Staal, Zherdev or Horton?

[J17 Vs Proclamation]

Who would you rather have in the long run?
I also would like to know your thoughts on Staal. What is his ceiling and was he the best foward available in the draft.

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[Moskau]

Staal then Zherdev then Horton

 

[Captain Conservative]

Who would you rather have in the long run?
I also would like to know your thoughts on Staal. What is his ceiling and was he the best foward available in the draft.

I think Zherdev has more scoring potential than Mr.Staal, but Staal was probably top 5 in every category in the 2003 draft(i.e. skating, vision, stickhandling, shot) and I personally think he has a much better chance of reaching his full potential than Zherdev. I'd put Zherdev ahead of Horton because of the injury troubles Horton has had. All three are sublime prospects though.

 

[Vatican Roulette]

Who would you rather have in the long run?
I also would like to know your thoughts on Staal. What is his ceiling and was he the best foward available in the draft.

toss up between Zherdev and Horton. I've never been too high on Staal, just my opinion.

 

[CRAZY_FAN]

Staal for me, reminds me of a young Modano...!

 

[Bruins4Ever]

Zherdev. He seems to have that Jagr look about him, or Gaborik. The franchise winger, I really like his potential.

 

[Dr.Sens(e)]

Staal without much second thought. Zherdev and Horton are a toss-up to me. Lots of upside for all three, just more risk for the other two compared to Staal IMO.

 

[PigPen]

Staal. He's just so good at everything.

Zherdev could become a Kovalev type winger who scores close to or above a point per game.

Horton reminds me of a poor man's Jeff O'neil. Never been too high on any part of his game.

 

[PanthersRule96]

1)a Zherdev/Horton
1)b Staal

They're all so close. I prefer Zherdev and Horton to Staal though. I have never been overly high on Staal.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Staal. He's just so good at everything.

Zherdev could become a Kovalev type winger who scores close to or above a point per game.

Horton reminds me of a poor man's Jeff O'neil. Never been too high on any part of his game.

i think zherdev will end up being better than kovalev, so i would go with him.

 

[Chris]

I'll break the trend.

Horton, Zherdev, Staal.

 

[hfboardsuser]

While Horton is the kind of guy you can build a team around, Zherdev is a much better choice amusement-wise. His performance at the 2003-04 YoungStars game was like a Cherry compilation every shift. Obviously, he needs to settle it down a bit, but he's guaranteed to excite the fans no matter the score. There's always going to be a nagging hope in the minds of Jackets fans when they watch him that he'll do something absolutely mind-blowing with the puck, and that goes a long way towards filling the seats.

 

[Buffaloed]

I'd rank them: Zherdev, Staal, Horton. I think Horton will be a very solid core-type player, but the other 2 have star potential. I feel the same way about Bouwmeester and Pitkanen with the latter having star potential.

 

[neelynugs]

I'd rank them: Zherdev, Staal, Horton. I think Horton will be a very solid core-type player, but the other 2 have star potential. I feel the same way about Bouwmeester and Pitkanen with the latter having star potential.

you think pitkanen has star potential, but that bouwmeester will only be a solid core-type player? maybe i'm understanding you wrong, but i feel it's the opposite.

 

[Lionel Hutz]

I'd take Stall first, he's so well-rounded. He's going to be an all around star. Zherdev will no doubt be an elite sniper, but it seems he will be a bit one-dimensional.

 

[CanoeRider]

zherdev, horton, staal

like everyone else, i dont see staal as a big upgrade between these guyz. maybe he doesn't recieve enough fanfare, but he looks and seems like a quiet guy

 

[John Flyers Fan]

you think pitkanen has star potential, but that bouwmeester will only be a solid core-type player? maybe i'm understanding you wrong, but i feel it's the opposite.

Pitkanen is much better offensively than Bouwmeester. The key for Pitkanen is staying healthy.

 

[Buffaloed]

you think pitkanen has star potential, but that bouwmeester will only be a solid core-type player? maybe i'm understanding you wrong, but i feel it's the opposite.

You're not misunderstanding. We just don't agree. Only time, and the end of this stupid lockout will tell.

 

[PanthersRule96]

Pitkanen is much better offensively than Bouwmeester. The key for Pitkanen is staying healthy.

I dunno. He was in his rookie year, bt then again, he was on Philly and got offensive chances as opposed to Bouwmeester who had little room to go be offensive with the horrible play the panthers had at the end of the year.

I think Bouwmeester longterm has better offensive potential. I see Pitkanen as a lesser version of Lidstrom. I see Bouwmeester as an about equal version to Paul Coffey, Bouwmeester turning out better in the longrun. IN the World Cup, he was fantastic. He skates the puck up better than Pitkanen by far, but Pitkanen has better puck skills in the offensive zone IMO. It will be close but I think Overall, JBO will be much better than Joni.

 

[Lionel Hutz]

Pitkanen is much better offensively than Bouwmeester. The key for Pitkanen is staying healthy.

You're not misunderstanding. We just don't agree. Only time, and the end of this stupid lockout will tell.

Put me in the camp that thinks Bouwmeester will be a star. But you are right, his offence is not Pitkanen's.

 

[John Flyers Fan]

I dunno. He was in his rookie year, bt then again, he was on Philly and got offensive chances as opposed to Bouwmeester who had little room to go be offensive with the horrible play the panthers had at the end of the year.

I think Bouwmeester longterm has better offensive potential. I see Pitkanen as a lesser version of Lidstrom. I see Bouwmeester as an about equal version to Paul Coffey, Bouwmeester turning out better in the longrun. IN the World Cup, he was fantastic. He skates the puck up better than Pitkanen by far, but Pitkanen has better puck skills in the offensive zone IMO. It will be close but I think Overall, JBO will be much better than Joni.

JBo won't be in Paul Coffey's universe as an offensive player.

JBo is a better skater than Pitkanen, but closer than most would think. Pitkanen has a better shot and most importantly better vision and a better playmaker.

As to better talent surrounding him, yes Pitkanen has better talent, but the previous two seasons the Flyers PP ranked 28th and 21st. With no other additions other than Pitkanen, the Flyers PP ranked #1 all season, before slipping to #2 in the final week.

Also because Bouwmeester played on a weaker team, and doesn't have Ken Hitchcock as his coach he played 23 minutes a night, while Pitkanen played 16.5 minutes a night in Philly.

 

[John Flyers Fan]

Put me in the camp that thinks Bouwmeester will be a star. But you are right, his offence is not Pitkanen's.

I wasn't saying that Boumeester won't be a star, I think you'll see the two of them compete for Norris trophies in 5 years or so.

 

[Lionel Hutz]

I wasn't saying that Boumeester won't be a star, I think you'll see the two of them compete for Norris trophies in 5 years or so.

Sorry, that comment was for Buffaloed.

 

[X0ssbar]

While Horton is the kind of guy you can build a team around, Zherdev is a much better choice amusement-wise. His performance at the 2003-04 YoungStars game was like a Cherry compilation every shift. Obviously, he needs to settle it down a bit, but he's guaranteed to excite the fans no matter the score. There's always going to be a nagging hope in the minds of Jackets fans when they watch him that he'll do something absolutely mind-blowing with the puck, and that goes a long way towards filling the seats.

Excellent observation.

I've always said that right now Rick Nash brings new fans to Nationwide - Zherdev keeps them coming back.

Zherdev, Horton, Staal for me.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

This is a tough one for me since I'm a Jacket fan, but I have to say Staal. He's the most complete of the bunch. There is a reason why he was the first forward picked and he's done nothing to really change that in my opinion.

That said, I'm ecstatic with Zherdev. The guy is a show-stopper and the Jackets need scoring in the worst way (hopefully the franchise center will come along soon...)

None of this is meant as a knock on Horton either, who I still really like. With three guys this good, you look for excuses to downgrade one. For Horton, it's the injury bug. He's going to be a great one though.