LD Mikhail Sergachev (2016, 9th, MTL; traded to TBL)

[Street Hawk]

AINEC LOL Stop drinking the koolaid, Sergachev has a great IQ and will have played at least 160 NHL games before Juolevi will even sniff the league.

Sergachev likely plays a year, possibly 2 before Juolevi arrives.

Remember, 8 years ago Bogosian and Schenn played right after the draft, while Pieterangelo played an additional 2 years in the OHL. Fast forward 8 years and there is no comparison who you would take to build your team around. It's the guy you would wait the extra 2 years for.

I don't think it matters who is the better player in the NHL level between ages 18-21. It's who is going to be the better player between 21-33. Time will tell who that player will be.

OJ was listed at 6'2/6'3 and 183 lbs at the draft. Depending on his frame, he should fill out around the 200 lb range. Topping out at 205. His style of game doesn't require a massive frame. Eric and Jordan Staal are basically the same height, but Jordan has a good 20 lbs on his big brother.

 

[Quiksilver*]

Subban, Ozolinsh, Malakhov, Zubov, Burns, Prime Gonchar, Guy Lapointe.

Yikes. Good luck, kid.

 

[PAZ]

Juolevi thinks the game quicker and is a superior passer. These are the things that a defenseman is actually doing the majority of the time in a game. He does play a safe game but that just means he has more to give numbers-wise, as when he does pinch down or walk around a defender it always seems to work out.

Love Sergachev's shot though, that's an underrated quality. If you can shoot the puck hard and accurately that's often more valuable than flashy skills in a defenseman.

It's kind of like comparing Suter to Subban. Both are great defenseman, but with a completely different playstyle.

 

[Breakers]

Juolevi thinks the game quicker and is a superior passer. These are the things that a defenseman is actually doing the majority of the time in a game. He does play a safe game but that just means he has more to give numbers-wise, as when he does pinch down or walk around a defender it always seems to work out.

Love Sergachev's shot though, that's an underrated quality. If you can shoot the puck hard and accurately that's often more valuable than flashy skills in a defenseman.

That's what I was thinking is a good definition of Hockey IQ.

 

[Fantomas]

Juolevi is such a superior passer that he put up fewer assists, and roughly equal per game, on an offensively stacked team.

 

[Tim Raines]

Juolevi is such a superior passer that he put up fewer assists, and roughly equal per game, on an offensively stacked team.

Yeah, I think the whole Juolevi is a "better passer" thing is a bit of a fallacy. It's merely a reflection of a key difference in their game.

Juolevi realizes he can't skate through the team, nor does he have the deadly shot. So he almost always passes and head-manning it is 90% of his game. Sergachev knows he can rush it and he can drive a shot through the boards, so he selects those options much more often.

It gives the appearance that he's not as adept at passing, but in reality he just has more tools in his toolbox. Call that spin or call it perspective - I think it's just the reality.

 

[Gargyn]

Fans like to defend their picks, shocking. Had the Canucks picked Sergachev, they would have better arguments that he was the better defender. In the end, both should be good but Sergachev should be more dynamic and put up more points.

 

[covfefe]

Subban, Ozolinsh, Malakhov, Zubov, Burns, Prime Gonchar, Guy Lapointe.

Yikes. Good luck, kid.

I see a prime Larry Robinson myself

 

[kingdok]

I see a prime Larry Robinson myself

I see a mix of Bobby Orr, Eddie Shore and Rod Langway

 

[aresknights]

Juolevi is such a superior passer that he put up fewer assists, and roughly equal per game, on an offensively stacked team.

It also has to do with how the teams were built and how they attacked offensively. OJ was not burdened with having to drive the O from a points perspective. Sergachev was. The Spits relied on their D to help manufacture O, pinching, holding the O line, rushing the puck. London wanted crisp outlets to the F group who then carried the play.
On the PP Spits ran a lot of plays thru the D, London ran it thru the big 3 Fs. And OJ only got 1st unit time 1/2 the time with Mete n Bouchard taking turns.

Comparing points in jr without context of roles or systems isnt always an accurate reflection of a players talents/abilities.
Ive seen OJ play 80 games half live ( knights season tics) and Serg live@ 10x times and on tv another 10.

Both have a shot to be contribuotors in the show ( hoping Serg is better asa Habs fan)
Joulevi showed at the WJC he can contribute offemsively just fine when asked to do so.

 

[Tim Raines]

It also has to do with how the teams were built and how they attacked offensively. OJ was not burdened with having to drive the O from a points perspective. Sergachev was. The Spits relied on their D to help manufacture O, pinching, holding the O line, rushing the puck. London wanted crisp outlets to the F group who then carried the play.
On the PP Spits ran a lot of plays thru the D, London ran it thru the big 3 Fs. And OJ only got 1st unot tome 1/2 the time with Mete n Bouchard taking turns.

Comparing points in jr without context of roles or systems isnt always an accurate reflection of a players talents/abilities.
Ive seen OJ play 80 games half live ( knights season tics) and Serg live@ 10x times and on tv another 10.

Both have a shot to be contribuotors in the show ( hoping Serg is better asa Habs fan)
Joulevi showed at the WJC he can contribute offemsively just fine when asked to do so.

This is well said. It's very apples to oranges. It's like the nonsensical thread comparing Hab forwards to Sens on the main board. Most posters are focusing only on point totals. Unless you understand the varying systems and their impact on stats and play, it's hardly worth commenting.

 

[TT1]

Juolevi is such a superior passer that he put up fewer assists, and roughly equal per game, on an offensively stacked team.

Juolevi has been an offensive contributor throughout his career tho, he always plays 2-3 years above his age group in international tourney and puts up good numbers.

He also put up 32 pts in 44 games as a 16 year old in the U20 Jr.A-Liiga which is extremely impressive.. (Kuokkanen for example had 15 pts in 35 games in the same league last season, and hes a very good forward prospect).

 

[CanadienShark]

That's what I was thinking is a good definition of Hockey IQ.

I think hockey IQ is made from the ability of quick thinking, combined with good thinking; on average making an effective play. It's not that simple, but you get what I mean.

 

[SB164]

Sergachyov is training with Provorov this summer:

 

[Mr. Hab]

Sergachyov is training with Provorov this summer:

Thanks for pic (Sergachev to the RIGHT).

 

[The Great Weal]

Thanks for pic (Sergachev to the RIGHT).

Oh I thought he was the one in the middle

 

[Canadiens1958]

Comparables

It also has to do with how the teams were built and how they attacked offensively. OJ was not burdened with having to drive the O from a points perspective. Sergachev was. The Spits relied on their D to help manufacture O, pinching, holding the O line, rushing the puck. London wanted crisp outlets to the F group who then carried the play.
On the PP Spits ran a lot of plays thru the D, London ran it thru the big 3 Fs. And OJ only got 1st unit time 1/2 the time with Mete n Bouchard taking turns.

Comparing points in jr without context of roles or systems isnt always an accurate reflection of a players talents/abilities.
Ive seen OJ play 80 games half live ( knights season tics) and Serg live@ 10x times and on tv another 10.

Both have a shot to be contribuotors in the show ( hoping Serg is better asa Habs fan)
Joulevi showed at the WJC he can contribute offemsively just fine when asked to do so.

A few other comparables re OJ and MS. The assists on a per game comparison are a near wash OJ 0.579 vs MS 0.597. Explainable by by usage, offensive team structures as you pointed out plus the better shot --> MS got more rebound assists, junior goalies have pre NHL rebound control abilities, as opposed to playmaking assists.

Key variable is that MS played a fair amount of RD in Windsor. Projects as a LD in Montreal /NHL. Another interesting aspect is that at times MS plays like a forward(center?) converted to defence.Angels he takes coming back recall a young Larry Robinson or J.C Tremblay converted from forward(center) late in their junior, both had very reasonable NHL careers.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Oh I thought he was the one in the middle

No that's Juolevi

 

[Big Ed]

Oh I thought he was the one in the middle

Typical Habs player.

 

[kp61c]

Oh I thought he was the one in the middle

and has the same eyes as provorov. must be his little brother or something

 

[Mr. Hab]

Some comparisons from before the DRAFT...
(I hope everyone keeps their underwear/panties on...they're just comparisons...all fun observations!! take it with a grain of salt! cheers!):

I think this guy is the best dman after Chychrun by a significant margin. Fast, skilled and pretty reliable defensively. Like a quicker, bigger, better Provorov.

More like Werenski than Provorov imo.

Sergachev doesnt have any glaring weaknesses, thats what stands out about his game. He has good puck skills, skating, high hockey IQ (very good positionally).. he really is a complete 2 way dman.
Think of him as a Pietrangelo type player. Prototypical big, strong, minute munching 2 way dman (Ekblad or Hanifin type prospect.. of course they all have their uniqueness but he's that complete, dependable 2way dman).

Love love love this kids game.

I hate to make a comparison like this but does anyone else see some Nik Lidstrom in his game? Because I do

Honestly lidstrom is kind of pushing it, I do see some similarities though. Maybe more zubovish, I don't if anyone really agrees on that comparison though

For the all-aroundness and physical tools I've been comparing Sergachyov to Vladimir Malakhov, don't remember him making those puck rushes though.

Malakhov huh? I kinda like that comparison. Malakhov was very smooth skating and handling the puck, and had a big shot too.

It might not be Ekblad good, but he could probably be used like Seth Jones and Hanifin were in their rookie years.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Don't care about the haters, he's already in the HHOF in my mind.

 

[Patmac40]

Sergachyov is training with Provorov this summer:

Hopefully they don't go swimming after all that food. Good thing they have the lifeguard on duty with them. Safety first.

 

[Mr. Hab]

More comparisons from before the DRAFT...interesting!:

His skating, puck handling and especially his shot release look very similar to Letang.

Except Sergachev is big and can have a nasty edge.

I agree. Doesn't remind me of OEL at all. But he does remind me of a bigger, Russian version of Justin Faulk. And that bomb packs some serious punch!

There is some Bartkowski in his game. Given his development path, I think that can be coached out of him. Clearly an elite athlete with a great passion for the game. He could be a very solid top pairing D.

I like Sergachyov. He reminds me of Sandis Ozolins, in good and in bad. Very good offensive instincts.

Same. He started playing hockey when he was 11. Didn't know who Alex Ovechkin was until he was 14. Pretty interesting case. He's hands down the best D in this draft IMO.

Doesn't have any weaknesses. He's the 4th/5th best prospect in this draft IMO. I agree with the Seabrook / Ristolainen comparisons. He's that big, physical, shut-down defencemen every team covets.

Even with the Flames depth I'm still happy taking him.

Edit: he also shoots left but plays RD.

 

[Devourers]

Oh I thought he was the one in the middle

No, that's Juolevi

No that's Juolevi

Posted before I saw yours. Beat me to it