I love that people wanted Zherdev Lite here... he'd have been run out of town before the season was over, simply because he's got amazing talent that'll probably never amount to anything in the NHL, for whatever reason.
I love that people wanted Zherdev Lite here... he'd have been run out of town before the season was over, simply because he's got amazing talent that'll probably never amount to anything in the NHL, for whatever reason.
The comparisons between the teenage Zherdev and Filatov start and end with sharing the same first name, being drafted in the first round by the CBJ's and being Russian. While it's all eerily similar that's all they have in common thus far into Nikita's life. For what it's worth, I'd take a shot with a 19 year old Nikolai Zherdev too if I had the opportunity five years ago.
Nearly a point per game as an 18 year old that has never played a league game in North America? I'd say that's pretty damn good.
It is pretty damn good, but that doesn't mean he couldn't learn things...like how to not get run over like a little *****, how not to be scared of the bigger players, how to play some semblance of defense...all of those things were problems with Filatov and at least contributed to him not having a consistent roster spot. It wasn't just "lol that fat **** Hitchcock is ruining another euro player!"
For all his talk, Filatov folded pretty damn fast when he didn't get his way
Don't want him. The Rangers MUST move in a different direction. We've gone with the Euro teams and failed. 07 Ducks entice anyone besides me and Dagoon??
the more realistic model is the Red Wings model, except we've got a goaltender we can rely on so we can be more aggressive. We're not even close to being the physical team the Ducks are and it'd be difficult to turn in to that team. Gaborik reminds me much more of Datsyuk and/or Zetteberg than he does remind me of Corey Perry or Ryan Getzlaf (or Bobby Ryan...or Kunitz...or Selanne). We've got a supporting cast similar to the Red Wings too... at least I thought we did, I'm beginning to question the work ethic of some (Kotalik, Voros, Brashear, Byers). Callahan and Darren Helm may seriously be long lost brothers or something, their game is exactly the same.
The key questions to ask: Who's going to be our Johan Franzen? Our Niklas Lidstrom(in terms of both leadership AND defensive presence)? If Gaborik's our Datsyuk or Zetteberg, who's his partner in crime? We need someone that's going to have a shot to put up around 30-35 goals on another line.
To a lesser extent: Who's our Brad Stuart(we need someone to go out there and throw some big hits...MDZ is showing potential in that department, but I don't know if he's that guy)? I also wonder, where's our veteran presence past Prospal? Redden needs to be used in a more active role, and Roszival makes me want to vomit.
I don't mean to say we're close to emulating any of the Red Wings success...but the way they build teams is not only the much more realistic way to go for us, but it's proven to be more successful than what the Duck's did in 07 with a lot of big bodies. The Penguins were much more of a finesse team than a tough team I'd say; same can be said for the Senators in '07(although they lost to the Ducks), the Hurricanes, the Oilers...etc.
I'm pretty sure the thought process this off-season was that since we were getting bigger we'd be getting tougher too. Look at the roster, all our d-men are at least 6'0". In fact, Drury, Callahan, and Avery are the only skaters on the roster that are under 6'0".
I'm pretty sure the thought process this off-season was that since we were getting bigger we'd be getting tougher too. Look at the roster, all our d-men are at least 6'0". In fact, Drury, Callahan, and Avery are the only skaters on the roster that are under 6'0".
Those two play like they're 6'0" anyway, it's the ones over 6'0" that play like they're 5'5" that we have to worry about.
It is pretty damn good, but that doesn't mean he couldn't learn things...like how to not get run over like a little *****, how not to be scared of the bigger players, how to play some semblance of defense...all of those things were problems with Filatov and at least contributed to him not having a consistent roster spot. It wasn't just "lol that fat **** Hitchcock is ruining another euro player!"
For all his talk, Filatov folded pretty damn fast when he didn't get his way
Like I said, I don't think he handled the situation well, but we don't know the whole story.
It's a lot to ask of a kid to make the jump to the AHL in a new country. Look at Anisimov, I remember reading several articles and interviews where he spoke about how difficult it was to adjust to North America since he was basically on his own much of the time. That's a stark contrast to a guy like Grachev who was boarded with a family in Brampton and was surrounded by players who were not only his own age, but typically much smaller then he was.
There's nothing wrong with letting him mature, both mentally and physically, in a situation he's comfortable in.
Yeah, there's truth to that...he could have also stuck it out with Columbus and dealt with getting 8 minutes of icetime...used it to get better, used the practices and workout facilities to get better, etc.
Or maybe Columbus wanted to send him back to the KHL, who knows. It's just that when you run your mouth so much about how you're definitely going to leave Russia for the NHL even though you have a contract and you do all this crap and alienate people, then bolt back when things don't exactly go your way...you invite criticism.
I'm probably being too hard on him, but him struggling in the NHL isn't completely out of the blue either
Filatov is small, not strong on the puck and has a real problem battling. He needs at least 1-2 more years to fill out and develop his man strength. He projects ideally to be a Selanne type talent and goal scorer but I don't think he's going to get there.
Yeah, there's truth to that...he could have also stuck it out with Columbus and dealt with getting 8 minutes of icetime...used it to get better, used the practices and workout facilities to get better, etc.
Or maybe Columbus wanted to send him back to the KHL, who knows. It's just that when you run your mouth so much about how you're definitely going to leave Russia for the NHL even though you have a contract and you do all this crap and alienate people, then bolt back when things don't exactly go your way...you invite criticism.
I'm probably being too hard on him, but him struggling in the NHL isn't completely out of the blue either
Fair enough, but it's not as if the kid said, "Yeah, I'm playing in the NHL," and then never came over. He gave it a shot, and had some success to boot. He needs to bulk up and get stronger. Both of those things can be done just as well in Russia as they can over here. Let him worry about that, and then come back and do the assimilation thing.
Hitch is a good coach, but I just don't agree with the "Play on the checking line until you figure out the defensive game," mantra.
I love that people wanted Zherdev Lite here... he'd have been run out of town before the season was over, simply because he's got amazing talent that'll probably never amount to anything in the NHL, for whatever reason.
I love it, people are turning down getting an 18 year old kid who had more skill in his left pinky then any one on our team last year had in their entire body. We now have a dynamic player in Gaborik, and a getting potential Russian superstar to play with him would be lights out. And now every one is automatically going to think every Russian is going to turn out like Zherdev.
Filatov is a EXTREMELY talented player. You think Zherdev oozed talent? Filatov has twice the talent Zherdev could ever dream of having.
He would instantly raise the talent level of this team. Hes Cherepanov 2.0+++
I love it, people are turning down getting an 18 year old kid who had more skill in his left pinky then any one on our team last year had in their entire body. We now have a dynamic player in Gaborik, and a getting potential Russian superstar to play with him would be lights out. And now every one is automatically going to think every Russian is going to turn out like Zherdev.
Filatov is a EXTREMELY talented player. You think Zherdev oozed talent? Filatov has twice the talent Zherdev could ever dream of having.
He would instantly raise the talent level of this team. Hes Cherepanov 2.0+++
Tell me about Filatov, does he have skill or talent?
There sure are a lot of Sigmund Freud's around here.
How the hell can anybody possibly tell that Filatov has an ego or is troublesome because he wants to play competitive hockey? Look at what he did in the AHL as a kid.
The KHL is a great move for him. It will enhance his career. I swear if he was a Rangers prospect he'd be called the next Ovechkin or Malkin, but because he wants to play hockey at a high level, he's a malcontent?
Can somebody please furnish me one piece of evidence that shows Filatov has character or work ethic flaws.
we have a talented enegmatic russian here now in lisin.
we had the same player with zherdev.
atleast lisin competes and puts forth a solid effort where zherdev looked disinterested many nights.
so now were talking about nik filatov- an undersized, underweight, underachiever who refused to go to the ahl and now plays in russia.
geez..atleast lisin is 6'2 195
Lisin is not relevant to this conversation. He's nowhere near as talented as Filatov (and five years older than him). I don't see how you draw the line to Zherdev either. We're talking about a super-talented teenager who just needs some time to fill out. Anyway, I don't see us getting him without giving up something substantial and I'm not sure I'd want to do that.
