Around The NHL (Part XL)

[The Gloaming]

https://twitter.com/KatieStrangESPN/status/293802013202989057



Ah! Beaten to the punch.

Islanders have really ruined some prospects recently. Rushing to the NHL. Luckily, for the Isles sake, they were smart enough to send Strome back to Juniors.

I was hoping to see Strome/Reinhart ruined. But does anyone else think this AHL-CHL rule is stupid? What the hell is Strome going to learn scoring 2 PPG in a junior league? They should let kids like him play in the A a year early.

 

[Bluenote13]

I can't believe that Tarasenko's name appears in at least 4 separate threads on the first page of the RANGERS board. It's frickin' annoying.

Can we please just have the 'official Tarasenko thread' so the rest of us can ignore and avoid this stupidity?

Ignoring and avoiding the stupidity of that pick is not gonna be easy as both these players enter key points of their careers.

what will Tarasenko be when guys like Weber and Keith start being put on him like a shadow.

What happends when he gets an even better understanding of the league?

Forget the points for a second. Hitchcock is using him in all situations on a deep Blues team. Speaks volumes.

Potential deal in place for the the netminder


http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=414190



any idea who the team is and what player???

Tampa Bay maybe. Hedman?

We've allowed 9 goals in two games. Not exactly sure how that isn't the bigger problem.

I mean, sure, I guess if we added Tarsenko to our 3rd line we would have lost 6-5 which isn't quite as bad.

The PP would look alot better with a pure sniper.

The forwards and their lack of puck possesion contributes directly to the back on the heels defense we've seen these last two games. This team has little chemistry when on the offensive, even on the PP. At this point you hope over time it'll all straighten out and we'll be peaking at the right time. The price we pay for however long that takes is home ice advantage in the playoffs if it takes some time.

 

[haohmaru]

If we're looking in hindsight, you'd have to say that the NY Rangers had every right to be leary of drafting a Russian in the first round considering how that worked out for them the last time.

 

[haohmaru]

As far as Luongo - how about Philly for Bryz?

 

[Thirty One]

As far as Luongo - how about Philly for Bryz?

Why would Vancouver say yes?

 

[Samuel Culper III]

Exactly. So people are using 100% hindsight to prove a point. That's like saying I would win the lottery from today if I could put the numbers in tomorrow

The point is somebody still had the balls to use a top 20 pick on him and we didn't. He was a highly, highly touted prospect with a big stigma attached even though he stated in all his pre draft interviews that he would come over. He fell, we passed, he went a few spots later and now, 2 years down the road, he's a man of his word and the fact that he fell and so many teams passed out of fear when his scouting report clearly labeled him, even back then, as possibly the biggest potential star in the draft, just means a lot of GMs will regret not drafting him. I've stated countless times I'm not angry or bitter about it. I just think it was ill advised not to take the risk when the talent was so huge.

 

[haohmaru]

Why would Vancouver say yes?

Depends on the "other player", I would assume. Luongo's contract vs. his play are no walk in the park either.

 

[Bluenote13]

If we're looking in hindsight, you'd have to say that the NY Rangers had every right to be leary of drafting a Russian in the first round considering how that worked out for them the last time.

It wasnt just Cherepanov. It was right after the Zherdev and Alexei Semenov experiences that really ticked Sather.

And even so, you should never pass on the best player available.

Remember, Old Slats said it best - "you've got to be a lion"

 

[Trxjw]

The PP would look alot better with a pure sniper.

The forwards and their lack of puck possesion contributes directly to the back on the heels defense we've seen these last two games. This team has little chemistry when on the offensive, even on the PP. At this point you hope over time it'll all straighten out and we'll be peaking at the right time. The price we pay for however long that takes is home ice advantage in the playoffs if it takes some time.

A right handed one, maybe, but I'm not sure VT would be getting the same opportunities here as he is in St Louis.

I think the offense as a whole is grossly under performing right now. However, there's a pretty clear drop off on the right-side of our defense.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

If we're looking in hindsight, you'd have to say that the NY Rangers had every right to be leary of drafting a Russian in the first round considering how that worked out for them the last time.

STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP with this nonsense. This is garbage. 1 guy died and that scares wuss Sather forever. It's like people who don't fly because of a tiny chance a plain crashes.

 

[NYR Viper]

The point is somebody still had the balls to use a top 20 pick on him and we didn't. He was a highly, highly touted prospect with a big stigma attached even though he stated in all his pre draft interviews that he would come over. He fell, we passed, he went a few spots later and now, 2 years down the road, he's a man of his word and the fact that he fell and so many teams passed out of fear when his scouting report clearly labeled him, even back then, as possibly the biggest potential star in the draft, just means a lot of GMs will regret not drafting him. I've stated countless times I'm not angry or bitter about it. I just think it was ill advised not to take the risk when the talent was so huge.

Someone was willing to take a risk with their 2nd 1st rounder. There is a big difference attempting a home-run swing if you have already drafted a player you really like and are more comfortable with.

 

[Trxjw]

I can't blame Nino for being unhappy with the Islanders, but I highly doubt anything comes of this. If anything, Snow is going to make an example of him thanks to the Vishnovsky fiasco.

 

[Samuel Culper III]

Tarasenko's going to be a lot better than Schwartz too which is funny. I've said a million times I'm okay with McI and just think passing on such a huge talent, risk and all, was silly. Overall I hate the Russian stigma. I think these guys would be a lot more likely to come over and stay over if they weren't already being villainized by the NA media as a risk and a question mark by age 16.

 

[offdacrossbar]

Ignoring and avoiding the stupidity of that pick is not gonna be easy as both these players enter key points of their careers.



What happends when he gets an even better understanding of the league?

Forget the points for a second. Hitchcock is using him in all situations on a deep Blues team. Speaks volumes.



Tampa Bay maybe. Hedman?



The PP would look alot better with a pure sniper.

The forwards and their lack of puck possesion contributes directly to the back on the heels defense we've seen these last two games. This team has little chemistry when on the offensive, even on the PP. At this point you hope over time it'll all straighten out and we'll be peaking at the right time. The price we pay for however long that takes is home ice advantage in the playoffs if it takes some time.

all said with cutting edge logic presented in a flawless package.

theres a reason why bluenote is one of my favorite posters on this site.

kudos.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Tarasenko's going to be a lot better than Schwartz too which is funny. I've said a million times I'm okay with McI and just think passing on such a huge talent, risk and all, was silly. Overall I hate the Russian stigma. I think these guys would be a lot more likely to come over and stay over if they weren't already being villainized by the NA media as a risk and a question mark by age 16.

That's a good point. Russians have their character assassinated by the likes of Don Cherry and less extreme examples in the media. The KHL pays a lot of money to good players. I'm surprised they come here to be called soft primma donnas that don't care about playing defense and winning. They're treated like the lepers of the hockey community. Other Euros too but it's mostly the Russians.

 

[Samuel Culper III]

That's a good point. Russians have their character assassinated by the likes of Don Cherry and less extreme examples in the media. The KHL pays a lot of money to good players. I'm surprised they come here to be called soft primma donnas that don't care about playing defense and winning. They're treated like the lepers of the hockey community. Other Euros too but it's mostly the Russians.

I mean you've worked your whole childhood to be the best in the world at something. Draft day arrives and you're ranked at around #3 but you didn't leave home or the team that your father coaches to play NA juniors at 15 years old (like Yakupov did, for example) and so teams are passing on you left and right because you're Russian. Or you did leave your family, go live with strangers in Canada, learn a new language, adopt a new culture and TEAR it up as a rookie in NA only to be torn up by the media for not being as dominant in the playoffs (Grigorenko) and, once again, have teams pass on you left and right despite the fact that you were at one point the #1 ranked prospect in the world. Because you're Russian.

That sucks, IMO, and the stereotype gets perpetuated and these kids end up fulfilling it eventually because they're treated like lepers since before they're even drafted, like you said.

 

[frozenrubber]

Someone was willing to take a risk with their 2nd 1st rounder. There is a big difference attempting a home-run swing if you have already drafted a player you really like and are more comfortable with.

St. Louis traded David Rundblad, their 1st round pick from 2009 (previous draft) to draft Tarasenko. It wasn't like they had 2 1sts coming in and took a gamble.

St. Louis saw Tarasenko still on the board and traded w/ Ottawa to get the pick. It was a bold move, not a safe one.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I mean you've worked your whole childhood to be the best in the world at something. Draft day arrives and you're ranked at around #3 but you didn't leave home or the team that your father coaches to play NA juniors at 15 years old (like Yakupov did, for example) and so teams are passing on you left and right because you're Russian. Or you did leave your family, go live with strangers in Canada, learn a new language, adopt a new culture and TEAR it up as a rookie in NA only to be torn up by the media for not being as dominant in the playoffs (Grigorenko) and, once again, have teams pass on you left and right despite the fact that you were at one point the #1 ranked prospect in the world. Because you're Russian.

That sucks, IMO, and the stereotype gets perpetuated and these kids end up fulfilling it eventually because they're treated like lepers since before they're even drafted, like you said.

Bottom line, even if you look at established players if you're Canadian you're given the benefit of the doubt as a hard working good ole Canadian boy. If you're Russian you get criticized at the first mistake you make.

Imagine if it weren't Russian/North American, but it were Black/White.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

St. Louis traded David Rundblad, their 1st round pick from 2009 (previous draft) to draft Tarasenko. It wasn't like they had 2 1sts coming in and took a gamble.

St. Louis saw Tarasenko still on the board and traded w/ Ottawa to get the pick. It was a bold move, not a safe one.

I wonder when we'll be trading McIlrath for a good ole North American grinder.

 

[offdacrossbar]

That's a good point. Russians have their character assassinated by the likes of Don Cherry and less extreme examples in the media. The KHL pays a lot of money to good players. I'm surprised they come here to be called soft primma donnas that don't care about playing defense and winning. They're treated like the lepers of the hockey community. Other Euros too but it's mostly the Russians.

there have been examples recently of russians who have threatened to sit out, sat out or bolted back to the K. all that hurts. in some ways, the bad rap russian players have gotten has been somewhat earned.

guys like kabanov for example did some damage and the canadian media especially went off on him and tagged him the poster child for whiny, spoiled russian prima donas.

alex radulov was another guy who didnt help.

but then a guy like burmistrov comes along as you say... see, thats the guy.

bottom line, if you watched any of the russians at the worlds in buffalo- i was there, you would have seen a bunch of high end offensive talent. same with major junior, lots of good young russian prospects who can dazzle.

im kinda bummed thinking that we probably wont draft any of them.

 

[Samuel Culper III]

Bottom line, even if you look at established players if you're Canadian you're given the benefit of the doubt as a hard working good ole Canadian boy. If you're Russian you get criticized at the mistake you make.

Imagine if it weren't Russian/North American, but it were Black/White.

Exactly. Kovalchuk in the playoffs last year. Heartless. Thornton chokes every year. It's the team. He played through injury. Take your pick.

 

[Bluenote13]

I bet we keep seeing young Russians come here earlier.

When the cream of the crop makes the leap it turns heads. Galchenyuk, Grigerenko and Tarasenko are shifting the tide.

 

[Thirty One]

Exactly. Kovalchuk in the playoffs last year. Heartless. Thornton chokes every year. It's the team. He played through injury. Take your pick.

I don't remember any one saying Kovalchuk was heartless in the playoffs. Thornton got loads of criticism for his subpar playoff appearances. When he was a beast in the 2010-11 playoff, it was largely glossed over (including by you, it seems).

 

[Samuel Culper III]

Grig played junior here and Gally was raised in Wisconsin I think. And Grig's stock still fell. Unless you come over early as a show of good faith you're going to be climbing a steep hill. And it's a big decision to make at 16 years old.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

Exactly. Kovalchuk in the playoffs last year. Heartless. Thornton chokes every year. It's the team. He played through injury. Take your pick.

Now that's just wrong, because Thornton gets tons of **** for being a choke artist.