Valeri Nichushkin Discussion

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I think there are several players with comparable upside who are far less risky at the top end of this draft.

Do you mean other then Jones, Drouin, MacKinnon, and Barkov? Because sure if those guys are there I'd take them over Nichushkin but if we're talking about Monahan, Lindholm, and Nurse... I don't think they offer the upside of Nichushkin.

[Imported_Aussie]

He is a 5-10 range guy, purely because the other high end talents don't have the russian factor. If a team really doesn't like one of the big 4 (Drouin, Jones, MacKinnon, Barkov) he could go in the 4 spot at the highest.
He is a guy where pre-draft interviews will be key to establishing his intent to play in the NHL versus the KHL (quality of competition versus immediate earning potential).
I would prefer to see the Flames take Monahan or Lindholm before him, but I would place him before Nurse, Shinkaruk, etc. as the prospect pool needs a high end talent, and we cannot afford a gamble as much as a team like Tampa, for example

[robaur]

He has 3 inches and 30 pounds on MacKinnon and Drouin.

Skill is subjective. Physical attributes are not.

That's why Malkin has the Conn Smyth and not Crosby over a long, grueling playoffs.

[Soliak]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Nill but that should not matter with us, we are not contending for a SC in the next two years anyhow.

It matters a little bit. 2 years of development in the NHL vs 2 years in the KHL is quite a bit different.

He's an interesting prospect.

[robaur]

Why do some ppl say that he is too risky and we need high-end talent then they say Monahan.....Monahan is not high-end talent.

Canadian hockey hasn't produced much in past 3 years ...Hall, RNH, Yakupov.

There's no game-breakers in that group. If you are telling me that MacKinnon and Drouin are going to end up like those 3 mentioned prior...I want no part of that as a Flames fan.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by robaur

Why do some ppl say that he is too risky and we need high-end talent then they say Monahan.....Monahan is not high-end talent.

Canadian hockey hasn't produced much in past 3 years ...Hall, RNH, Yakupov.

There's no game-breakers in that group. If you are telling me that MacKinnon and Drouin are going to end up like those 3 mentioned prior...I want no part of that as a Flames fan.

Kind of early to say none of those 3 are game breakers. They all certainly have the talent to be one.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by robaur

Why do some ppl say that he is too risky and we need high-end talent then they say Monahan.....Monahan is not high-end talent.

Canadian hockey hasn't produced much in past 3 years ...Hall, RNH, Yakupov.

There's no game-breakers in that group. If you are telling me that MacKinnon and Drouin are going to end up like those 3 mentioned prior...I want no part of that as a Flames fan.

...so because you see young talented players on the Oilers, you don't want any young talented players on the Flames?

[FakenHaken]

Originally Posted by robaur

Why do some ppl say that he is too risky and we need high-end talent then they say Monahan.....Monahan is not high-end talent.

Canadian hockey hasn't produced much in past 3 years ...Hall, RNH, Yakupov.

There's no game-breakers in that group. If you are telling me that MacKinnon and Drouin are going to end up like those 3 mentioned prior...I want no part of that as a Flames fan.

I've read a ton of the forum as it just interests me, but I don't think I've read one post that compared MacKinnon and Drouin to Hall, RNH, or Yakupov. I've read Crosby, Sakic, Kane, Giroux. I think either or will turn out to be hockey players that future draft prospects will positively compare to MacKinnon or Drouin.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by robaur

Why do some ppl say that he is too risky and we need high-end talent then they say Monahan.....Monahan is not high-end talent.

Canadian hockey hasn't produced much in past 3 years ...Hall, RNH, Yakupov.

There's no game-breakers in that group. If you are telling me that MacKinnon and Drouin are going to end up like those 3 mentioned prior...I want no part of that as a Flames fan.

Based on your comments in this thread, you sound like a Russian poster who thinks that Russians are better players than Canadians. Your bias is pretty ridiculous.

[ignite09]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Based on your comments in this thread, you sound like a Russian poster who thinks that Russians are better players than Canadians. Your bias is pretty ridiculous.

He isn't the only one in the past few pages who has shown a bias. There are posters on both sides doing it. Personally I take him at #5 and on, I think the whole KHL thing has more to do with wanting a shot at the Olympics than it does his desire to stay in Russia. It's the same reason he joined the U18 team over his league team.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by ignite09

He isn't the only one in the past few pages who has shown a bias. There are posters on both sides doing it. Personally I take him at #5 and on, I think the whole KHL thing has more to do with wanting a shot at the Olympics than it does his desire to stay in Russia. It's the same reason he joined the U18 team over his league team.

I could be mistaken, but I thought that I recall reading somewhere that Nichushkin stated that was in fact his reason and he also stated that he intends to play in the NHL.

I don't doubt that he is sincere, but money has a way of complicating things. He'll end up having to take a pay cut for 3 years when it comes to signing his ELC in the NHL. It's one thing to talk the talk right now, but when it actually comes down to it in 2 years, will he still feel that way?

Having said that, I would not hesitate to take him outside of the top 10 assuming we still have our own pick in the top 10.

[moon]

Originally Posted by robaur

He has 3 inches and 30 pounds on MacKinnon and Drouin.

Skill is subjective. Physical attributes are not.

That's why Malkin has the Conn Smyth and not Crosby over a long, grueling playoffs.

Malkin has the Conn Smyth because Babcock decided to play Zetterberg/Datsyuk and Lidstrom/Rafalski almost exclusively against Crosby to ensure he couldn't beat them and took his chances with the lesser player in Malkin going against his lesser players.

Size had 0 to do with it.

Originally Posted by robaur

Canadian hockey hasn't produced much in past 3 years ...Hall, RNH, Yakupov.

Canadian Hockey has produced the last 5 Calder trophy winners, 3 scorers under 22 in the top 15 of NHL scoring and 23 of the top 25 picks in the last 5 drafts but you are right why would anyone want to go with someone from that route with the terrible track record they have and the stud record that Russian hockey has lately at producing "gamebreakers."

[moon]

Originally Posted by robaur

Canadian hockey hasn't produced much in past 3 years ...Hall, RNH, Yakupov.

There's no game-breakers in that group. If you are telling me that MacKinnon and Drouin are going to end up like those 3 mentioned prior...I want no part of that as a Flames fan.

Taylor Hall is top 10 in PPG what exactly is your criteria for a Gamebreaker if top 10 scoring isn't included?

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

He's got NHL level talent for sure. He'll probably go top 3

Yes he's got the skill but we still don't have the 1st line centre we've been missing for a long time. He looks like a winger. Flames should draft McKinnon and trade their 2 first rounder (from Penguins & Blues) and move up the draft. Hopefully this Russian kid is still available so they can draft him. Otherwise the other teams will double-team this guy the way they double-teamed Iginla pretty much every game.

[Jing]

If we end up with a pick past 7th, and none of the centers are left (Mackinnon/Barkov/Lindholm/Monahan), then the Flames would be wise to pick this guy up.

Obviously if we pick in the top 6 then we pick one of the centers.

[dammage79]

I would not be surprised at all if the Flames did end up drafting out the the top seven to trade up and grab one of the centers. Just think it would cost two arms and a leg and maybe a kidney to trade into the top three. But to move up a spot or two could be done. especially if teams are focusing on filling positional needs.

[timbit]

Nishuskin will be taken high. Too big and too talented.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by robaur

Canadian hockey hasn't produced much in past 3 years ...Hall, RNH, Yakupov.

There's no game-breakers in that group. If you are telling me that MacKinnon and Drouin are going to end up like those 3 mentioned prior...I want no part of that as a Flames fan.

LOL

There's no guarantee Nichushkin ends up anywhere near as good as Hall, RNH or Yakupov let alone better than them.

Just bizarre post after bizarre post by you in this thread. You make little to no sense to me. You are somehow convinced Malkin>Crosby and that Nichushkin=Malkin. Neither of those things are true IMO.

I'm done with you. Hopefully you switch allegiances to whichever team drafts Nichushkin.

[BloodFetish]

Well. The stage is set for a CP revolt if Feaster takes Nichushkin. Popcorn on standby!

[dammage79]

Nichushkin could be the real player of this draft. And likely worth the wait.

As for the guy using Nichushkin's, Barkov's and Lindholm's points totals as teenagers in MEN's professional hockey leagues as a deterant to drafting these kids, Haha, ha ha ha.