Coming Down The Pipe!: Sergei Shirokov Buzz Worthy Prospect

Check out Guy Flamings 2-10-2010 post on Vancouver Canucks Prospects

Buzz Worthy: Sergei Shirokov
Manitoba Moose (AHL)
HT: 5'10 WT: 175 Lbs Stats: 50GP 16-18-34 Pts

Was it much ado about nothing? Sergei Shirokov's arrival in North America had Cancuks fans giddy with excitement but when he failed to make the NHL roster out of camp that buzz was reduced to a tremor. Still, Shirokov has played well on the farm and earned his spot at the AHL All-Star game where he scored two of Planet USA's 9 goals in a 10-9 loss. There's no question that the player is talented and in the long run, a stint in the AHL might prove to have been the best thing for him. Considering the growing trend of Russians returning to their homeland rather than playing in the AHL, one has to wonder what would happen next year if Shirkov again fails to crack the NHL roster. There's also a 20-pound difference between the AHL and NHL roster reports for the Russian's.