Skate hard down the ice, get behind the D, cut off the D, use long arm length to reach to the far post and put it in.
Yeah...that darn 6'4", 220 lbs frame of his! What a useless toolbag for playing like a talented power forward! He better cut that crap out, stick to the outside and throw garbage shots 4 feet of the net.
Not to get off-topic, but I never understood the hate for Valeri Bure.
My expectations were never too high for him so I thought he played pretty good in Calgary. Certainly much better than anywhere else he played.
I actually liked Bure, and hated the trade that sent him away. He thrived after Fleury was dealt, and though he was realistically a decent 2nd line player, he produced well that season for the Flames.
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My impression of Valeri Nichushkin is that of a power forward with good skating ability, but I genuinely believe he is different from other high end Russian players, in that he lacks puck skills. He protects the puck well, but he is not a pure talent that will deke around players, and his comparisons to Evgeni Malkin are only met in terms of size and skating. It's just one meaningless opinion from a far away observer, but if I could, I would submit that even if he stays in the NHL for a long time, he will not be a highly offensive player, perhaps at best modestly productive as a complimentary power forward type role. He reminds me a lot of the 6'5", 227lbs, Nikita Alexeev drafted 8th overall in the 1st round years ago by Tampa Bay (mind you, Nichushkin is way faster), and also the modestly successful 6'4" 232lbs Viktor Kozlov (he recorded 537 points in 897 NHL games). Then again, he could become a good power forward in the NHL, not every power forward that succeeds oozes pure puck skills. I just think the impression of Nichushkin being this hulking, fast player is correct, yet the impression of him having great stickhandling abilities or puck skills is far from an accurate assessment (for example, he's no where close in terms of elite puck skills to a dynamic stickhandler like Drouin, albeit stickhandling isn't everything). I think if your excited about Nichushkin as a smooth skating power forward then fine, that's great, not all power forwards need world class skill. However, if one is expecting him to possess supreme skill in addition to his power forward abilities, then in my insignificant estimation, it's a huge mistake. Either way, for all draft observers, it'll be really interesting to revisit this thread in a few years.
Despite the brevity of the assessment (released on June 25th), it's rather telling that Bob Mckenzie makes no mention as well about the talent, puck skills, or stickhandling of Nichushkin, rather emphasizing the pure power game of the big prospect:
"Russian forward Valeri Nichushkin. The hulking right shot winger from Chelyabinsk can play a pure power game when he drives the net and now that he's free of KHL commitments and able to play in the NHL next season he may be less of a draft-day wild card."
Last edited by HockeyInTheHimalayas; 06-26-2013 at 12:30 PM.
Reason: added Bob Mckenzie's blurb on Valeri Nichushkin
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Skate hard down the ice, get behind the D, cut off the D, use long arm length to reach to the far post and put it in.
Ovechkin racked up 50/60 goal seasons largely off of cross ice one timers and lining up the defensemen as a screen before unleashing a wrister. Every defensemen knew what was going to happen when he crossed the blueline and they couldn't stop him, and on the PP the Caps always looked to work the puck around before Backstrom/Green could find Ovechkin cross ice for a one timer. He still put up godly numbers.
Point is, just like an ace in baseball it doesn't matter if the batter knows what's coming, if the pitcher has a dominant pitch in his arsenal they are going to be very effective.
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I feel like Calgary will absolutely be taking whichever of Monahan/Lindholm is still available, Edmonton will take a D-man, and Buffalo will bite on Nichuschkin at 8.
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I would be more enthusiastic, but I remember the last player we had named Valeri...and it still stings.
Valeri Bure?
The 2nd round pick who put up 400 points in 621 games, and would have done much more but for horrible back injuries? The guy we gave up Jonas Hoglund and a declining Zarley Zalapski for. As far as Flames acquisitions go...I can think of many that sting far more.
Back on topic though, stay away from this Russian. Not worth the added risk. Hopefully, one of the teams 1-5 does us a huge favor and takes this guy before #6.
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Not to get off-topic, but I never understood the hate for Valeri Bure.
My expectations were never too high for him so I thought he played pretty good in Calgary. Certainly much better than anywhere else he played.
Yah, I have a bit of a soft spot for Mr. DJ Tanner. I thought he performed above expectations while he was a Flame. Sure he's not Pavel when he was here, but at least the difference wasn't like Rob vs. Scott Neidermeyer.
If the Flames pick this guy it will be a disaster.
There will be ten years of people calling him a floater, questioning his commitment and lifestyle outside of hockey. As soon as he hits his stride KHL teams will begin courting him with massive offers.
Why go exotic when there are so many character guys available where the Flames pick who are not downgrades in terms of projected NHL career?
Yah, I can't shake the feeling that he'll pretty much be like Kovalchuk (if lucky). We'll be like the Atlanta Thrashers. He'll be a dynamic scoring forward on a terrible team. I'd worry about building a team with Nichushkin as the centre piece.
Chip Alexander on Twitter is saying that the Canes are leaning towards Nichushkin.
"Just talked to ESPN.comdraft insider Grant Sonier. He sees Canes taking Nichushkin at No. 5."
Hopefully this saves us having to worry about taking him or not if he is BPA at #6.
Great news, I didn't see the Flames picking him (although I would love that), but having the selection between Monahan and Lindholm is exciting. Hopefully our scouting staff is up to the task! I know I can't decide.
