Will Valabik ever resemble Chara

[Gottokeeponrisin]

His name was brought up quite frequently in the potential busts thread. It seems to be that alot of people have different opinions about him.

What do you guys think, not worthy of 10th overall in my opinion when you got guys like tukonen, radulov, and schremp left on the board.

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[insider]

players like him are usually projects

lets wait and see

 

[kmad]

players like him are usually projects

lets wait and see

They're both really tall so they obviously will play similar styles

 

[Legionnaire]

Both like play an edgy game, and like to fight too.

 

[Charge_Seven]

...I'm not sure how ugly Valabik is right now, but Chara has a nasty mug...I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone

In truth: I doubt it. Valabik capitalized on being a huge defender on draft day, I doubt he pans out like Chara did. But you never know.

 

[McDonald19]

I doubt it. He isn't productive at the junior level and he can't handle the faster players at that level. If he plays in the NHL it will be as a #6 d-man who is out there to intimidate and fight (example: Cairns, Erskine).

 

[Bileur]

His name was brought up quite frequently in the potential busts thread. It seems to be that alot of people have different opinions about him.

What do you guys think, not worthy of 10th overall in my opinion when you got guys like tukonen, radulov, and schremp left on the board.

Dont forget Andrej "not that much worse than Phaneuf" Meszaros

I'd say unless he has Chara's rediculous work ethic, then no there is no way he can do it.

 

[Hasbro]

Hard to believe there could be two people that ugly.

 

[Roy G Biv*]

Chara has dedicated his life to becoming mobile. His work ethic off the ice is probably second to none.

Unless Valabik makes the same kind of commitment, I doubt it.

 

[Twist and Shout]

He won't.

 

[Blind Gardien]

No chance, IMHO. Before this year, I expected Valabik to become the next Dan Focht. Big, tough. #10/#11 overall in the draft. Good chance to bust. Now... I can see him perhaps at best adding a bit of Kjell Samuelsson to that mix... still big, still nasty, but also perhaps an effective containment defenseman, not just a Cairns/Focht part-timer.

Mihalik shows a bit more Chara flash potential than Valabik, IMHO.

 

[Magnus Fulgur]

All of the Thrashers' defensive prospects are busts, imo including Coburn who just isn't a sharp kid. Popovic is our only decent D prospect, and considering that half of our D needs replacing soon our next draft needs to be D-heavy.

 

[Birko19]

I say we'll find out in a few years from now, I personally like the pick and think it's worth it (Even if Valabik becomes a bust), the idea is he has Chara potential, and every once in a while it's not a bad idea to take a gamble if you think the reward can be huge.

And for the love of God stop rambling on and on about how they passed on Meszaros, the reality is the Thrashers were not the only ones who passed on him, and to be more clear on Meszaros he looks good so far, but let's look in 5 years when all these kids develop then say if Meszaros is truely the best d-man in this draft or not, let's give some time and chance to Smid, Thelen, Barker, and even Valabik then decide who truely was the best d-man from the first round, a lot of prospects is what you call late bloomers while others are early bloomers, Meszaros is clearly an early bloomer and currently ahead of the others, but will he stay that way? who know's, I personally believe all the others have the potential to be better, so let's wait and see.

 

[superjonathan]

he's been 20 for under a month. give him some time. eveyone knew on draft day he was a project but seemed to forget that once everyone else in that draft started to produce. it's not like chara tore up the whl at the same age or anything.

that being said, i don't think he'll develop the offensive game that chara has but with hard work he could be a solid contributor to an nhl team.

 

[firstroundbust]

only if valabik would say "you rang, Mrs. Addammmmzzzzz?"

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I think the Thrashers reached on this one, especially where they selected him. He'll play in the NHL, but I don't see the upside. Horrible skater and a very limited offensive game.

 

[The Maltais Falcon]

All of the Thrashers' defensive prospects are busts, imo including Coburn who just isn't a sharp kid. Popovic is our only decent D prospect, and considering that half of our D needs replacing soon our next draft needs to be D-heavy.

Aren't you the same numbnuts who said Kari Lehtonen was a total bust - damaged goods that would never amount to anything?

Yeah, I think you are.

 

[willie]

I think the Thrashers reached on this one, especially where they selected him. He'll play in the NHL, but I don't see the upside. Horrible skater and a very limited offensive game.

Agreed. He's more Hal Gill than Zdeno Chara.

 

[Camden]

"Big Boris" has actually had a good year thus far. He has been very good defensively and has been a shutdown defender for Kitchener. He also has an attractive +16. Only has 9 PTS (1 goal) this year ... but he wasn't drafted for his offense. I guess an encouraging sign is that he won the "hardest shot" and in the World Juniors did quite well PT wise for Slovakia. You can see some talent there, but is definitely, very, very raw offensively.

I still find Valabik interesting. He is quite raw, but there is definitely talent there. When ATL drafted Boris, they knew he wasn't going to step in quickly, so IMO, it's way too early to call him a bust and way to early to guess his NHL future and who he compares to.

 

[Pete Rock]

Anyone who could have told you that Zdeno Chara was going to be the current Zdeno Chara is either: a) absolutely incredible at predicting prospect growth or b) owns a time machine.

 

[Don Draper]

Anyone who could have told you that Zdeno Chara was going to be the current Zdeno Chara is either: a) absolutely incredible at predicting prospect growth or b) owns a time machine.

thats why Chara was drafted as a goon opposed to a player. Valabik was drafted as a player, so the judgement against the thrashers is much tougher than that against the Isles and Sens.