The NHL Draft has become as busy, or dare I say busier, than the trade deadline when it comes to the rumors, and this year appears to be gearing up to be the craziest ever. Most of the trade rumors will be surrounding current NHL roster players (similar to the Jordon Staal trade from a year ago) but yesterday I learned of some serious discussions going on for teams trying to trade up into the top 5 picks.
Now you would think this would be the obvious lure of Seth Jones, Nathan MacKinnon or Jonathan Drouin, but actually I haven't yet heard a single, what I would consider "solid", rumor about any team trying to trade up to get any of those guys. I am not saying I won't hear those rumors, but so far all the talk when it comes to moving up is teams starting to jockey for a chance to draft top Russian Prospect Valeri Nichushkin.
Teams are salivating to get this kid...and as of now Tampa, Nashville, and Carolina appear to hold the key.
Tampa holds the #3 pick and while most feel Yzerman will look to Canadian Drouin, there has been a noticeable difference among some of my best sources since the recent combines in Toronto.
"Valeri Nichushkin looked like a man among boys," one scout noted adding, "If there was a Russian version of Eric Lindros this would be it."
Nichushkin also has recently made it clear that despite signing a two year deal with Dynamo he has an out clause that enables him to sign with an NHL team with the only contingency being Dynamo gets him back if he doesn't make the NHL team's roster.
So essentially Valeri Nichushkin will be playing either in the NHL next year or in the Russian Elite league....but with all this interest I would put all my rubles on the NHL.
Of the teams with the best shot at him, Nashville could probably use his skills the most, but may also be the most gun shy following the Radulov fiascos...however there really is no reason to look at Valeri Nichushkin in the same light as Radulov.
The Preds have honestly never had a player like Valeri Nichushkin. A monster winger who can take over games with strength, skating, and finesse. The Preds have basically made their living off of big, strong defensemen and speedy middle to smaller sized forwards...
"He's Malkin, but with more of a desire to use his size to his advantage and drive the net," another source added.
A look at the highlights below show that in no uncertain terms. He loves to drive the net and then once near the net he has remarkable quick cutting abilities and sweet finishing touch...even in traffic or while being dragged down.
I have always said Malkin has an unfair advantage in the NHL that he appears uncomfortable using on a consistent basis. Essentially, with all his strength, speed, puck control and power Geno could drive the net on almost every possession resulting in either a goal or a penalty because there are almost no NHL defenders who can stop "full speed ahead" Malkin legally by today's rule standards.
It would have been fun to see how many penalties Eric Lindros and of course before him, Mario, would have drawn were the rules the same in their era...
But back to the trade rumors. The Bolts, Preds and Hurricanes are going to be tempted by some serious offers. Not quite "Lindrosian" type of offers, but they could see as many as two current top six forwards and an a first round pick for the opportunity to draft Valeri Nichushkin and it will be interesting to see if the immediate gains of such an offer is enough to look past the immense upside of Nichushkin...
I will assure you of this...the draft will slow down after the first two picks and the GMs will be on their phones with vigor.
Who is considering making the move?
So far, Edmonton may be the most intriguing because they have a definite desire, a good first rounder of their own and plenty of good young to players to deal....but so does Philly, who I know has been looking at this kid for a long time and I was hearing the Flyers were the most likely team to "take a Flyer" on the kid at #11 even if he wasn't willing to leave the Dynamo for two more years. You can also add NJ, the draft host team, to the possibilities, because Lou "is absolutely struck by the kid" and Vancouver who I hear is "working up a very intriguing package to get into the top 3 or 4." Now, while the Canucks stuff is not exactly a scoop, what I was told "off the record" last week, but given the OK to talk about now (and don't ask me why I am allowed to now...it is a bigger mystery to me, but I will never betray a source's confidences) is the Canucks aren't targeting Drouin. They are putting the package out there with the hopes of grabbing Valeri Nichushkin.
And a look at these highlights below my tell you why...
More to come, including the UFA/Trade Rumor Chart (which is taking longer than expected because I have expanded the normal summer UFA chart to include names of players who could be moving via trade due to the ramping up of many more trade rumors than normal)
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