Jaded-Fan
Registered User
True, I have heard rumblings before when McPhee has appeared to be coy about taking AO, but I thought that it was just posturing to see if he gets blown away with an offer. This may be more of the same, but it is a bit more than has been said before and the tone is a bit different. We will see.
'There is debate about the depth of a class of youngsters that promises two "can't-miss" Russian stars at the top, a handful of top-flight goaltenders, three of whom could go in the top 15, and a whole lot of "what ifs" and "maybes" in the middle.
"The top two Russians are certainly big talents and they've certainly separated themselves," said Vaughn Karpan, director of amateur scouting and the point man at the Phoenix Coyotes' draft table.
"They stand in a class of their own," added Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford.
Already there is intrigue about the respective destinations of Alexander Ovechkin, a stunning talent at 6-foot-2 from Moscow Dynamo who, at 18, was named to Russia's World Cup of Hockey squad, and countryman Evgeni Malkin.
Ovechkin's coming has been foretold for the better part of two years, yet in recent days the Washington Capitals, owners of the coveted No. 1 pick, have surprised some by suggesting Malkin, a 6-foot-3 center may have shot past Ovechkin in their estimation.
Other scouts across the NHL share a similar view.'
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/draft2004/columns/story?id=1825607
'There is debate about the depth of a class of youngsters that promises two "can't-miss" Russian stars at the top, a handful of top-flight goaltenders, three of whom could go in the top 15, and a whole lot of "what ifs" and "maybes" in the middle.
"The top two Russians are certainly big talents and they've certainly separated themselves," said Vaughn Karpan, director of amateur scouting and the point man at the Phoenix Coyotes' draft table.
"They stand in a class of their own," added Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford.
Already there is intrigue about the respective destinations of Alexander Ovechkin, a stunning talent at 6-foot-2 from Moscow Dynamo who, at 18, was named to Russia's World Cup of Hockey squad, and countryman Evgeni Malkin.
Ovechkin's coming has been foretold for the better part of two years, yet in recent days the Washington Capitals, owners of the coveted No. 1 pick, have surprised some by suggesting Malkin, a 6-foot-3 center may have shot past Ovechkin in their estimation.
Other scouts across the NHL share a similar view.'
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/draft2004/columns/story?id=1825607