If either of the 2 players fall to 25, you take them and run. Now I can see having hesitations picking either guy in the 10-24 range but by 25th pick both are swing for the fences type guys that can pay off big time(compared to picking some 4th line mucker)
LD Nikita Zadorov (2013, 16th, BUF; traded to COL)
- Thread starter HockeySauce
- Start date
If either of the 2 players fall to 25, you take them and run. Now I can see having hesitations picking either guy in the 10-24 range but by 25th pick both are swing for the fences type guys that can pay off big time(compared to picking some 4th line mucker)
Sundinisagod
****
^^^^
Aint nobody got time fo that!!
Risto's complete package over that baby Giraffe any day. Lol.
Aint nobody got time fo that!!
Risto's complete package over that baby Giraffe any day. Lol.
That is assuming there is guys in the 2nd round I assume have more upside left. I really wouldn't want to touch Zadorov. I prefer a guy like Nic Petan, Hartman or Madison Bowey to these 2 at around 25 if they're still left. Just IMO though.
The Winter Soldier
Registered User
- Apr 4, 2011
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He's a big kid with all the tools scouts love, when he fills out he will be like a Chara 2.0 if you are to compare a player. Chara when he was younger had to learn the game also, and this is a player that if you are patient with, has the potential to be a very good defenceman.
Only problem with guys like that is you don't start seeing dividends till they like 24-25
Coaches Coroner
Member
- Mar 12, 2009
- 7,600
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Was pretty jealous to see the Sabres got Ristolainen and Zadorov. If one of them pans out, they did well. If they both pan out, they have a real nice blueline.
UsernameWasTaken
Let's Go Hawks!
I thought he's played very well so far tonight (at least, for a period and a half). How has the rest of training camp been for him?
CaptPantalones
Registered User
He's been incredible. Better than Risto IMO though Risto has been good. Physical, uses his stick and size well to knock the puck away, good offensively. I'm so excited for this kid, him and Myers were amazing tonight. I want him back in London playing in the WJC and Memorial Cup but if he keeps playing like this... All bets are off.
Ready to eat crow when it comes to him Zadorov. When I watched him in London last year I felt like the scouting reports on him were completely reversed. You could see that he was oozing offensive potential but looked lost in the defensive zone on most nights. Meanwhile scouts were saying he was steady defensively and lost offensively. I felt that he didn't have a lot of Hockey IQ there and obviously after watching Myers be good for half a season and terrible the other half year after year I was apprehensive about that aspect of his game.
But when he got to training camp into traverse and pre season he looked like a completely different player in his own zone. He's an incredibly smart player. I think at this point in their development he is better than Ristolainen at every aspect of the game and Ristolainen himself has been good for an 18 year old.
He's going to be an absolute nightmare for any forward in the league with average foot speed. Forwards will soon learn that you can not go between him and the boards. Think of Robyn Regehr in his prime and then make him one of the better skaters in the league instead of one of the worst and that is the potential Zadorov has as far as hitting goes. There's also a lot of offensive potential to his game. He's not going to be near perfect defensively every night like Pietrangelo or Brodin are or eventually Ekblad could be but god dammit he's going to be one of the most entertaining defensemen to watch on any given night.
But when he got to training camp into traverse and pre season he looked like a completely different player in his own zone. He's an incredibly smart player. I think at this point in their development he is better than Ristolainen at every aspect of the game and Ristolainen himself has been good for an 18 year old.
He's going to be an absolute nightmare for any forward in the league with average foot speed. Forwards will soon learn that you can not go between him and the boards. Think of Robyn Regehr in his prime and then make him one of the better skaters in the league instead of one of the worst and that is the potential Zadorov has as far as hitting goes. There's also a lot of offensive potential to his game. He's not going to be near perfect defensively every night like Pietrangelo or Brodin are or eventually Ekblad could be but god dammit he's going to be one of the most entertaining defensemen to watch on any given night.
La Cosa Nostra
Caporegime
- Jun 25, 2009
- 14,136
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Love Zadorov. Sabres haven't had a dman this physical in years. Has thrown numerous monster checks already and looks real good.
I still wouldn't take Mantha now in the 1st round over a few guys taken after him, I really am not a fan of how he plays the game at all and his approach. Zadorov I didn't like most times I saw him last year - we'll see how he does over the rest of the year and goingforward. I wouldn't exactly be taking 15 or so games as gospel. I said I'd take Bowey, Petan or Hartman over them - I still don't feel wrong about saying that now at all.
BondraTime
Registered User
That is really gutsy. Really going against HUGE odds before the draft, and even bigger odds after evidence after the draft.
Stick to your guns I guess
That is really gutsy. Really going against HUGE odds before the draft, and even bigger odds after evidence after the draft.
Stick to your guns I guess
I've seen many games of Mantha literally not coming past his own blueline to suck goals and scoring chances. He has an NHL scoring shot already and is a great skater that gets to spots when he wants to, I will give him that.
I feel slightly more apprehensive about my Zadorov statement, but these are defensmen after all and while I don't feel 100% confident in my statement, for now I'll go with a season's worth of watching him over 4 games with the Sabres.
I have seen these guys play a fair amount and developed an opinion over the course of a season, I feel confident in my assessment to this point. Things can change and I could be really wrong, but that's where I am right now. The true test is in 5 years and even farther down the road to see where these players have progressed to, not 4 and 10 games. I won't be afraid to say when I'm wrong but I don't think I'm wrong yet.
You're right. It'll take time to see how these players pan out.
I respect your opinions because it sounds like you formed them from actually watching the players; not just looking at stat-lines.
NHL Dude 120
Registered User
So Sabers fans
1.What are the odds he stays up with Buffalo?I guess im worried that the Sabers are rushing their prospects ?
2. Lets say by the end of the season Buffalo and/or Rochester don't make the team, could he theoretically play for London in the memorial cup ?
3. Have Zadorov and Ristolainen ever played on the same Pairing ? It would be sweet if they ever play on the same pairing.
1.What are the odds he stays up with Buffalo?I guess im worried that the Sabers are rushing their prospects ?
2. Lets say by the end of the season Buffalo and/or Rochester don't make the team, could he theoretically play for London in the memorial cup ?
3. Have Zadorov and Ristolainen ever played on the same Pairing ? It would be sweet if they ever play on the same pairing.
JThorne
Stop accepting failure
1) Buffalo will give him more than 9 games. Especially if they have injuries or trade away Tallinder. Yes, there are plenty of AHL defensemen to call up but he's already here.
2) It isn't out of the realm of possibility. I want to say there's precedent with some prospects returning before but I can't think of any offhand.
3) Not on purpose. Maybe a bad shift change but so far it hasn't happened on purpose.
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