Well, I can't compare prospects personally, but there must be a reason why MacKinnon has been consistently ranked in a higher group than Barkov. I'm sure you have to take MacKinnon if you can.
I think the speed of Mckinnon and the CHL factor. He has higher offensive upside to imo. I like Barkov though because this team really could use someone that knows how to take care of their own end to go with the offense and has size.
You'll have to highlight where I said he was lazy because I missed that.
Barkov's skating has been described - by more than one scouting report - as: average / needs work / not as good as some / pretty good etc.
MacKinnon's skating is described as excellent and explosive.
Barkov is big, but show me quotes describing him as a physical player. Show me quotes that praise his work ethic as off the charts.
I never once called him lazy or anything close to that. However, I have pointed out that MacKinnon's work ethic has been praised and highlighted.
On my firat line, I don't want a wrecking ball, I want leaders. I want my firat line to be not only talented, but also the hardest working guys on teh team. I think we'll have that with Baertschi. And it looks pretty certain that you would get that with MacKinnon. Show me why I should be as confident about that with Barkov.
A Finnish center with a russian name. That sounds odd...We rarely mix those two nations but sometimes, it’s for the best. Like in Barkov’s case. He’s about 6’3 and weighs around 200 pounds and he’s not even 18.
Barkov’s work ethic is off the charts and he possesses a knack for scoring goals that only a few players have.
He’s also very savvy in the defensive zone and he could be a great two-way center at the next level even though is talent is too good to keep him out of the offensive zone.
He also has a great set of hands and amazing puck possession skills. He likes to use his great wrist shot to score quick goals and change the pace of the game.
Barkov is undeniably the best finnish player to come to the draft since Saku Koivu in 1993.
SUN writer
Incredible blend of size, toughness, and skill, Barkov will shock many this season with his play and work ethic. He represented Team Finland in the World Junior Championships last year and contributed with 4 points in 7 games. His vision on the ice is among the tops of his class and his puck control is second to none. - The Hockey News
I think he has good work ethic to. I am not debating the skating Mckinnon has elite skating. I just think that it is something Barkov can overcome because of his puck possession skills.
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Barkov is 9th in the Sm-Liiga in points and he's 17. When you are that dominant, and are already NHL sized, then that's a good combination. Looking forward to a future playoff series, would you rather have your 1st line C be Daymond Langkow sized, or would you rather have someone that could be 6-2 230?
Barkov would be in a better position to be physically imposing while being as good offensively as the smaller speedster in McKinnon.
I want the Flames to have better shot at winning in the playoffs in the future, and the best way to do that is to out size your opposition. Barkov and Jankowski down the middle allows for guys that are smaller like Gaudreau and Baertschi to be on their wings without being an overall small team.
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I think Barkov is more of a puck possession player than an explosive one. All in all you aren't going to go wrong with either player. I read that Barkov is tough on the puck and even tougher to take off the puck. Seems lately like that is something the Flames desperately need.But again just because I feel Barkov is the better option doesn't mean I am going to flip my lid if they get McKinnon as well. Cannot slight any player that has a ton of people relating his style of play to Crosby's
If you watch Mackinnon's highlights compared to Barkov's (I know the leagues are different) there is a huge difference. Mackinnon is explosive and will create a ton of scoring chances on his own. He will make an impact every shift. Barkov is big and will be a great centre but will not be the same calibre. He reminds me of Jagr as a centre while Mackinnon seems more like Sid.
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If you watch Mackinnon's highlights compared to Barkov's (I know the leagues are different) there is a huge difference. Mackinnon is explosive and will create a ton of scoring chances on his own. He will make an impact every shift. Barkov is big and will be a great centre but will not be the same calibre. He reminds me of Jagr as a centre while Mackinnon seems more like Sid.
I think the speed of Mckinnon and the CHL factor. He has higher offensive upside to imo. I like Barkov though because this team really could use someone that knows how to take care of their own end to go with the offense and has size.
Barkov was always third until Drouin rose and now the top 3 seem to be in their own group. He's easy to like in many ways, including his personality, but I'd have mixed feelings if the Flames took him over MacKinnon.
I don't think anyone needs to go digging for dirt on Barkov - he's great but there's a couple of guys who are even better. Very much doubt that leadership and work ethic are on scouts' mind when they rank MacKinnon ahead of him. Pretty sure it's just about how confidently they can project offensive upside.
Barkov's focus on being a complete player at his age when he could easily play the part of a flashy youngster and fish for highlight plays says a lot about his mentality. And he succeeds in it. His coach isn't putting him out on the PK because he's a crowd-pleasing hotshot rookie. You don't throw a kid out there on a 5-on-3 in a playoff game because he's going to get drafted high next summer. It shows his willingness to learn and more importantly his ability to learn.
He's a guy who still spends time at outdoor rinks playing with kids. No need to question his head or try to make MacKinnon sound like the Terminator in order to draw a distinction between the two.
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If you watch Mackinnon's highlights compared to Barkov's (I know the leagues are different) there is a huge difference. Mackinnon is explosive and will create a ton of scoring chances on his own. He will make an impact every shift. Barkov is big and will be a great centre but will not be the same calibre. He reminds me of Jagr as a centre while Mackinnon seems more like Sid.
This is the key point. Speed is so important to generating scoring chances in the NHL.
Is it possible to have big offensive numbers without having a lot of speed? Absolutely.
But given two prospects that are this good, I'll take the one with the explosive speed, thanks. Especially when his work ethic is exceptional and he pursues the puck in all three zones like a rottweiler on a porkchop.
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Barkov was always third until Drouin rose and now the top 3 seem to be in their own group. He's easy to like in many ways, including his personality, but I'd have mixed feelings if the Flames took him over MacKinnon.
I don't think anyone needs to go digging for dirt on Barkov - he's great but there's a couple of guys who are even better. Very much doubt that leadership and work ethic are on scouts' mind when they rank MacKinnon ahead of him. Pretty sure it's just about how confidently they can project offensive upside.
Barkov's focus on being a complete player at his age when he could easily play the part of a flashy youngster and fish for highlight plays says a lot about his mentality. And he succeeds in it. His coach isn't putting him out on the PK because he's a crowd-pleasing hotshot rookie. You don't throw a kid out there on a 5-on-3 in a playoff game because he's going to get drafted high next summer. It shows his willingness to learn and more importantly his ability to learn.
He's a guy who still spends time at outdoor rinks playing with kids. No need to question his head or try to make MacKinnon sound like the Terminator in order to draw a distinction between the two.
"Make him sound like the terminator" I don't understand what you mean by this? You mean cause I think Mc can pot more goals and is faster?
This is the most excited that I have been about the Flames in the last 3 years. I know it sucks to be a bad hockey team, but I actually think we are fortunate that we are this bad during such a strong top-end draft. Drafting any one of these top 4 guys would put a very big smile on my face.
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This is the most excited that I have been about the Flames in the last 3 years. I know it sucks to be a bad hockey team, but I actually think we are fortunate that we are this bad during such a strong top-end draft. Drafting any one of these top 4 guys would put a very big smile on my face.
I'm be excited the moment we actually draft one of them. Until then I'm remaining a pessimistic #######. I'm counting no chickens before they hatch with this group. I still see a garbage time run left in them.
It's shame you don't speak Finnish because Barkov's Tampere accent and demeanor cracks me up. This is for the few Finns in here, an interview about shootouts with some footage of a very casual practice ("Ja sit välillä voi viedä ihan kahville."):
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Scout’s take: “His sheer ability to pile up points has been well documented in the SM-Liiga where he is averaging close to a point a game and playing first-line minutes, incredibly impressive for a player of his age,” says Burstyn. “While Barkov can produce, he will also need to add a physical dimension to his game and showcase a higher compete level. His upside as an NHLer looks very promising as we currently have him at fifth overall.”
Barkov, who turns 18 in September, has elicited some enticing comparisons to Los Angeles Kings star Anze Kopitar. But to fulfill that potential, scouts believe he needs to improve his skating.
Scout’s take: “He certainly has similar qualities to Kopitar as both possess uncanny hockey sense and the ability to disguise their intentions to make plays and manufacture offense,” adds Burstyn. “I would say that Kopitar was a better skater at the same age. And that will be the burning question moving forward with Barkov, whether or not NHL teams firmly believe his skating will improve.”
Now whats odd is on one hand scouts are praising his work ethic and then others are saying it could use work. Then guys like Button say his skating is great and than others say it needs work. so its kind of conflicting you really need to watch games of this guy playing and make your own mind up on him it seems. For me I think he can overcome it.
It's shame you don't speak Finnish because Barkov's Tampere accent and demeanor cracks me up. This is for the few Finns in here, an interview about shootouts with some footage of a very casual practice ("Ja sit välillä voi viedä ihan kahville."):
Can you explain some of the humour? Your story about the origin of Finnish nicknames cracked me up.
