Hoot said:
Thanks steblick, that's almost exactly my take on them. Right now I have Tukonen fifth, as do many other Coyote fans on this board. Radulov's elite skills are intriguing though.
How far apart would you say that Tukonen's and Radulov's offensive skills are?
I think we are all starting to coalesce around the proper ranking of the top guys....Ovechkin and Malkin of course are 1-2,but then no consensus,as Olesz seems to have fallen a few slots,as most concede his 2003/04 was not a progression over his promise of a year earlier.....Tukonen's strong finish moves him up...And Radulov is right in there competing for the #3 ranking.....Schremp is there on some lists...Also it is hard to fit the only D-man candidate,Cam Barker as a possible pick in that slot....Nobody knows (probably not even CHI --YET) who they will pick...
In my own mind,I my final ranking of the top forwards would be:
1.Ovechkin
2.Malkin
3. Radulov
4. Tukonen
5.Schremp
I just don't think Olesz and Chipchura are in that top 5 grouping .......If Chicago does take a forward at #3 --IMO it should be one of Radulov,Tukonen or Schremp--Tukonen being the "safe" pickand maybe the better "fit" ,the other two more of a risk for differing reasons --but also with potentially greater impact......
BUT Chicago might also go the safe route and take Barker--adding to an already good stable of D-men prospects (Babchuck,Barinka,Seabrook etc...)--building from the back-end out (consider their tremendous young goalie stable of prospects too)--BUT post-poning the up-front needs (especially after the slow development of Yakubov,Vorobiev and Igor Radulov).......
Of course adding brother Alexander might help Igor return to the form whre he scored 7 goals in just a few games at the end of 2002/03 before faltering last year....On the other hand adding the solid 2-way Tukonen might "fit" smartly with fellow Finlander Ruutu .....
But also there are the monetary issues with the euro transfer fees likely to skyrocket as the NHL?IIHF agreement expires this summer---and we know $Bill Wirtz doesn't like to fork over extra dough--so the Hawks may stick to an NA prospect in Schremp (if a forward is wanted) or Barker the D-man...
So there are a plethora of issues and choices going into that #3 spot---the Hawks don't want to make a mistake,but chances are they may pick the wrong guy...They haven't had much luck with Russian forwards yet and "character" issues are said to be paramount --so that may mean they will avoid Radulov even though he may turn out to be an impact franchise player;I would gamble on that possibility--but then I'm not their GM ....so I'll "settle" for one of the others (my feeling is that they may just avoid the potential of any mistake at forward and take Barker,a "safer" choice in adding to that young stable of D-men prospects)--te old afage you can never have too many good D-men etc.. etc... except that: D-men don't fill stadiums--goal scoring forwards do ......oh well,the'll have to hope to get lucky and get Crosby next draft---nah --never happen...