assists to his name for a total of 13 points. Of all the goals scored 4 of them were game wining goals and 2 were game tying goals.

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Compared to his last 2 season in the SMJHL Alexei once again proves he is a strong forward for an even stronger team and that he is ability to contribute and improve his game in many ways where other statistics have remained static and suggest maybe Rykov may have hit a ceiling. Coming off such a strong and outrageous preseason it is interesting to say the least that for a preseason in which he dominated in points Rykov found himself being much more streaky in the regular season even if it somewhat evened out and once again shows that preseason is not always a good indicator of what could happen in the regular season. Looking at the stats now Rykov scored 23 goals in S51 which is down 1 from S50 but still up from his freshman debut at 12 making one wonder if his senior year in the J will follow S50 and 51 or if there is something else Rykov can pull out of his hat. Of the assists that Rykov had this season at 27 it is down from S50 of which he snagged 30 though again massively up from his freshman season at 12. Overall points wise Rykov pulled in an impressive 50 points making himself a point per game player but again it was down from the regular season in which his point total was 54 but still an impressive change from S49 in which he put up only 24. Plus minus is where we see a massive jump in Rykov’s game and as seen with the rest of the first and second lines of the Kraken that they are extremely dominant when both are on the ice Rykov had a whopping 28 which is a massive leap from S50 at 17 and even more so from S49 at 11 showing that the Kraken were definitely a cohesive and strong unit.

Rykov definitely saw an increase in his time in the penalty box with a total of 28 minutes this season a dramatic increase from last season in which he had 17 and his freshman season at 11.Rykov’s physical play saw an impressive upswing with the young Russian putting out 53 hits this season which was up from S50 in which he put out 46 and massively up from his freshman year at 29. Shots blocked though saw a downward trend in which he had 9 this season down from the 12 of S50 but still up from his freshman year of 7. Rykov’s special teams play saw an increase as well with Rykov bagging 5 power play goals which would tie with his personal best of 5 from his freshman year and 1 extra from his sophomore season in which he scored 4. Rykov did see a personal best at 8 power play assists up 1 from last season and an improvement over his freshman season of 5 assists. In total Rykov had 13 points on the power play up 2 from last season and 3 from his freshman year. Regarding how the goals shook out Rykov had 4 game winning goals down two from last season and up 3 from his freshman year. Game tying goals tied at 2 with his freshman season but was down 1 from last season.

Overall, we can see a stabilization of Rykov’s points ceiling, and we are likely again to see the same numbers in S52 due to another year in the J for the young Russian. Though it is possible with all the callups we could see some major shifts either upwards or downwards based on where Rykov falls in the lines for the team and who he is paired with. Rykov spent most of the season on the second line and it will be interesting to see where he lands this season in a much more anemic Carolina team. The plus minus is likely on a downward trend due to the fact that there will be some shifting in the lines for Carolina but Carolina might still be able to field some very strong lines and continue to the domination the first two lines have established on the team. Rykov’s physical play has been the biggest change over the years with a much more aggressive Rykov appearing on the ice a far different shift from the young sniper we have seen in years past. The increase in penalty minutes is a bit alarming but when you factor in the dramatic increases in hits Rykov is naturally going to draw penalties while playing a much more physical game but his discipline needs to start tightening up his physical game or he will find himself more of a liability than an asset. Rykov’s special teams play is probably one of the big bright lights in his career once again showing that his leadership and skill on the powerplay are a huge boon for the Krakens and that he has proved to make teams pay for untimely penalties an asset that will be useful for the Kraken going into the next season.

Going into Rykov’s senior year in the J will be tough there are big shoes needed filling and while Rykov has proven time and again to be a reliable and strong asset for the team only time will tell if it is enough to keep the team a contender for the playoffs. With the likes of Weston, and Fitted Karolina will have a few seniors that will prove a strong backbone for the forward corps and hopefully allow for a incoming draft class to get their bearings and find their rhythm quickly and with the help of teammates who have two cups to their names in their 3 seasons in the J. At this point Rykov is just excited to see what another WJC and IIHF tournament bring to him in this offseason and looks forward to meeting the new blood that will be new backbone for the Carolina Kraken.

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