Thursday, April 4, 2013

REVS 2013 NHL DRAFT PROSPECTS #10.Valeri Nichushkin




REVS 2013 NHL DRAFT PROSPECTS:
1. Nathan Mackinnon
2. Seth Jones
3. Sean Monahan
4. Aleksander Barkov
5. Hunter Shinkaruk
6. Curtis Lazar
7.  Jonathan Drouin
8.  Ryan Pulock
9.  Elias Lindholm
10.  Valeri Nichushkin
11.  Anthony Duclair
12.  Max Domi
13.  J.T Compher
14.  Josh Morrissey,
15.   Adam Erne


At 6'4 and 204 lbs, Valeri could be a prospect that could very enticing to a team like the Edmonton Oilers. Why? Size for #1 and #2, for skill. At the World Jr's he showed the world his power like he was a man among boys. Oh yeah, that was the best boys of the nation of Canada, considered a hockey powerhouse in the world. While his stats do not stand out as strong as some of Edmonton's elite talent, his Overall game could be exactly what the Edmonton Oilers need going forward. While my rankings have changed slightly, Valeri will remain pretty close to his current ranking I started the year with, so no surprises from me on this player.


  Use/Embed statistics RSS feed
 SeasonTeamLeagueGPGATPPIM+/-    Postseas.GPGATPPIM+/- 
 2011-12 Belie Medvedi Chelyabinsk MHL3846106-10|       
  Russia U17 WHC-1753360|       
  Russia U18 WJC-18620201|       
  Russia U18/19 WJAC-1940002|       
 2012-13 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL1842606| Playoffs125160
  Chelmet Chelyabinsk VHL15821048|       
  Belie Medvedi Chelyabinsk MHL944804|       
  Russia U20 WJC-206112255|      

I know Edmonton would prefer to have a Big Centremen rather then a LW but hey, maybe you can keep Gagner as your 2nd line Centre if you got a big LW like Valeri playing for you on that 2nd line eventually.

What would the top 3 lines look like, one more season down the road?
Hall/Nugent-Hopkins/Eberle
Nichushkin/Gagner/Yakupov
Paajarvi/Horcoff/Hartikainen

Definitely would answer the size with speed and power and clutch play. Some rankings have him soaring up the standings for this 2013 draft but actually since he is signed in the KHL, it is possible like Malkin before , his game will be 1 or 2 years down the road. That may be enough to have some other teams shy away. Maybe with the elite talent the Oilers are compiling and fellow Russian Yakupov on the team, the Oilers could make a pitch to come earlier. Who knows, but if opportunity was there, I am sure the Oilers would be very interested in exploring this option. If the Oilers pick later then Top 15, Valeri will not be available anyway but it's always nice to dream about it. Again I state that the Oilers want a Centre and their preference in order will be MacKinnon/Barkov/Monahan/Lazar. If none of those players are available at Centre when the Oilers stand up to pick in the 1st round and Valeri is available? They will pick him.

Nichushkin has great size, and excellent speed and knows how to drive to the net hard. With a arsenal of offensive talent, Valeri can likely look much better dominating on a smaller ice surface. Has deceptive speed as well for a man as big as he is. Think of The Great Mario kind of deception. No comparison as players but just the deceptive speed.  His ability to use his body to protect the puck is outstanding, in fact he has drawn some comparisons to Jordon Staal.




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