Had Galchenyuk never injured his knee, he would have gone #1 overall.

I'm not stereotyping him based on the fact that he's Russian. I'm stating what's actually been said about him. And that's that he has come right out and said that he's going to just play his game the way he wants to and doesn't care what the coach says. That is an issue when you're a player that's on your ELC. You have to be a team player and know that the coach is trying to help you grow as a player.
- HonkFortheGoose

Nazim Kadri has had similar criticisms to Yakupov, although he wasn't first overall either.

You could have said the same thing about Washington and Pittsburgh back in 2004 and 2005. That's why the worst teams get those picks, to get players to turn a franchise around.
- buffalofan19

Unfortunately none of those players from 2012 have come close to doing that yet though.

So it's incredibly tough for me to say they made the wrong choice.

Someone tell me what Galchenyuk has done that he deserves no criticism? He was also in consideration for 1st-2nd overall. He has less goals and just 3 more points in more games, on a much better team.

They also didn't put him in a position to succeed overall either. Like DD said, he should have started on the wing, with some players that could skate. Would he still have some developing to do? Sure. Would he have looked like as much of a clueless liability? Most likely not. That being said, Grigorenko wasn't taken 1st overall. He fell to a double digit pick (was it 14?).
- buffalofan19

12

Girgensons was 14

Had Galchenyuk never injured his knee, he would have gone #1 overall.

I'm not stereotyping him based on the fact that he's Russian. I'm stating what's actually been said about him. And that's that he has come right out and said that he's going to just play his game the way he wants to and doesn't care what the coach says. That is an issue when you're a player that's on your ELC. You have to be a team player and know that the coach is trying to help you grow as a player.
- HonkFortheGoose

What has Galchenyuk done?

They also didn't put him in a position to succeed overall either. Like DD said, he should have started on the wing, with some players that could skate. Would he still have some developing to do? Sure. Would he have looked like as much of a clueless liability? Most likely not. That being said, Grigorenko wasn't taken 1st overall. He fell to a double digit pick (was it 14?).
- buffalofan19

12.


Again Grigorenko had that boom or bust potential. Hence why he fell.

They crammed him playing center down his throat when in fact he wasn't ready for that responsibility. Would things have been different if they played him on the wing? IMO yes, but he still wasn't ready for the NHL.

Unfortunately none of those players from 2012 have come close to doing that yet though.

So it's incredibly tough for me to say they made the wrong choice.

Someone tell me what Galchenyuk has done that he deserves no criticism? He was also in consideration for 1st-2nd overall. He has less goals and just 3 more points in more games, on a much better team.
- sbroads24

Galchenyuk also gets less ice time than Yakupov as well, although in large part because his team is better. Galchenyuk's downfall, if it occurs, will be health.

Nazim Kadri has had similar criticisms to Yakupov, although he wasn't first overall either.
- buffalofan19

Exactly. Is Yakupov a complete bust? No. Is he a bust in terms of being a 1st overall? Not yet, but he's on his way.

What has Filip Forsberg done that makes him this hot prospect, while Grigorenko is considered a bust by many?

What has Galchenyuk done?
- sbroads24

Not be Russian.

Galchenyuk ppg - .51
Yakupov ppg - .49


They are the same, one gets ripped for being terrible, other has done great things and is no the verge of becoming an all star.

What has Galchenyuk done?
- sbroads24

He's been put in a position to succeed as he wasn't thrust into a position to fail. He plays protected mins while learning the game.

What has Galchenyuk done?
- sbroads24

Well, he contributes on a team that made it to the playoffs. So, that's something.

Not to mention that even coming off of a bad knee injury, he made the team and was a contributor. Is he lighting it up? No. But Montreal is bringing him along nicely IMO. He's not out there running his yap about not listening to the coaches either.

Galchenyuk also gets less ice time than Yakupov as well, although in large part because his team is better. Galchenyuk's downfall, if it occurs, will be health.
- buffalofan19

They both averaged a little over 14 minutes this season

They both contributed very little

12.


Again Grigorenko had that boom or bust potential. Hence why he fell.

They crammed him playing center down his throat when in fact he wasn't ready for that responsibility. Would things have been different if they played him on the wing? IMO yes, but he still wasn't ready for the NHL.
- dadeadhead

I agree, but you can still be serviceable, even if you're not "ready". I'm a firm believer in the notion that either you have "it" or you don't, and that your development can be slowed, but not ruined if you do. Take Brian Campbell for example. He was a trainwreck early in his career, and probably could have used more time in the minors. However, eventually, he figured things out, became an all-star at one point, and is still one of the better puck-moving defensemen in the league. If Grigorenko's career is, in fact, ruined because he was in the NHL "too early", he never had it in the first place.

Not be Russian.

Galchenyuk ppg - .51
Yakupov ppg - .49


They are the same, one gets ripped for being terrible, other has done great things and is no the verge of becoming an all star.
- ImThatGuy

Well, Galchenyuk isn't playing with Taylor Hall and RNH either. His linemates are what I would consider to be less talented. They're not slouches, but not as talented as Hall or RNH.

Well, he contributes on a team that made it to the playoffs. So, that's something.

Not to mention that even coming off of a bad knee injury, he made the team and was a contributor. Is he lighting it up? No. But Montreal is bringing him along nicely IMO. He's not out there running his yap about not listening to the coaches either.
- HonkFortheGoose

So really its on the team that they play for then.

One is sheltering a player to get him to learn and has a good vet presence. The other said here you go, good luck.

Not be Russian.

Galchenyuk ppg - .51
Yakupov ppg - .49


They are the same, one gets ripped for being terrible, other has done great things and is no the verge of becoming an all star.
- ImThatGuy

Galchenyuk is Russian. I realize he played for Team USA in the World Juniors, because he could, but anyone he looks or listens to him has no doubt that he's Russian.

Happy NO Goal Day

Galchenyuk is Russian. I realize he played for Team USA in the World Juniors, because he could, but anyone he looks or listens to him has no doubt that he's Russian.
- buffalofan19

'Merika!

They both averaged a little over 14 minutes this season

They both contributed very little
- sbroads24

Like I said, though, Galchenyuk's health has a lot to do with that as well.

Galchenyuk is Russian. I realize he played for Team USA in the World Juniors, because he could, but anyone he looks or listens to him has no doubt that he's Russian.
- buffalofan19

He's learned the North American style of play his entire life though. IMO there's the difference.

Not be Russian.

Galchenyuk ppg - .51
Yakupov ppg - .49


They are the same, one gets ripped for being terrible, other has done great things and is no the verge of becoming an all star.
- ImThatGuy

Agreed

So really its on the team that they play for then.

One is sheltering a player to get him to learn and has a good vet presence. The other said here you go, good luck.
- ImThatGuy

Which is why Edmonton is still so bad.

Like I said, Yakupov has the talent he needs to be successful, he just needs to straighten out his attitude. And it's not a "Russian" thing, it's the "he's run his yap and made himself look bad" thing.

He's learned the North American style of play his entire life though. IMO there's the difference.
- dadeadhead

I wanted to say "if he looks like a Russian and smells like a Russian"...

Which is why Edmonton is still so bad.

Like I said, Yakupov has the talent he needs to be successful, he just needs to straighten out his attitude. And it's not a "Russian" thing, it's the "he's run his yap and made himself look bad" thing.
- HonkFortheGoose

"If you're going to talk the talk, then you gotta walk the walk"

He's not doing the latter.

Well, Galchenyuk isn't playing with Taylor Hall and RNH either. His linemates are what I would consider to be less talented. They're not slouches, but not as talented as Hall or RNH.
- HonkFortheGoose

Neither was Yak.