AmericanDream
Thank you Elon!
After making my Galchenyuk thread and talking about Yakupov and Grigorenko, I truly do wonder if we will see a Russian going first overall in the NHL draft in the next 5 years.
Now we all know how talented Yakupov is. He looks to be the best Russian prospect to come along in maybe 5 years, but does a team still take a risk and draft this kid #1 overall if he stays the best by next June?
Yakupov has come to North America to play in the CHL as a 16 year old, so that will help. But, he still has the Russian factor going against him, and I am simply not convinced that any team out there would take a risk on a Russian with that #1 overall spot IF there are other players that are close talent wise to Yakupov.
Other Russians have jumped to the CHL during or before their draft years, and some have gone back to the KHL after the draft for whatever the reason, so playing in the CHL is not a lock to stick here in the NHL.
Galchenyuk wont count as a Russian, as he played in the US, is born in the US, and came from a Belarus father and mother. If Galchenyuk went #1 overall, he would count for the US.
The same question applys with Grigorenko who is simply a stud as well. He and Yakupov have the talent to go #1 overall, but both might not go in the top 3 if teams still feel a bit leary of drafting a Russian that high.
The 2012 draft will also be a monster year for defensemen as Ebert, Murray, Reinhart, and Blujus are just some of the top kids for that draft that could go very high.
If we think about 2013 and beyond, does anyone see a Russian going #1 overall? Is there a kid out there that will just make a team have to take him no matter his nationality? Maybe Yakupov is that kid, but I just dont know at this point if a team will make that jump and pick a Russian #1 yet.
Thoughts?
Now we all know how talented Yakupov is. He looks to be the best Russian prospect to come along in maybe 5 years, but does a team still take a risk and draft this kid #1 overall if he stays the best by next June?
Yakupov has come to North America to play in the CHL as a 16 year old, so that will help. But, he still has the Russian factor going against him, and I am simply not convinced that any team out there would take a risk on a Russian with that #1 overall spot IF there are other players that are close talent wise to Yakupov.
Other Russians have jumped to the CHL during or before their draft years, and some have gone back to the KHL after the draft for whatever the reason, so playing in the CHL is not a lock to stick here in the NHL.
Galchenyuk wont count as a Russian, as he played in the US, is born in the US, and came from a Belarus father and mother. If Galchenyuk went #1 overall, he would count for the US.
The same question applys with Grigorenko who is simply a stud as well. He and Yakupov have the talent to go #1 overall, but both might not go in the top 3 if teams still feel a bit leary of drafting a Russian that high.
The 2012 draft will also be a monster year for defensemen as Ebert, Murray, Reinhart, and Blujus are just some of the top kids for that draft that could go very high.
If we think about 2013 and beyond, does anyone see a Russian going #1 overall? Is there a kid out there that will just make a team have to take him no matter his nationality? Maybe Yakupov is that kid, but I just dont know at this point if a team will make that jump and pick a Russian #1 yet.
Thoughts?