Stony Curtis
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- Sep 21, 2018
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But grainy footage exists!Yup. Some people claim that Lias Andersson is still out there on an NHL roster as well. It has yet to be proven.
But grainy footage exists!Yup. Some people claim that Lias Andersson is still out there on an NHL roster as well. It has yet to be proven.
Is it a Kaapo Kakko type situation where his defensive and possession game was so good he was worth keeping despite offensive underperformance? Did the Stars just never give up on him until the worst time?
That’s what people who haven’t followed his development arc closely don’t understand…Nuke didn’t “come out of nowhere” this season. He’s gone from great bottom six forechecked to incredible mid-six staple to line driving top six winger. He’s been fantastic “in his role” for three years now in Denver. He’s just gradually evolved his game, and the Avs had him start from scratch really - using his size, straight line speed and strength with a really incredible level of determination to make an impact even as his hands let him down. But he’s gradually reintroduced a higher level of finishing and ability to read the game on the offensive zone to become the two-way beast he is.His draft position warranted another GM taking a flyer on him. For the most part he was always a useful player in Colorado but just got better in every aspect every year.
He worked his way up the lineup, started as a 4th liner sometimes a healthy scratch, to 3rd liner, middle sixer, to where we are now playing on the top line on a Stanley Cup Champion.
He states in the interview how MacKinnon motivated him to be a better player. I think he worked heavily on his shot last offseason as well.
Not to mention he's a defensive beast and an absolute hound on the puck that will make you jump out of your seat with some of the stuff he does.
This is patently false. His defensive game in Dallas was awful.Aside from 2014-2015, when his missed all but 8 games due to injury, Nichushkin's only bad year was 2018-2019 (0 goals, 10 assists in 57GP).
He's basically been a 30-35 point two-way winger his entire career, aside from last season when he was reward with a big ice time jump (14:05 -> 19:02).
I haven't seen his defensive metrics from his Dallas days, but without a doubt that aspect of his game did not pass the smell test. He was not good defensively, at all.You have it wrong.
He didn't come back on a bargain bin contract. That came after. He returned from the KHL in 2018/19 on a 2 years, $2.95M per year deal with Dallas. Then got bought out after one year.
He signed with Colorado in the summer of 2019 after very nearly signing with the Islanders before that, but a late call from Sakic telling him to wait until Sakic got back from vacation before signing anything with anybody changed his mind to go with Colorado instead.... And the rest is history.
As for the OPs question. His defensive responsibility was always part of his game. He's had solid metrics for his entire career. But as he said in his recent interview, him and the coach in Dallas did not get along well at all(I believe it was Lindy Ruff), despite he and the Dallas GM having a great relationship.
But he also gave a lot of credit to Mackinnon and Bednar for him becoming the player he is now. He said in that interview in his first year in Colorado, seeing how hard Mackinnon worked not only on the ice but also off the ice even after games working out and stuff, working on his shot every day, etc. etc, he basically said to himself he doesn't have an excuse to not work just as hard if one of the best players in the game is working like that. So he started putting in serious work and that translated not only off the ice but on the ice as well. He became tenacious on the forecheck, back check, his shot has gotten way better, and he's basically legitimately transformed into a legit Top 6 forward with the working mindset of a 3rd line grinder.
He also mentioned Bednar a lot in his interview saying that he's an easy coach to want to play for, often very calm in his speech's and very fair to all players. He said whether you're a 4th line guy or 1st line guy you want to play and earn those minutes with Bednar.
But grainy footage exists!
This is patently false. His defensive game in Dallas was awful.
"Nobody's more disappointed than Val the way things went as far as scoring goals," Nill said. "Then on top of that, I sat down with the coaches and they're excited because they love how he's very responsible defensively. He's a big body, he skates well and didn't produce." "He's very sound defensively. Coaches had no problems with him killing penalties, defensive zone, they loved his game that way."
"While the 24-year-old was reliable in the defensive zone, there was ultimately too little production to justify a $2.95M cap hit.
Ex-Stars forward Valeri Nichushkin signs deal with Colorado Avalanche
A familiar face the Dallas Stars parted ways with this offseason has found a new home within the Central Division.On Monday, the Colorado Avalanche...www.dallasnews.com
Valeri Nichushkin’s buyout sends a message ahead of free agency: The Stars are shopping
The move saves Dallas $2.25 of cap room this season. Here's what they could do with it.theathletic.com
I haven't seen his defensive metrics from his Dallas days, but without a doubt that aspect of his game did not pass the smell test. He was not good defensively, at all.
Let's not rewrite history here. Those of us who watched his early career nightly know the difference in the player then vs now.
Is Kakko a good defensive player?Is it a Kaapo Kakko type situation where his defensive and possession game was so good he was worth keeping despite offensive underperformance? Did the Stars just never give up on him until the worst time?
Is Kakko a good defensive player?
Good for them!They talk about him as a second coming of Hossa on the Rangers board...
The title is a bit misleading because he had that one season where he only got 10 points. Aside from that season and 14-15 (where he barely played any games) he's always been on pace for 30+ points.
Ex-Stars forward Valeri Nichushkin signs deal with Colorado Avalanche
A familiar face the Dallas Stars parted ways with this offseason has found a new home within the Central Division.On Monday, the Colorado Avalanche...www.dallasnews.com
Valeri Nichushkin’s buyout sends a message ahead of free agency: The Stars are shopping
The move saves Dallas $2.25 of cap room this season. Here's what they could do with it.theathletic.com