Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Truly love this pick for you guys.
I think in five years he could be your best player if the pick works out. I had him ranked #2, and I seriously considered him at #1, although I reluctantly deferred to Celebrini's more complete game and equally incredible season.
I think people way too unfairly knock his size. He's 5'10 (I've seen 5'11 in some places too), not 5'4. That's small for the NHL, but it's like two inches below NHL average height. It's a weakness, not an overwhelming weakness. And his weight is something that is also a legit weakness, but that's usually one of the easiest things for an elite athlete to improve on compared to their actual ability for the sport.
Aside from that, I think he has all the hockey talent to be a true star. I think he can be Jack Hughes with a more complete two way game. He says Hughes is the player he models his game after. I also think he's going to stick at center. I think the people claiming he's a winger just do so because of his height and weight. Look at players like Hughes and Bedard who both play center in the NHL that are his size. At the same time, you guys might not need another center, but either way he should be able to be an NHL center.
The way he can dominate with the puck, has elite skating, and also plays defense makes me think he probably has the most potential of any player in this draft. Would not surprise me if he ends up the best player in the draft when all is said and done. Utah (and like five other teams that passed him over) are going to regret it. I cannot believe they could possibly be stupid enough to pick a similar player positionally out of the same league because of his last name over a much better hockey player at literally everything other than being 1-1.5 inches taller. I guess nepotism is alive and well in the NHL too.
I think in five years he could be your best player if the pick works out. I had him ranked #2, and I seriously considered him at #1, although I reluctantly deferred to Celebrini's more complete game and equally incredible season.
I think people way too unfairly knock his size. He's 5'10 (I've seen 5'11 in some places too), not 5'4. That's small for the NHL, but it's like two inches below NHL average height. It's a weakness, not an overwhelming weakness. And his weight is something that is also a legit weakness, but that's usually one of the easiest things for an elite athlete to improve on compared to their actual ability for the sport.
Aside from that, I think he has all the hockey talent to be a true star. I think he can be Jack Hughes with a more complete two way game. He says Hughes is the player he models his game after. I also think he's going to stick at center. I think the people claiming he's a winger just do so because of his height and weight. Look at players like Hughes and Bedard who both play center in the NHL that are his size. At the same time, you guys might not need another center, but either way he should be able to be an NHL center.
The way he can dominate with the puck, has elite skating, and also plays defense makes me think he probably has the most potential of any player in this draft. Would not surprise me if he ends up the best player in the draft when all is said and done. Utah (and like five other teams that passed him over) are going to regret it. I cannot believe they could possibly be stupid enough to pick a similar player positionally out of the same league because of his last name over a much better hockey player at literally everything other than being 1-1.5 inches taller. I guess nepotism is alive and well in the NHL too.