Haven't there been rumours that the Capitals were looking to trade Kuznetsov like they did Forsberg because they are getting frustrated with him not coming over?
Notable Russians that have not played in the CHL before their draft year?
Tarasenko (2010), Filatov (2008) played in the NHL before going back because he felt he was treated unfairly. Kuznetsov is one year late but by all accounts should be playing for Washington next year. Oh and Khoklachev has come over to play in the CHL and AHL after finishing his contract in the KHL.
Namestnikov from TB is unknown at this point. As with Vasilevski but goalies take longer.
Link to McPhee interview about Kuznetsov from March 3rd. Don't think anything has changed since but who knows.
My point was have any Russian players that were good enough to play in the NHL full time been lured back home by the promise of more money? Not overly. As I don't count Radulov, Filatov or that other one from CLB who bolted back when going got a little tough to be NHL calibre players, not because of their skill but because of their mentality.
But the argument will continue on because a high percentage of high profile Russian prospects come to NA to play in the NHL via the CHL won't count into the Russian factor.
Yakupov, Girgorenko, Burmistrov, Kulikov all came to NA spurning the opportunity to make more money at home to play in the NHL by choosing to develop in the CHL. Don't see why that doesn't count for a strong case against the idea that players will choose money over level of competition of quality of life.
For me it's a whole different situation if a Russian comes over to play in the CHL. It shows commitment to NA hockey and raises their draft potential.
The KHL has a cap of $36.5M but
Quote:
Salary cap
The salary cap changed from a soft cap to a hard cap, set at 1.1 billion rubles (approx. US$36.5 million), but each club can waive the cap for one player transferred directly from the NHL, if he is eligible to play for the Russian national team.[4]
this shows the KHL is actively trying to lure Russian players back to the KHL and they can pay them as much as they want. Even if they do come over, I wouldn't gamble on a Russian KHL high draft pick contributing to the Flames.
I love how strong Nichushkin drives the net and his hands in close. If only he would say that he would 100% come to the NHL then i would have no problems with the Flames drafting him.
i'd rather see feaster trade all 3 x 1st round picks to try to get Mackinnon than i would him go after the russian kid. All world talent for sure, but just my (probably incorrect) opinion.
I don't care how good a winger the Russian is, Flames should focus on centre men.
We had the best winger in the game for a few years there and it wasn't enough. The Caps had the best winger in the game after we did and it has gotten them nothing either. Yet every year, the top teams in the league are loaded up the middle, be it scoring centres, playmaking centres, or defensive centres.
I want all 3 first rounders to be centremen. Monahan/Lindholm first pick, Compher/Lazar/Wennberg second pick, Petan/Dauphin/De la rose third pick. Horvat or Domi would be nice with the second pick but they are likely long gone.
You can always move centremen to the wing, if you have the hockey iq to play centre, you can easily convert to the wing. Wingers have a hard time converting to the centre position as we've seen.
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Nichushkin's KHL highlight reel is definitely more impressive than the wjc videos We have been seeing. This kid is strong, fast and has no issues playing against men.
On a side note, what is with these young talented Russians and their over the top celebrations for every goal. Enthusiasm is a good thing, I will grant you that, but it was as if every goal in that clip was an overtime winner.
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Nichushkin's KHL highlight reel is definitely more impressive than the wjc videos We have been seeing. This kid is strong, fast and has no issues playing against men.
On a side note, what is with these young talented Russians and their over the top celebrations for every goal. Enthusiasm is a good thing, I will grant you that, but it was as if every goal in that clip was an overtime winner.
My only worry from watching those highlights is how well Nichuskin utilizes his teammates, seems like he tries to do everything himself in those highlights. There is no denying his skill and skating though, like many have said, if the Flames brass believe he would come over and play for the Flames then I would be pretty happy with any of Nichuskin/Monahan/Lindholm.
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And with the 6th, 25th & 29th picks, the Flames virtually land...
#6: a potential franchise centreman
#25: potential top 3 dynamic puck-moving defenseman and hometown kid
#29: an Austrian born, talented 6'2" winger with speed to burn, good hands, very good shot and subsequent natural born goal-scoring ability
I don't care how good a winger the Russian is, Flames should focus on centre men.
We had the best winger in the game for a few years there and it wasn't enough. The Caps had the best winger in the game after we did and it has gotten them nothing either. Yet every year, the top teams in the league are loaded up the middle, be it scoring centres, playmaking centres, or defensive centres.
I want all 3 first rounders to be centremen. Monahan/Lindholm first pick, Compher/Lazar/Wennberg second pick, Petan/Dauphin/De la rose third pick. Horvat or Domi would be nice with the second pick but they are likely long gone.
You can always move centremen to the wing, if you have the hockey iq to play centre, you can easily convert to the wing. Wingers have a hard time converting to the centre position as we've seen.
Of course, the Flames will end up picking BPA from their list ...but if it ends up being 3 Cs as you've written here, I will be very excited as surely ONE of them will turn out to be a true #1 C
And with the 6th, 25th & 29th picks, the Flames virtually land...
#6: a potential franchise centreman
#25: potential top 3 dynamic puck-moving defenseman and hometown kid
#29: an Austrian born, talented 6'2" winger with speed to burn, good hands, very good shot and subsequent natural born goal-scoring ability
Thanks for this... These things are very fun to read.
I was a bit surprised that what's known about the draft order wasn't taken into account... Ex. The STL pick will be earlier than 25 or whatever it was in this report.
Thanks for this... These things are very fun to read.
I was a bit surprised that what's known about the draft order wasn't taken into account... Ex. The STL pick will be earlier than 25 or whatever it was in this report.
You're right PG - I went readily available at the time I started constructing it.
