If both Pulock and Nichushkin were on the board at 11, it'd be a tough choice for me.I would probably lean towards Pulock.
- Jsaquella

I dunno... Nichushkin is every bit as talented as MacKinnon and Drouin... I like Pulock, but it would be another Couturier kind of situation. They're more or less forced to take him, under BAP, if he falls into their laps.

Maatta with a turnover that leads to a goal

I dunno... Nichushkin is every bit as talented as MacKinnon and Drouin... I like Pulock, but it would be another Couturier kind of situation. They're more or less forced to take him, under BAP, if he falls into their laps.
- Tomahawk

It would suck tho because you still need to trade a forward for a D man and if you draft Nichushkin it's not like he is coming to the team right away like say Monahan, or Lindholm could.

The need is too large for D at this point anyway. Gotta take Best D man available first round. Take all the forwards you want after that. But the need is too large at this point and it's not a stretch to take Pulock or Ristolienen at 11. Gotta go D.

It would suck tho because you still need to trade a forward for a D man and if you draft Nichushkin it's not like he is coming to the team right away like say Monohan, or Lindholm could.

The need is too large for D at this point anyway. Gotta take Best D man available first round.
- hereticpride

No matter who they take in this year's 1st-round, they'd still have to "trade a forward for a D man" or some such thing. Even if they had taken Maatta (or another D) last year, he probably still wouldn't be able to really help them in 2013-14.

Also, pretend this is 2004 -- you'd take Andrew Ladd or Cam Barker over OV or Malkin just because you're not confident if/when they would cross the pond?

I dunno... Nichushkin is every bit as talented as MacKinnon and Drouin... I like Pulock, but it would be another Couturier kind of situation. They're more or less forced to take him, under BAP, if he falls into their laps.
- Tomahawk

It is similar to Couturier/Hamilton, it'd be hard to pick between the two. I lean towards OB's views, because he's more versed than I am in the prospects pool.

Of course, when they trade Couturier for Yandle at the draft, we can just nab Nichushkin anyhow

I'm doing a profile on Nichushkin now...

just a reminder:

I put together a few profiles of some of the potential Flyer 1st rd draft picks...I tried to consolidate information from a variety of sources and give my take...there are many links and yes, there are youtube videos! I'll try and add stuff as I find it, though I might be too lazy to do that, and I'm not being paid for it...so, yeah...

Anyway, I put them over in the Flyers forum section....for now, I have done three of the top Defensemen (not named Jones):

Darnell Nurse:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...read.php?thread_id=106806

Nikita Zadorov:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...read.php?thread_id=106797

Ryan Pulock:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...read.php?thread_id=106801
- exlund

Thanks for posting those..
Zadorov seems like he could be the next Chara and I would 100% be ok with that being on our team for the next however many years.

Maatta with a turnover that leads to a goal
- ob18

And then he scored a goal

No matter who they take in this year's 1st-round, they'd still have to "trade a forward for a D man" or some such thing. Even if they had taken Maatta (or another D) last year, he probably still wouldn't be able to really help them in 2013-14.
- Tomahawk

Should they select defense folks will just have to be patient, which for some will be tough

And then he scored a goal
- Jsaquella

And it was a blast during a 5 on 3

I dunno... Nichushkin is every bit as talented as MacKinnon and Drouin... I like Pulock, but it would be another Couturier kind of situation. They're more or less forced to take him, under BAP, if he falls into their laps.
- Tomahawk

While I am all about BAP, if you were to rate Nichushkin as a 9.0 but Pulock am 8.8, but Pulock fills a bigger need now and longterm... I think you go with Pulock. Granted that's a crapshoot because there is still no exact grading system, and hindsight is the only thing that is correct.

Nishushkin is a top 5 forward talent, but the Russian factor will knock him down regardless of what reports came from Russia, I still think me personally would go with Pulock if both were available.

And then he scored a goal
- Jsaquella

Very impressed with 2014 prospect Aaron Ekblad of Barrie in these playoffs. He was the 2nd in the OHL to receive the "special exemption" status

While I am all about BAP, if you were to rate Nichushkin as a 9.0 but Pulock am 8.8, but Pulock fills a bigger need now and longterm... I think you go with Pulock. Granted that's a crapshoot because there is still no exact grading system, and hindsight is the only thing that is correct.

Nishushkin is a top 5 forward talent, but the Russian factor will knock him down regardless of what reports came from Russia, I still think me personally would go with Pulock if both were available.
- GirouxForTheShow

By most estimations, the margin between Nichushkin and Pulock isn't that close, though.

Very impressed with 2014 prospect Aaron Ekblad of Barrie in these playoffs. He was the 2nd in the OHL to receive the "special exemption" status
- ob18

Was he in the parade to the sin bin yesterday? One of the OHL guys I follow was shredding the refs over the massive amount of Barrie penalties

Was he in the parade to the sin bin yesterday? One of the OHL guys I follow was shredding the refs over the massive amount of Barrie penalties
- Jsaquella

Yes he broke his stick cross checking the arm of Bo Horvat in the 2nd period but that was the only time for him.

Barrie earned them all they weren't crappy calls, some yeah could have been let go but these OHL refs tend to just call a lot at times.

What shocked me was Camara (Bruins pick) left his feet and gave Domi a head shot and wasn't suspended.

After 1

London - 2
Barrie - 2

Stolarz with 11 saves

While I am all about BAP, if you were to rate Nichushkin as a 9.0 but Pulock am 8.8, but Pulock fills a bigger need now and longterm... I think you go with Pulock. Granted that's a crapshoot because there is still no exact grading system, and hindsight is the only thing that is correct.

Nishushkin is a top 5 forward talent, but the Russian factor will knock him down regardless of what reports came from Russia, I still think me personally would go with Pulock if both were available.
- GirouxForTheShow

By the same token if they draft a Forward that's close to NHL ready. That gives them the flexibility to trade a player like a Brayden Schenn for that puck moving defenseman that they desperately need. Flyers need a high minute puck mover. Puck movement from the defense was a huge weakness this past Season. Drafting a forward could in the long run, help them with that issue.

By the same token if they draft a Forward that's close to NHL ready. That gives them the flexibility to trade a player like a Brayden Schenn for that puck moving defenseman that they desperately need. Flyers need a high minute puck mover. Puck movement from the defense was a huge weakness this past Season. Drafting a forward could in the long run, help them with that issue.
- MJL

Jones, MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov, & Monahan are to me the only ones who are NHL ready. But I'm sure some others will still get the 9 game look.

Jones, MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov, & Monahan are to me the only ones who are NHL ready. But I'm sure some others will still get the 9 game look.
- ob18

Well if they draft a Forward that may need some more Junior time. And they buyout Briere, and trade a player such as B Schenn for a defenseman. They may need to sign a forward or two as stopgaps. If they can find the right player cheaply.

Well if they draft a Forward that may need some more Junior time. And they buyout Briere, and trade a player such as B Schenn for a defenseman. They may need to sign a forward or two as stopgaps. If they can find the right player cheaply.
- MJL

Laughton would be one of those forwards.

Since you like HF ratings... I'll call it a 7.5C.
- Tomahawk

I know you're mocking me but I do actually prefer ratings this way thanks

In an interview taped during the intermission Zadorov says he likes to model his game after Pronger/Karlsson.

For those interested.

Granted that's a crapshoot because there is still no exact grading system, and hindsight is the only thing that is correct.
- GirouxForTheShow

Here's how I would view the prospects most talked about on here using Hockey's Future Player Ratings System:


Seth Jones 9.0B
Jonathan Drouin 8.5B
Nathan MacKinnon 8.0A
Aleksander Barkov 8.0B
Valeri Nichushkin 8.5C
Darnell Nurse 8.0C
Rasmus Ristolainen 7.5C
Sean Monahan 7.5B
Ryan Pulock 7.5B
Nikita Zadorov 7.0C
Josh Morrissey 7.0C
Max Domi 7.0B
Robert Hagg 7.0C

Laughton would be one of those forwards.
- ob18

I'm thinking more of scoring line forwards. Having to replace Briere and if they trade a player like Schenn.

I'm thinking more of scoring line forwards. Having to replace Briere and if they trade a player like Schenn.
- MJL

Who knows maybe he can help score

In an interview taped during the intermission Zadorov says he likes to model his game after Pronger/Karlsson.

For those interested.
- ob18

Pronger/Karlsson? I model my game after Gretzky/Tocchet