Quote:
Originally Posted by TurdFerguson
I get that, but is the line of thinking really "if we blow this pick and the kid is Russian we really have nothing...so we better take a NA player because at least he will have some value if he busts". I really don't see teams looking at top draft picks that way. Maybe I'm just missing something...
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The concern can be that teams think he is a top 5 talent but needs 2-3 years to work on his all around game, now is that something he is willing to do when all his life he has been free to play the way he wants and has a 3+ million dollar deal back home?
It seems every report on Filatov was that his issue wasn't talent but an unwillingness to work on his overall game and that forcing him to play in the AHL rather than NHL.
Also, there is some talk that the Sochi Olympics and possible reprecussions of the IIHF not allowing guys who break their contracts keeping Russians in the NHL. Not sure if it is true but it could be something preventing some of the current Russians from leaving.