For clarification, the contract is going forward two years or was this season included in the contract?
He signed a three year contract last summer, so he has two years left.
IIRC, one thing in his favour is that Euro draftees are protected for four years now before they need to be signed. So a team willing to be patient and willing to gamble would be more interested. Probably by a GM who is secure in his job.
I never understood why Monahan gets so much hype. He's a classic example of overrated player who's going to bust. Similar to a Strome or Scheifle. None of those players will be game changers in the NHL. If you can't get guys like MacKinnon, Barkov, Lindholm or Drouin....might as well try for Nichuschkin.
If the goal for your 1st round pick is to draft a serviceable NHL player regardless whether it is 1st line or 3rd line then you got issues.
You should only be drafting potential home runs in the first round.
I would rather draft Nichushkin and maybe fail down the line but never draft Monahan instead for your 3rd line center and potentially watch Nichushkin rip it up elsewhere in the NHL. Just like when Jagr got drafted. This guy is better than MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov, Lindholm.
Actually Malkin was involved in a big contract dispute before coming to the NHL.
From his wiki page
"However, a transfer dispute between the National Hockey League (NHL) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) delayed his Pittsburgh debut. On August 7, 2006, it appeared that the 20-year-old Malkin had come to a compromise with Metallurg and signed a deal that would have kept him in Russia until May 2007. However, Malkin stated that he signed the one-year contract not as a compromise but because of the immense "psychological pressure" his former club exerted on him.[citation needed] Desiring to play in the NHL, he left Metallurg Magnitogorsk's training camp in Helsinki, Finland, before it had started on August 12. It would later appear that the team had taken Malkin's passport away to prevent him from leaving, but it was eventually given back to him and Malkin was allowed to pass through Finnish customs. Meeting with his agent, J. P. Barry, the two quickly departed and waited for Malkin's visa clearance from the US Embassy.
In order to legally leave the team, on August 15, Malkin invoked, by fax, a provision of Russian labor law that allowed him to cancel his one-year contract by giving his employer two weeks notice.[6] Having untied himself of obligations in Russia, he was able to sign an entry-level contract with the Penguins on September 5, 2006.[7]"
I still remember how he came over. It was pretty awesome. I think he had disappeared for 48 hours or something while he snuck out of the country in the dark of night or something.
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That guys a monster, love the way he uses his size and speed. You can tell from the video he loves to skate fast, also seems hard to hook, or slow down.
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I never understood why Monahan gets so much hype. He's a classic example of overrated player who's going to bust. Similar to a Strome or Scheifle. None of those players will be game changers in the NHL. If you can't get guys like MacKinnon, Barkov, Lindholm or Drouin....might as well try for Nichuschkin.
I agree, picking Monahan would scare me a bit, but saying that if he played with great linemates like MacKinnon did he would have been 100+ point player this season.
7 would be the most interesting spot with the top 4 plus Lindholm and Monahan gone.
Then you are looking at a defenseman like Nurse/Rustilanen or reaching for a Shinkaruk, who might not end up as a center in the NHL.
I still think this team has to go with the safe bet there and although the potential would be tough to pass up (and just what the team needs if he turns out) to risky to miss on him.
If last year is any indication, Feaster won't be going safe with his first rounder.
The only reason why Nichushkin is not projected no.1 this year is IMHO the russian factor.
notable timestamps:
1:22 - fantastic setup
2:28 - one man show
3:12 - huge hit in KHL from 17-year old
3:22 - nothing special at the first glance but this is totally Jagr-like puck control and shot
It's hard to tell whether he played LW in all those games as I see him flying around everywhere.
If we could somehow get both Monahan and Nichushkin - that would be a combo you can built your team around. Big canadian two-way centre with leadership abilities + big flying superskilled russian => that is exactly what every GM wants in the 1st line.
I'm still much more impressed by MacKinnon and Jones.
As for that goal on Subban, how can you not blame Murphy on that one? Horrible attempt at defending, he just lets Nichucskin walk around him. Murphy was bad in that tourney, terrible homer choice by Spott.
I never understood why Monahan gets so much hype. He's a classic example of overrated player who's going to bust. Similar to a Strome or Scheifle. None of those players will be game changers in the NHL.
This guy is better than MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov, Lindholm.
Wow some bold claims there. I take it you are an OHL scout then? You must be to be so convinced about Strome, Scheiffele and Monahan. How many games have you seen of each?
The more you say the more you sound a little ridiculous. Monahan a classic example of an overrated player who will bust?
Why is Nichushkin better than MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov and Lindholm? How many games of Nichushkin and these players have you seen to be able to say that wth certainty? You must be a Russian scout. And a QMJHL scout. And a Finnish scout.
Except the way you talk resembles a fanboy not a scout. Something doesn't add up here.
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We should draft <Flavor of the week prospect> because he is a franchise player. <non-flavor of the week prospect> is a sure fire bust. Look, here are some examples of busts. When compared to these other cherry picked HOF players you can see why the choice is clear. Also, please consider these top players drafted in the past 2 years that are not in the NHL, clearly busts as they are almost 20 now.
For what it is worth, I really like the look of Nichushkins game.Big body with great top end speed and a clear ability to drive the net and finish. Lots to like in that package. The Russian factor doesn't really scare me away from taking him in the 5+ range, however there are enough querstion marks to prevent me from taking him top 4. I do think he plays NHL hockey, even if he chooses the KHL for a little bit. I see his development path following Taresenko. Lots of upside if you are ok waiting a bit - same as drafting a college player i suppose.
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Last edited by TurdFerguson; 04-18-2013 at 01:19 PM.
Wow some bold claims there. I take it you are an OHL scout then? You must be to be so convinced about Strome, Scheiffele and Monahan. How many games have you seen of each?
The more you say the more you sound a little ridiculous. Monahan a classic example of an overrated player who will bust?
Why is Nichushkin better than MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov and Lindholm? How many games of Nichushkin and these players have you seen to be able to say that wth certainty? You must be a Russian scout. And a QMJHL scout. And a Finnish scout.
Except the way you talk resembles a fanboy not a scout. Something doesn't add up here.
His mammoth size coupled with speed is a rarity in the NHL. There just aren't very many players made in the mould of a Malkin. When you have such a physical superiority, you combine that with great hands/skill...you have a much more sure-fire Superstar than someone not with those. advantageous physical attributes.
If you watch the NBA at all....Lebron James is a perfect example. He's a physical beast.
It's very hard to find players that are 6'4" and 200+ pounds that are 18 with the kind of skill this kid has.
If MacKinnon, Drouin, Jones, Barkov, and Lindholm are off the table when the Flames pick I think this guy is a no brainer. He has all the talent to be elite and I remember reading he has every intention of playing in the NHL. You take the BPA.
He's ahead of MacKinnon and Drouin in some (respectable) rankings for exactly the reasons you listed.....
Isn't ISS the only ranking that has him ahead of those two?
Drouin and MacKinnon are arguably more skilled than Nichushkin. They arguably have a better all around game. They are both amazing skaters. So Nichushkin goes ahead of them strictly because he's a few inches taller? I'm not buying it.
He's a great talent. Calling him the #1 pick or the most surefire franchise player of the bunch is hyperbole. I think there are several players with comparable upside who are far less risky at the top end of this draft.
