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.




For Oiler prospect news and the 2013 or 2014 NHL draft watch, go to

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Oilers Aqcuire Jared Smithson

The Edmonton Oilers trade for Jared Smithson for a 4th round pick. He is a big body and will be a presence on the 4th and 3rd line.

More news to come...
   


Here are some stats from Smithson

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Oiler 'Trade Deadline' looming

With only about 23 hours or less remaining, the Oilers made a small trade today, moving out Dane Byers for Stafford. No fans, not Drew but some career minor leaguer. This is not a trade the typical Oiler fan has to even be thinking about. 

So who could be moved? Is anyone possible? Who do you think could go? What could we look for in return? All these questions will be answered quickly and swiftly. With the Oilers in a position to actually make the playoffs, I put the possibility of anything other then a 4th line forward or a 3rd line D  pairing at best as a 30% Chance. If they were to do something, here is my thoughts on the following possibilities....

A) Ryan Whitney;
This player was really a sure thing to go if we were missing the playoffs but now, Tamby has to show the dressing room he is wanting to win. With Ryan moving the puck much better as of late and the Oilers winning 75% of their games lately, how can you trade him now? To move him out now would mean you need another puck-moving d-man and nobody other then Streit is even a consideration. If Edmonton has a trading partner to do something with the Islanders then Whitney could be moved out. If not, he stays and provided he gives them a good playoff run, maybe then he can be resigned for 2 years at 3Million/per? 

B) Ales Hemsky;
Is a player that could possibly give you a 1st round draft pick but only to the right team that can work with his 5M for next year and may want to re-sign him for some more years. Likely Hemsky only goes out for a bigger more rugged winger? Unlike other people, I do not think Clowe should even be a option. His production has fallen and fallen big for a reason. Buyer beware is reading all over him! They will want something back now. Possibility of trade with BlueJackets? Maybe, but unlikely. Hemsky and a 2nd round pick plus prospect like Musil or Marincin for Ryan Johanson, the BlueJackets 3rd round pick? Possible, but unlikely something Columbus does. They like big Ryan but I have to say, I am not a big fan of his potential big league wise. Numbers have never been outstanding. His best upside to me is a Horcoff player in the future. Should they get him, they could play him on the wing in place of Hemsky? Or they Move Ryan Johanson onto Nail's spot on 3rd line and move Yakupov with Gagner and Paajarvi? 10% Chance?

C) Ryan Jones;
10% chance he even moves at all. Oilers lack his gritty style of play and is more valuable in his role then many others they have found in the past. If the Oilers feel he does not fit the team mold for next year then they may consider moving him for a prospect and a 3rd round pick? Can't see it happening

D) Khabby;
Glad to see his play has improved once again and could prove to be a great backup for a long playoff run. Who could want him? Bruins? Would be a great alternative. Chicago? I doubt they need a third. I could see St.Louis if their concerned about a unproven Jake Allen in playoffs and they have plenty the Oilers could use. Not likely trade partner but could work. I say 30% Chance Khabby can be moved out.

E) Magnus Paajarvi;
He is not going anywhere. They have been patient with him and he could be invaluable as a bigger forward who is really starting to mold into the player they expected. Even if he plays down a line eventually on the third line, Magnus won't be traded. Who do you replace his size, power and speed with?

F) Teemu Hartikainen;
10% Chance if the right deal comes along. Nino in NY could be a potential trade partner if the Oilers are concerned about Teemu eventually coming into his own in next year or so. Believe it or not, I could see a Teemu plus a 4th round pick for Nino straight across. Not sure , how I feel about it but as much as I like Teemu, I am not sure he can play aggressively and consistent enough to be in the Oilers top 9 and still become a championship team.

G) Mark Fistric;
5% Chance he goes the other way in a trade. We got him for his toughness and who would replace that when you need that kind of player? Exactly! Not going unless it was a high 2nd rounder and that is not very likely.

H) Theo Peckham;
30% Chance if someone is looking for a depth d-man these playoffs. Maybe a prospect or a 4th round pick? Seems to be odd man out but could work well on a team like Boston or Chcago.

Well Oiler fans, let's sit back and see what happens. If it's per normal for Tamby, he will make no moves and fans will rip him apart for being so passive. On the other hand, if he makes a bold move he will be very closely scrutinized. My guess? He makes no moves that could risk his job for next year.

And so we wait!!! tick, tick, tick, tick!


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Raising questions in "Oil Country"


Oilers teams, past and present have ranged from good to bad. These days? Very bad! There are lots of reasons to be excited, but far more reasons to be pretty frustrated and disgusted by the play of this team this year. Let's cover the area's to be disgusted and frustrated by...

1) Lack of scoring; No matter how you break it down, this team has to score more. PP, and 5 on 5 it needs to be scoring more with the talent that exists. Scoring is down this year from last year. Why? Not because the talent is less. Either this is a coaching issue with systems play or it's that this talent is not very elite. You pick! Got a different reason? Let us know under comments.

2) We keep getting told, this is a rebuild! Really? Have you seen Montreal this year? What about Florida in year's past? Maybe the Flyers after drafting 3rd OV? You see, no team has had 3 straight #1 OV draft picks and still struggled on the bottom. This may be a rebuild and maybe we do need to be more patient, but 4 straight years in the bottom 5 of the NHL is not acceptable. UNLESS.......

Could it be, this management team is trying to do the unthinkable and actually tank things to bring in elite talent? Sure, no one will say they are. Think about it, this management would be unacceptable in almost every other city in the NHL, yet they get the vote of confidence. Something is not adding up.

3) The Oilers are winning now, just relax! They are? A few wins here and there do not add up to a good season. Granted there has been a better team iced in the past while. Could it have anything to do with the demotion of Hordichuk and Eager? Maybe, maybe not! While the Oilers won't finish in the bottom 2 teams in the NHL this season, they could finish as low as 4th or 5th worst if they don't sustain what they are currently doing. A few injuries here or there and this season could be written off. As close as the Oilers are to making a playoff push this shortened season, they could just as easily soon be totally out of the playoff picture.

4) No good opportunities to trade for great players; Really? You buy that argument? Granted, it's not easy but that is no excuse for a GM to use when EVERY SINGLE GM in the league has the same restrictions and problems. All I keep hearing MSM say is, 'it's not easy to trade for good players". I guess that means it can't be done? Why is that not also a excuse in other NHL cities as well? Other teams make trades all the time. Some for good defensemen and others for big top 6 power forwards and others for elite talent. No more excuses, you can't keep all your favourite players and still build a championship team. Keep the ones that build your team and trade the ones who can bring the best back for your needs and yet the smallest loss. That's why they call it management. Here is hoping, that our PRO Scouting department get's better.

5) The way Coaching is using Nail Yakupov; Maybe coaching will not put him out at certain points of the game due to defensive awareness in a tight game or when your trying to preserve a win with 5 minutes left in a game but the whole game on a line with pluggers? Guess that teaches him better eh? That bewilders me. His one timer seems to never get set up for on the PP and that is when they even PLAY him on the PP. Say what? Yeah, his PP effectiveness is really on the right half wall with his one timer and if your not going to use him right, why did we waste a year of his ELC on a team that has lots of high end ELC ending back to back? When you need a goal to tie the game, why not have a offensive threat like Nail Yakupov out there. Coaching should take a look again at his goals and see how clutch he can be...I have liked him playing with Paajarvi and Gagner but please Krueger, don't play him on the fourth line or with pluggers again. It's a waste, might as well bench him.

So, you great hockey fans in Oil Country, my apologies for opinions that may not be suitable to some readers eyes but I have become very frustrated with the way this team handles things and I believe it's about time this team is held accountable for their poor results. Where do you start? From the top of management down....what did they do in St.Louis and recently in Columbus? I'm just saying. IN the meantime I will just 'keep my stick on the ice'.

revingev@twitter.com




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