helicecopter said:
Probably i have not seen enough of Bouchard, but his potential looks to me to be overrated in this thread.
I would say Chistov could still be a first liner in the future, he has some special skills.
I'd really like to see what kind of special skills Chistov has that Bouchard doesn't possess. They are very comparable and Bouchard seems less prone to sulking. I understand that Chistov has not played under optimal circumstances but I can't say for sure Bouchard was brought the best way (I hate it when players make the jump to the NHL without deserving it) either.
They are both smallish, have the same kind of accuracy. Great vision, some nice moves. But smallish and not powerful dynamos on skates. In fact, they are strangely similar except Chistov was hyped beyond death in his draft year.
I saw Chistov before he was drafted, never understood what's supposedly so special about him. He looks to me exactly in the same class of player.
Chistov is exactly one year older and right now, they look like they are at the same point in development with a small edge for Bouchard despite the one-year handicap.
From their DOB, stature, style of play and skillset, they are two of the most similar players out there in their respective draft years. I find Chistov to react a little quicker and Bouchard to have more poise. Development-wise, Bouchard gets my vote at this point in time.
They took very different paths to the NHL which is why I find it interesting to keep an eye on their progress.
Ribeiro is a nice player to have on a middle-of-the pack team, but he is going to be a liability out there for the rest of his career or round out his game and lose some of his offensive efficiency. I'll take players who are smarter or have better tools before I pick him. But I'd like to give him one more season with the benefit of the doubt before I bet a house on this. Just my impressions.
The kind of risks this guy is taking, you have to flirt with 80-85 points and/or 30-35 goal to make this worth it.
You don't win Stanley Cups on irresponsible above average finesse skills.