At this stage in his career, at age 18, I think he has some upside that will propel him past Backes. I think he shows better hands, and he is able to spread his feet when he skates, which gives him a wide base and lowers his center of gravity, which few big guys like Backes can do. Backes is a bull who has good hands and hand-eye coordination, but he scores most of his goals based on bull power down low. Obviously, I have no way of knowing how this kid will turn out - he's only 18 - but he combines Backes' bull power with what looks to me like a lot more finesse and subtle stickhandling and shooting skills. He won't go in the top 5-7 because of the Russian factor, he's under contract to SKA, the richest team in the KHL. But I'm not sure what to think about the claim that "few ever make it" to Backes' level.
RW/C Alexander Dergachyov - Avangard Omsk, KHL (2015, 74th, LAK)
- Thread starter BakedBuffalo
- Start date
At this stage in his career, at age 18, I think he has some upside that will propel him past Backes. I think he shows better hands, and he is able to spread his feet when he skates, which gives him a wide base and lowers his center of gravity, which few big guys like Backes can do. Backes is a bull who has good hands and hand-eye coordination, but he scores most of his goals based on bull power down low. Obviously, I have no way of knowing how this kid will turn out - he's only 18 - but he combines Backes' bull power with what looks to me like a lot more finesse and subtle stickhandling and shooting skills. He won't go in the top 5-7 because of the Russian factor, he's under contract to SKA, the richest team in the KHL. But I'm not sure what to think about the claim that "few ever make it" to Backes' level.
Dergachev has the puck, controlling it as he skates back and forth behind the goal line, while Nurse is basically mugging him, trying to cross-check him off of the puck, but he can't make him budge. It looked like Nurse was getting a little embarrassed and frustrated, because Russians are supposed to go down easily, but this guy just wouldn't cooperate. Looked to me like Dergachev won the war!
TopT
Registered User
Caged Great
Registered User
Wow, you are extremely overrating Dergachyov. I don't see any elite skills except his boardwork. At the world juniors he was no more than a great workhorse. IMO his limit is second-third liner with 40-50 points per season.
Mike The Franchise
Registered User
I think comparing him to Alexander Frolov would be a good comparison especially with that almost elite puck protection he has.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Frolov 6'3
Unregistered User
You have been here the last 2 years.
Kings are not as popular anymore compared to the days they were a bottom feeder with multiple highly touted prospects.
Its not about winning here.
helicecopter
Registered User
Marc the Habs Fan
Moderator
- Apr 27, 2005
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Michael Farkas
Celebrate 68
Crouse clearly has more skill right now. Dergachyov, as overly simple as it sounds, is just a bet on "will he get good?" Because he is not overly skilled right now. He shows some flashes, but Crouse has more talent at the moment and the better upside. AD is a project.
If Crouse can up his "organic" or "dynamic" offensive traits a bit, you're looking at a poor man's Rick Nash maybe.
He has a lot of natural talent for a big guy. He has outstanding body control on his skates, and his hands are really excellent. He comes from the deep regions of Siberia, so no one knew him until the last couple of years. Its hard to say how well he turns out, especially because coming to NA at this stage turns some excellent prospects to crap. but talent is talent!
Michael Farkas
Celebrate 68
I agree Yakushev. You're talking to someone that had him ranked very highly on his list. Without looking, I think he ended up somewhere around 29 for me. I wish him the best. If LA is playing this same style when he gets there, it's going to impossible to get the puck from these guys!
Craig Button gave him just 2/5 for hands btw.
http://www.tsn.ca/alexander-dergachyov-centre-1.294030
Frolov 6'3
Unregistered User
This is kinda ironic. Craig Button for Christ's sake.
Craig Button is ****.That being said, Dergachyov must have some shortcomings otherwise he wouldnt be a 3rd round pick. His puck possesion skills look top notch already. Hopefully he can improve his shot and the Kings might have a nice 3rd liner. We'll see.
SuperUnknown
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- Mar 14, 2002
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It wouldn't be the first time that Button is out to lunch. Take his list with a grain of salt, he has a terrible track record.
- Apr 27, 2005
- 36,504
- 36,817
This is kinda ironic. Craig Button for Christ's sake.
That being said, Dergachyov must have some shortcomings otherwise he wouldnt be a 3rd round pick. His puck possesion skills look top notch already. Hopefully he can improve his shot and the Kings might have a nice 3rd liner. We'll see.
If his name was Alex Davis and he was playing in the OHL he would have been a 1st rounder IMO. Kid has tons of skill, excellent defensively, protects the puck extremely well, has good offensive vision, and is a beast on the forecheck.
Crouse has great hands in tight but actually doesn't protect the puck all that well for his size, and isn't a great puck carried in general. Dergachyev does those two critical skills much better than Crouse, and has better vision to boot, which is why he's got the higher offensive ceiling IMO.
That is the opinion of Craig Button, who ranked Dergachev No. 54, far behind Yevgeny Svechnikov, who he ranked No.18. And yet when Valery Bragin, coach of the Russian U20 team, evaluated both 18-year olds for placement on the U20 team, Svechnikov was eliminated immediately based on his poor performance in the Subway Series, while Dergachev ended up being a big contributor for the team. I wonder what Bragin saw that Craig Button didn't?
