He reminds me a bit of a Keith Ktachuk. I don't know if he we be as aggressive or good but maybe a poor mans version. He can play all forward positions If need be and is that big left handed force that drives to the net.
He reminds me a bit of a Keith Ktachuk. I don't know if he we be as aggressive or good but maybe a poor mans version. He can play all forward positions If need be and is that big left handed force that drives to the net.
Tkachuk dreams he can skate half as fast as Nichushkin.
Tkachuk dreams he can skate half as fast as Nichushkin.
Ye I was going to say- I don't remember Tkachuk ever relying on his skating for anything. He wasn't a bad skater, but not exactly a speedster which Nichushkin is. Also the reach and height and all that...
I was just thinking, the worst he could turn out to be is like Artyukhin or Svitov. But he already has better hands.
No, he's not physical in the sense of physically destroying a player with a check, but with the puck down low he can absolutely manhandle defenders. Think Rick Nash or Eric Cole type of player.
No, he's not physical in the sense of physically destroying a player with a check, but with the puck down low he can absolutely manhandle defenders. Think Rick Nash or Eric Cole type of player.
I would argue this. He is in fact, quite physical. He does look for the big hits, he's already had a few in the KHL hits of the week where he did -absolutely destroy some guys. Tremendous strength, wait a few years he will be as Pierre likes to say - A Monster!"
simple, big guy which skating like figure skater and have big strength which allows him to destroy the defenders, not the best of hands and vision, and all he has achieved - was given to him by labor and working out its advantages He played against the defenders of Canada and the United States at last WJC - his style allows him to beat them, and Seth Jones was unable to stop him
I would argue this. He is in fact, quite physical. He does look for the big hits, he's already had a few in the KHL hits of the week where he did -absolutely destroy some guys. Tremendous strength, wait a few years he will be as Pierre likes to say - A Monster!"
yes, I can imagine what were Starosta´s words after this one
bob mckenzie and craig button are talking about him on tsn. they're saying that some scouts have him as high on the top 3 but there's big concern over his KHL contract...that after this year he still has two more years left and people are worried about him coming over.
so it looks like there's a good chance that he drops.
I like the Rick Nash, Erik Cole, JVR and Evander Kane comparisons. He's a prototypical "new age" power forward. Great size, very good strength, great skating, solid grit, plenty of skill, goes hard to the net, but isn't necessarily a fighter or a grinder. If he comes over he's pretty much a lock to be a solid NHL player IMO, and has star potential, the main concern is really just the Russian factor. I can see him falling a bit because of that, but not too far, I'll be very surprised if he falls outside of the top 10-15. If it wasn't for the Russian factor/uncertainty, he'd probably be a top 5 pick.
OT, but I think we should start calling it the KHL factor, instead of the Russian factor. Russians playing in NA don't seem to fall at all.
Good point, though I think most people realize that the "Russian factor" means "fear of wasting a pick on a player who might not come over," as opposed to irrational fear of picking Russian players in general.
Good point, though I think most people realize that the "Russian factor" means "fear of wasting a pick on a player who might not come over," as opposed to irrational fear of picking Russian players in general.
Yeah, but might as well call it what it is. The 'Russian factor' just sounds frankly racist to me.
Last time I checked, the KHL was based in Russia. And the RSL before it. Therefore, when a player -- very usually Russian -- drops in the draft due to valid concerns he won't report with any haste...it is called the Russian Factor. There doesn't seem to be any xenophobia involved, unless I'm missing something. To avoid calling it that seems like a hilarious attempt to avoid being politically incorrect.
This is my first time seeing him. Just went through a video reel of him at the WJC.
The thing that stuck out to me was his speed and his strength on the puck. He's still young, but he reminds me of young Jaromir Jagr. He skates really high like a figure skater, but still easily powers through and around his opponents. I haven't had the chance to look at other videos for him, but he's mighty impressive from the tape I saw.
Last time I checked, the KHL was based in Russia. And the RSL before it. Therefore, when a player -- very usually Russian -- drops in the draft due to valid concerns he won't report with any haste...it is called the Russian Factor. There doesn't seem to be any xenophobia involved, unless I'm missing something. To avoid calling it that seems like a hilarious attempt to avoid being politically incorrect.
My point is that Russians who play in the CHL generally have no drop in draft position. Yakupov went first. Not all Russians want to bolt for the KHL. Usually the only ones who have concerns like that are the ones already playing in Russia their draft year. Hence, KHL-factor, not Russian-factor.
