Because Nichuskin is undeniably, and by all scouting sources, a top 5 elite talent, and a top 3 forward in this draft, and the largest reason for why he isn't projected higher is because of the Russian risk and that is widely known. Nashville or Carolina would be all but guaranteed to be picking him if this risk were eliminated because everything else is there. So if Calgary exhibited the image that they were comfortable enough to make him their consensus pick at #6, I think it's very possible that it would cause those teams to think that we had the inside track on his situation, or know something they don't. Like it was said, some interviews with him went well and some didn't, likely due in large part to the communication barrier. But for a team in this range to exhibit the attitude that they were confident that he were not a flight risk for them, I wouldn't be surprised that a team like Carolina, who might be looking at an inferior talent such as Monahan, might take some extra consideration with Nichuskin. And they are probably already giving him consideration to begin with. Who's to say the team below them showing full confidence in the player wouldn't score him some extra points in that regard? And you think each teams' lists are set in stone weeks prior? No way.
Like Feater has said about his draft in 2011, 1st round picks can be constantly moving targets, and who is preferred over who can change at a dime. It's never just set in stone, even in the minutes leading up to the decision, as he showed by choosing Sven over the unnamed (Murphy?) available pick that was supposedly higher ranked on their list. Fact is, human opinions can be altered by the slightest things, especially when the decision comes down to one person alone. When you break it down, picks are made on hunches, and those can be influenced. As well, look at the mind games colorado is playing on everybody in the top 5 right now.. Anyways, that's about as far as I can go on that. It's still a matter of opinion. If you don't agree then cool.
Ps. You and Sven should get a room.
