Player Discussion Valeri Nichushkin

[Satan]

I think he's talking about Nichushkin, not Nieuwendyk.

 

[Hull Fan]

I think he's talking about Nichushkin, not Nieuwendyk.

All right to put this squarely back on topic. Val plays either with Benn/Seguin or Spezza+whomever. Is Nichushkin over/under 50 points this season?

 

[OttMorrow]

I think Nuke is easily a 50-65 pt player this year.

 

[ElGuapo]

over

 

[Magic Mittens]

I'm gonna say 45-50. I see something like 24 goals and low 20' for assist

 

[Klockis]

Just like last season (had him at 25 points) I'm going low. 40 points.

 

[Nexus]

I'm happy if he breaks 50. Won't be dissapointed if he won't.

I'm guessing 40-45 points.

 

[MetalGodAOD*]

I'm guessing 0.5 PPG, so 35-40 depending on GPs.

 

[glovesave_35]

I think Nuke is easily a 50-65 pt player this year.

Easily is a stretch.

I'm maintaining my stance of not going in with too high of expectations with Nichushkin just yet. I'm hoping for 40-50. I'm interested to see how he progresses after a full NHL season plus an offseason to reflect on things.

 

[Hull Fan]

I'm expecting somewhere between 45-55 points. Familiarity with the NHL plus basically guaranteed top six duty should push his totals up. Not expecting the world but a normal growth curve trending up.

 

[glovesave_35]

I meant to say before, but I'm not terribly worried about the stats just yet. I'm far more interested to see how the other aspects of his game come along. How are his defensive reads, his back-checking, PP work, shift to shift intensity coming along? Those are more crucial for his development than racking up another 15 points playing with superstar/star players.

 

[Caseman]

Hopefully the number of games being demoted to the 3rd/4th line (even healthy scratched iirc) helped reinforce what is expected from him.

 

[Stars99Lobo37]

Hopefully the number of games being demoted to the 3rd/4th line (even healthy scratched iirc) helped reinforce what is expected from him.

Wasn't Lindy doing that because of how tired he looked? Thought he openly came out and mentioned that.

 

[Mr Misty]

It seemed like he and Peverly switched late in games to shore up the top line. I'm not sure if that is what this is referring to, but he should be well on his way in terms of earning Ruff's trust in late game situations.

 

[Caseman]

Wasn't Lindy doing that because of how tired he looked? Thought he openly came out and mentioned that.

I was thinking more earlier last season. Going off memory, though, so I could be wrong. Pretty sure Nuke had spent a game scratched and other games with limited minutes.

 

[Stars99Lobo37]

I was thinking more earlier last season. Going off memory, though, so I could be wrong. Pretty sure Nuke had spent a game scratched and other games with limited minutes.

He asked to be scratched any game he was. Literally that's how exhausted he was.

 

[Caseman]

He asked to be scratched any game he was. Literally that's how exhausted he was.

Ah, s'pose that was the reason. I thought this happened much earlier in the regular season campaign.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=25355

EDIT: This is probably what I had in mind: http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/10/15/4842036/stars-vs-avalanche-valeri-nichushkin-healthy-scratch Healthy scratch back in October when he was still getting his feet wet.

Back on point though, maybe he will better pace himself this year.

 

[glovesave_35]

Wasn't Lindy doing that because of how tired he looked? Thought he openly came out and mentioned that.

Plenty of those times his play warranted him getting fewer minutes in certain games. Call it being tired, call it not being up to the task that night. Whatever the case, I agree that playing minutes on those lower lines should also have served to reinforced his defensive responsibilities.

I'll give Nuke the benefit of the doubt about a lot of stuff his rookie year. That's such a young age to play in the NHL, the season is longer, he was run ragged from all the hockey he played leading up to the season, etc. But this next year I really expect to see fewer games where he goes long periods of time being unnoticeable, which was a frequent occurrence last year.

 

[Stars90]

I'm really expecting big things from Val. I'm not concerned as much with the points as his overall game, but I think he's going to take several steps forward this year and I hope he gets some power play time. No way he goes through a sophomore slump.

 

[FrailSwan]

Puck elevation alone could get him another 10-15 goals.

 

[Satan]

50 points this season would be terrific.

 

[beepeearr]

There was the game early in the season against Colorado were they sat him, I think I remember it being because they wanted him to watch a specific player and how he played, Duschene maybe.

Also, its been reported that Val was out on the ice a couple weeks ago working on elevating the puck, they had something blocking the lower part

 

[Clardz]

Also, its been reported that Val was out on the ice a couple weeks ago working on elevating the puck, they had something blocking the lower part

Probably a lot of work on his mechanics. In general but especially on his goals that were shot from a distance he tends to just kind of use a sweeping motion without really loading up the flex on the stick, instead of snapping it the way say Benn or Seguin normally do. He uses a Kreps/E28 toe hook so once adjusts his technique it shouldn't be much of a problem for him to rip ones right under the crossbar.

Might be working on things similar to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLr63oWYxWk#t=7m30s

 

[Troy McClure]

This is good. He had many chances last year where he was able to take the puck to the net but saw his opportunity die because he was unable to elevate the puck. He's end up pushing the puck along the ice and into the goalie's pads.

 

[OttMorrow]

Easily is a stretch.

I'm maintaining my stance of not going in with too high of expectations with Nichushkin just yet. I'm hoping for 40-50. I'm interested to see how he progresses after a full NHL season plus an offseason to reflect on things.

I don't think it's a stretch. Simply a year of development, practice with the English language, and gelling with the previous team members should put him at close to 50. Then add The Spezz Dispenser and Hemsky to the offensive mix and he's in the sweet spot of 50-65. Let's revisit this in January, but I think he's teed up have a breakout year.