Valeri Nichushkin Discussion

[The Voice of Reason]

Draft him, let someone else pay him millions while he develops his game further. Then bring him over when the team is better so he can jump right in and contribute positively.

Win win.

[Teroy]

Don't draft Nichushkin. Too many "if's".

[neo45]

Too risky to take at #6 and too good to fall out of the top 10.


I would be happy to have him with a first round pick, but we won't have the option to I am afraid. Trading into the top 10 will be a struggle. I think Buffalo takes him at #8

[devo22]

bump for a good reason: Nichushkin announced yesterday that his KHL contract was terminated and that he wants to play in North America next season. Since there is no transfer agreement between the NHL and the KHL, players under contract in Russia need their contracts to be bought out ... and apparently that has happened. One has to imagine that that was a very expensive transaction, given that his club Dynamo Moscow had paid 10m dollars for his services. Something is fishy here ... maybe a team has already agreed to draft him and pay the buyout?

Less than three weeks after insisting he would play in Russia for another two years, NHL draft prospect Valeri Nichushkin told R-Sport Wednesday he will move to North America if he is drafted this June.

Nichushkin, 18, is the second-best European skater in the draft, according to NHL Central Scouting, and is widely expected to go in the first five picks.

“I’ve already decided to leave for the NHL,” the 6’3”, 201-pound wing said. “I was told I could leave if I want.”

He told reporters at the under-18 world championship in Sochi he intended to honor the final two years of his KHL contract, saying he wanted to avoid playing in the North American junior leagues before reaching the NHL.

Nichushkin now claims his contract with Dynamo Moscow, who reportedly paid Traktor Chelyabinsk $10 million for the prospect earlier this month, has been terminated.

Details of Nichushkin’s contract situation were not immediately known. With no transfer agreement between the NHL and KHL, players are required to negotiate buyouts with their Russian club in order to leave.
Nichushkin said both sides agreed he could give it a shot in North America.

“We agreed that they would let me go, but if something across the ocean goes wrong I will immediately go back to them,” he said.

Dynamo could not immediately be reached for comment. Nichushkin’s announcement comes days before he is expected to appear at the NHL scouting combine in Toronto and, for the time being, puts an end to concern in league circles the Russian would be a risky pick.

The Chelyabinsk native, who tallied six points in 18 games for Traktor this season, told R-Sport the Tampa Bay Lightning, who has the third pick in the draft, and the Nashville Predators, who own the fourth pick, have expressed interest.

http://en.rsport.ru/hockey/20130522/663592291.html

[the_only_turek_fan]

The Chelyabinsk native, who tallied six points in 18 games for Traktor this season, told R-Sport the Tampa Bay Lightning, who has the third pick in the draft, and the Nashville Predators, who own the fourth pick, have expressed interest.

Are teams even allowed to talk to these players before the interviews?

IF, this guy is taken before the #6 pick, we might get Barkov.

[gargamel]

If Nichushkin's contract issues really have been sorted out, then the big 4 in this year's draft just became the big 5. It figures that we're picking 6th.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

IF, this guy is taken before the #6 pick, we might get Barkov.

How? A team in the top 5 still would have to reach for Nurse or Lindholm over Barkov. Highly unlikely that those teams will be that incompetent.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

How? A team in the top 5 still would have to reach for Nurse or Lindholm over Barkov. Highly unlikely that those teams will be that incompetent.

That's exactly what could happen. Nurse or Ristolainen could sneak into the top five if a team is looking for a defender. The Preds and Hurricanes could both use a top end defender and may want to go after one in this draft. Not saying it is a given, but it is a big possibility. Every team has different needs and different lists. What you see from THN or TSN, and copied by every blog out there, is not indicative of how the draft is going to go. We may get lucky and see a name drop to us that the other teams have ranked lower than expected. Who knows, we may even see a surprise and a guy like Monahan snapped up early letting one of the big names fall.

[Roof-Daddy]

Somebody please draft him before we have a chance.

As talented as he is, I don't want us spending what is arguably our most important asset for the future on an enigmatic Russian who could simply just take his ball and go home at the drop of a hat.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Highly unlikely that those teams will be that incompetent.

I really don't think that the difference in skill level between Barkov and whomever falls just below him is significant enough that a decision by a team to take someone over him would warrent a declaration of "incompetent".

[howard_the_duck]

I can't imagine Nashville will even consider Nichuskin given what happened with Radulov so recently.

I wouldn't hate it if the Flames took a chance on him but a Center is still my preference

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I really don't think that the difference in skill level between Barkov and whomever falls just below him is significant enough that a decision by a team to take someone over him would warrent a declaration of "incompetent".

I do. Like I said before there is a reason Flames fans are so hoping that Barkov falls to the Flames and that's because he's projected as a better player than Monahan and Lindholm nearly universally. Hard to fathom the Predators or Hurricanes seeing things different (although not impossible). I personally believe there is a better chance of Drouin falling to the Flames than Barkov.

[Stupid]

nm

[FCAV]

Does anyone remember when Sean Couturier fell to 8th in 2011? Or when Hampus Lindholm spiked to 6th in 2012? Or when Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley fell to 12th and 13th respectively in 2010?

Fact is, a lot of teams draft lists look considerably different than what Central Scouting, ISS or even us at Future Considerations put out. Different scouts. Different eyes.

It's not inconceivable for a prospect to be picked a few spots lower than the rest, or jump higher than most/all have projected.

That said, it takes two teams to really like two different players over Barkov for him to slide to the Flames. That's if he's not gobbled up in the top three.

Is the scenario likely? Probably not. Possible? Yes.

[cowtown75]

Winger or not, Nichushkin looks like a game-changer. At 18, he is 6'4 and over 200 lbs- he still may grow an inch and fill out more as he matures. He reminds me a lot of how Malkin controls the puck. I wouldn't like to see us pass up on a potential franchise player. Ideally, we use a trade or our other 2 first rounders to move up in the draft and get Nichushkin and say a Monahan.

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by FCAV

Does anyone remember when Sean Couturier fell to 8th in 2011? Or when Hampus Lindholm spiked to 6th in 2012? Or when Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley fell to 12th and 13th respectively in 2010?

Fact is, a lot of teams draft lists look considerably different than what Central Scouting, ISS or even us at Future Considerations put out. Different scouts. Different eyes.

It's not inconceivable for a prospect to be picked a few spots lower than the rest, or jump higher than most/all have projected.

That said, it takes two teams to really like two different players over Barkov for him to slide to the Flames. That's if he's not gobbled up in the top three.

Is the scenario likely? Probably not. Possible? Yes.

This is totally true... Its quite possible there was not a single team that had Fowler as low as 12th on their list, for example... it just takes each team in the top 11 having ONE player ahead of him left on their respective list.

Barkov @ 6 is possible!!! ... even if NO TEAM has him as low as 6th on their list.

[sun]

I have a feeling we'll pick Nichushkin at 6 if he's available. Wouldn't be the end of the world, but I would still probably feel disappointed. Barkov falling to 6 would be amazing, but unlikely. Lindholm or Monahan at six will still be awesome either way! Gonna get a good player with this pick.

[StrykerSteve]

I would still prefer they draft a Center with their first pick.

[Dorkmaster]

Originally Posted by sun

I have a feeling we'll pick Nichushkin at 6 if he's available. Wouldn't be the end of the world, but I would still probably feel disappointed. Barkov falling to 6 would be amazing, but unlikely. Lindholm or Monahan at six will still be awesome either way! Gonna get a good player with this pick.

Yeah, he could be Jay Feaster's fourth potential franchise player and not Barkov.

[JurassicTunga12]

Well, he is very talented so I wouldn't be too upset. Of course I'd rather have Lindholm or Monahan just to be 'safe'.
Baertschi - Backlund - Nichushkin

Could be an awesome line

I doubt it though, Lindholm or Monahan will be the guys we draft at 6. I'm pretty sure of it.