Radulov is a meaningful comparison, but Filatov is out of the NHL because he wasn't good enough.
He got Hitchcocked :p
But Filatov was a very talented player like Grigs was.
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Even the Radulov comparison is a stretch because of all the different issues surrounding his fleeing to Russia as well as his eventual (temporary) return. The AHL question is likely moot with Grigs anyway because of the CHL transfer rules.
Not necessarily. If the team that drafts him puts him back in the OHL next year and then the AHL the year after that...
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Ultimately, Grigs could end up falling, but it'll have everything to do with questions about his character and his playoff no-show (although he had mono and an ankle sprain) and next to nothing to do with the KHL. If it weren't for those things, then Malkin would be the most relevant draft comparison.
It has everything to do with the KHL. NHL teams are still extremely weary about dealing with Russians. It's a fact that keeps getting brought up. For every Taresenko there is a Evgeny Kuznetsov. Hell even Semyon Varlamov threatened to go back to Russia last year.
Skjei is also on my "do not select" list. Matheson is a 2nd rounder.
If we move back to Washington's (or Buffalo's) picks I'd like to see Koekkoek and (if available) Collberg or another defenseman. There's plenty of good skaters with physicality. Also, to me, compete level can be a reason to not draft someone (as in a lack of it) but never really a reason to go with someone other than as a tie-break between very close prospects. I'm just not a fan of Zemgus (that goes triple for Tom Wilson).
I don't have an opinion one way or the other, but what are your reasons for having Skjei on your "do not select list"?
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Originally Posted by Northland Wild Man
*sigh*
I'll be watching both days of the draft from my cubicle.
I don't have an opinion one way or the other, but what are your reasons for having Skjei on your "do not select list"?
Having not had the opportunity to watch him myself, I'll defer to our resident FC scout (okay we have two, and they're both named Dan, how screwed up is that?) in his Impressed/Disappointed/Sleeper article. I won't copy the whole Skjei portion here (need to make everyone read the whole article) but this is the intro:
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Originally Posted by Dan Shrader
Who Disappointed?
In the book “Moneyball”, Billy Beane uses the term ‘jeans model’ in reference to a player who has the look of someone bound for stardom, yet that’s all it is – a look. Standing a healthy six-foot-three and weighing in at 203-pounds, Brady Skjei is a powerful and fluid skater as well- a mouth watering combination for fans and scouts alike. Disappointingly enough, Brady Skjei is a ‘jeans model’.
Step 1: trade down to #11 and #16
Step 2: draft Ceci and Koekkoek
Step 3: draft McCabe at #46
Step 4: trade 3rd and 4th rounders to move back into late 2nd
Step 5: draft Kulak
Add them to Brodin, Scandella, Spurgeon, Seeler and Cuma and see who sticks. Bam. Defensive depth solved.
That...is a ridiculous number of defensemen.
I'm still astonished that we've drafted a total of 3 defensemen in 3 drafts, and two of those were first rounders.
Unfortunately, I have to go to work at 7am and then have a wedding to attend so I can't watch the draft live, but I'll be following very closely. I'm excited to see what happens all around the league, do we finally see Ryan, Luongo, or Nash moved?
Our big fish are in free agency, not the draft IMO.
I'm still astonished that we've drafted a total of 3 defensemen in 3 drafts, and two of those were first rounders.
We were so beyond thin when it came to quality forward prospects... it had to happen that way. Can't complain about what looks to be good results thus far in getting quality forward prospects!
If we trade down, I'm hoping for Koekkoek and Collberg.
Since the chances of that are far less than keeping our pick, I am still undecided as to who I prefer at #7. I honestly am at peace with whomever GMCF and Flahr pick. Any of the D men or Teuvo will be great choices.
Anyone think we may go with Lindholm? Similar story to Brodin, no? Late riser, good frame, great skater with agility who is calm and makes smart plays?
Anyone think we may go with Lindholm? Similar story to Brodin, no? Late riser, good frame, great skater with agility who is calm and makes smart plays?
I think I'd prefer Maatta over Lindholm. Has a lot of the same characteristics but he may have some more untapped offensive potential. I wouldn't be surprised if the Wild took him at #7 if certain other players are off the board.
__________________
After Meaningless Win - 3/29/12 - Game 77 | SoH-"Who knows, that could have cost us a Cup tonight." | Dooohkay
Really glad I have an extended weekend off. Just slept for 18 hours and I'm ready for the 2012 NHL draft.
As for our pick, I'm happy with any of: Reinhart, Koekkoek, Trouba, Määttä, Ceci, Rielly.
Actually, I'm kinda hoping we trade down since there isn't a game breaking difference between #7 and #12 or #14 for example. We won't get WSH #11 and #16 for #7, not in a million years, but GMCF might be able to work a trade around those picks.
If we trade down, I'm hoping for Koekkoek and Collberg.
Since the chances of that are far less than keeping our pick, I am still undecided as to who I prefer at #7. I honestly am at peace with whomever GMCF and Flahr pick. Any of the D men or Teuvo will be great choices.
Anyone think we may go with Lindholm? Similar story to Brodin, no? Late riser, good frame, great skater with agility who is calm and makes smart plays?
I like Lindholm and think he has tons of offensive upside but he's not similar to Brodin besides being Swedish and having a lanky frame.
Brodin wasn't a late riser, he was always seen as around #10 in the draft, and Lindholm is very smart offensively but not defensively. The opposite of Brodin.
Just need to get through work today, go home and set my DVR, get through our softball games tonight, go home and throw a frozen pizza in the oven, hit play and enjoy.
I kind of want them to take another forward and here is my reasoning.
Most likely a defenseman is not going to be NHL ready for at least 1 year in minors or juniors. So Fletch is going to have to sign at least a couple FA defensemen anyway. Defensemen in my opinion need to be brought along slower. And once they make the jump to the NHL they are erratic and not consistent normally in their first year. And I don't see a number 7 this year that is NHL ready.
So if we pick a forward, you can hope that we suddenly have a glut of good forward prospects that will allow us to trade one away for a defensemen that is further along. Maybe a d man that was drafted a year or two ago. And I am not saying that this trade is made this year, but next year when our forward prospects will be easier to judge their potential.
I don't know. I kind of talked myself out of that while writing it, but it is just a thought.
First preference: draft (in order of availability) Nail, Murray, Gachenkyuk, Reinhart, Forsberg, Dumba, Teuvo
Second preference: trade down and draft two of Trouba, Rielly, Ceci, Koekkoek, Maatta, Faksa, Grigorenko
I'd be kind of disappointed to see Trouba with the #7 pick. I just don't see the offensive upside in him. I'm sure he'll be a safe top four defenseman, just like Scandella. But that's the thing, we already have Scandella, we don't need another Scandella. We need a Suter, a Burns, a Doughty, a Weber, a Chara, a Pronger, a whatever #1 defenseman you want to name. I think Murray, Reinhart, and Dumba could be those guys. I don't think Trouba can. Even if we can sign Suter, then we still want an offensive specialist, like Ceci or Rielly. Trouba doesn't fit any kind of need for this club a few years down the road.
I have Girgensons on my "do not select" list. I just haven't seen anything that screams high end with him. In a draft this deep on the blue line (with our noted needs there) I just don't see how we can pick a forward who doesn't have any "elite" attributes in the first round.
I dunno, I've seen some pretty positive scouting reports on him. One blog in particular:
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While scouts' opinions aren't unanimous, is still generally considered to be one of the three or four best Zemguses available in this year's draft.
I dunno, I've seen some pretty positive scouting reports on him. One blog in particular:
Girgensons has tons of talent. Problem is, he has always played with average teams so sometimes it hurts his game as he tries to do everything, or sometimes his skills just don't translate into points.
Honestly, any of these guys end up a Wild, I'm happy. I'm VERY happy if any of my #1s.
