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Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
Well all that we can see from the highlights is that he is great at driving the puck down the wing and has excellent speed and some great puckhandling. His shot doesn't seem to be that amazing.
The highlights don't really show his passing, or his decision making and hockey sense, etc.
His hands aren't as good as Drouin or MacKinnon's IMO. He seems to half flub some of his shots and I'm not sure of those will go in vs NHL goalies. In the highlights he appears to be quite puckhoggish.
Big, one-dimensional goal scoring wingers are valuable (Vanek is probably an okay comparable but I think Vanek has a much better shot). But I don't see why you'd consider him more valuable than a franchise centre.
I'll probably go back and watch a world junior game of his again before the draft. But I'm really not seeing why you'd think he's better than MacKinnon or Drouin. Maybe you haven't seen MacKinnon and Drouin highlights? There's plenty of them.
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I've seen a fair share of both MacKinnon and Drouin highlights. Have no qualms with their skill or where they are seeded. What I see in Nichushkin though is a very similar skill set to MacKinnons with more size. The speed on both players look to be about the same.
The puckhogging thing you have me there. His shot looks fine and although it may not be on par with MacKinnons, Nichushkin doesn't seem shoot from the perimeter as much. He goes to the net and creates great opportunities from in close.
That is not to say neither Drouin or MacKinnon don't but I do see a clear difference in how they do it. I see a tougher player to get out from in front of the net once he gets there as well.
I want a franchise center a la Barkov, Lindholm, Monahan but I find myself on the very understanding side of things if they take the risky Russian.
Defensively he looked alright in the WJC from what I recall but I agree with you, I may have to go back and watch some full games to clarify.