I mean, you can't use that he's "not Crosby" as a negative against him. Nobody is Crosby. But this kid is on Tavares/Stamkos/Hall/Yakupov level, and no team that picked those guys is regretting it. Jones might be great, yes. But d-men do bust more often than forwards when picked so early- there's a reason for that. Forwards are easier to predict. When a guy like MacKinnon is there, you pick him and don't look back.
- isles10289

Woah.. Yakupov is in the same sentence has Tavares and Stamkos?

Hall maybe..

Woah.. Yakupov is in the same sentence has Tavares and Stamkos?

Hall maybe..
- BetterCallSaul

I think Yak is going to better than Hall. Like Mark Walhberg in the other guys he's a peacock just needs to be allowed to spread his wings.

I think Yak is going to better than Hall. Like Mark Walhberg in the other guys he's a peacock just needs to be allowed to spread his wings.
- Lahey

Don't go chasing waterfalls, dude.

Don't go chasing waterfalls, dude.
- BetterCallSaul

I'm not. The kid has unreal talent.

I'm not. The kid has unreal talent.
- Lahey

We'll see. I have to disagree, though. I'm not sold on Yakupov yet, but if he pushes himself into elite status I'll admit I was wrong. Last years draft class was so muddled, with talent projections looking like a shotgun spray.

We'll see. I have to disagree, though. I'm not sold on Yakupov yet, but if he pushes himself into elite status I'll admit I was wrong. Last years draft class was so muddled, with talent projections looking like a shotgun spray.
- BetterCallSaul

What people need to keep in mind is last year he was given much oppurtunity. But that kid can play when given the chance. Way more aggressive than Hall as well.

What people need to keep in mind is last year he was given much oppurtunity. But that kid can play when given the chance. Way more aggressive than Hall as well.
- Lahey

I'll take your word on his aggression level versus Hall's. I think I'm more patient than most when it comes to developing prospects, I just have the opinion Yak planes out below expectations.

But hey, hopefully I'm wrong and Yak along with Rielly are the two best prospects from that year.

Galchen-who? haha.

Adam, i'm curious about Nichushkin... why didn't you have him at five? what's your evaluation of him?

Adam, i'm curious about Nichushkin... why didn't you have him at five? what's your evaluation of him?
- randycane

Inconsistent. He's got a mixture of size and speed dreams are made of, but he's inconsistent as all hell. His individual skill is excellent, he can bull his way through players or fly by them when he wants to. He just doesn't seem to want to often enough.

Personally I think he will go out of the top-5, just like Tarasenko and a few other high notable Russian players who were all rated as easy top-5 picks, or "they would never fall past 8 even with the Russian factor." Nichushkin has one distinct advantage though so I'll give him this, any team drafting him are thinking about him in a few years at 6'4 230 and not what he is right now.

I would want to trade down with Nashville.. maybe for Craig Smith or Colin Wilson and Ellis?!?!?!? Maybe... please?

Hey Frenchie

you should check out my latest mock and tell me what you think

http://my.hockeybuzz.com/...er_id=51280&post_id=14966

Hey Frenchie

you should check out my latest mock and tell me what you think

http://my.hockeybuzz.com/...er_id=51280&post_id=14966
- FLYERSROCK!

All I can say is that we have a few things eerily similar...and eerily dissimilar

All I can say is that we have a few things eerily similar...and eerily dissimilar
- AdamFrench

Thanks
I have a few bets going on... I only got 5/30 right in the 1st last year

Leaving Nichushkin out of the top 5. Interesting.
- Dirte

No stats to back up his top five rank. I agree with this. He's got great skills but he is very risky considering he has never put up points consistently.

I would want to trade down with Nashville.. maybe for Craig Smith or Colin Wilson and Ellis?!?!?!? Maybe... please?
- Panthers88

I would love for Nashville to trade up to their spot. I hope that RFA swap was Poile getting the bridge going between Nashville and Florida but I doubt it. Nashville is not in the position to sit and wait to see which player drops out of the top three (if Jones drops we're Poile's gonna need to trade back or bite the bullet) whereas Florida could use any one of the top four players. I think it's in their best interest to trade up.

Not for that price, obviously. Maybe Pontus Aberg/Brendan Leipsic/Mattias Ekholm and our fourth for the second.