The Case For Khokhlachev

by Punch1943 on Jun 22, 2011 6:18 PM EDT

The Buds are looking to trade up in the upcoming draft but for whom. Alexander ‘The Great’ Khokhlachev of the Windsor Spitfires (born in Moscow) should probably be available around 15 if the Buds can get there ( I hope they do) and in my opinion he’s the guy they should target. He will end up as one of the youngest players drafted this year (turns 18 in early Sept). In his rookie year in the OHL he was +9 with 34 -42 -76 in 67 games and went 9-11-20 in 18 playoff games. He is very fast and elusive, played PP and with his great speed was very dangerous on the PK. At 5’10" 172 lbs this is a future NHL centre with great vision and good playmaking skills. I saw him play numerous times and he never disappointed. He has the ability to attract the puck. Punch1943

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Drafting a Russian in the 1st round

is a dangerous game. There’s always the risk he’ll get frustrated with not enough playing time / money and dash off to the KHL.

The fact that he played in the OHL (instead of Russian leagues) helps…. but if we’re trading up to 15 I’d rather grab McNeil… Argh will the draft just get here already!

Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.

by nhlcheapshot on Jun 22, 2011 8:10 PM EDT reply actions

Really ? a Risk? HHHhhhmmmmm....

Bure
Stastny’s
Ovechkin
Molginy

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by FLYERROB on Jun 22, 2011 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Really ? a Risk? HHHhhhmmmmm….
Bure – 4th round pick (was WORTH any risk)
Stastny’s – Peter was Slovak (Not Russian), Paul is American
Ovechkin – wouldn’t have gone #1 overall if he wasn’t a slam dunk to be coming to the NHL
Molginy – 3rd round pick, same reason as above

Rob… I never said they are all going to take off to Russia regardless of getting drafted, but yes it is a risk, especially in the 1st round. You want the highest chance to get a bonafide NHLer.

There are also plenty of other Russians that have stayed in the NHL and have been great – Malkin, Kovalchuk, Kulemin, Bryzgalov, etc.

But then you also have ones that start here, and then later realize there is a better payday / opportunity in Russia: Radulov, Yashin, Morozov… Afinogenov, now Frolov…

There are two good articles about this:

http://puckstopshere.blogspot.com/2007/11/declining-russian-presence-in-nhl.html

and

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2009-12-16-russian-players_N.htm

Again I’m not saying all Russians are guaranteed to jump to the KHL, or even use at as leverage in negotiations, but is it worth it to use a 1st round pick unless you’re absolutely SURE? I dont know…

Crazy would be NOT overanalyzing everything.

by nhlcheapshot on Jun 23, 2011 7:04 AM EDT up reply actions

i was referring to Petr and Anton Statsny .. Not Paul the son and American.

FLYERROB ! YOU STAY AWESOME FLYERS FANS ! www.naawayland.com Robert Wilson - I JUST GOT MARRIED May 07th 2011th !!!!

by FLYERROB on Jun 23, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

brataslava is nowhere near berlin

Y'all Heard About Me, You Just Didn't Know It was Me

by JaredFromLondon on Jun 23, 2011 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

dude… they are Brothers….. SO if one is Russian.. hello ???

BY the way thanks for mentioning Bryzgalov ! WE GOT HIM !!!

FLYERROB ! YOU STAY AWESOME FLYERS FANS ! www.naawayland.com Robert Wilson - I JUST GOT MARRIED May 07th 2011th !!!!

by FLYERROB on Jun 23, 2011 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

How the heck do you pronounce that last name ?

A.
C.
H.
Flemmmmmmm !!!!

FLYERROB ! YOU STAY AWESOME FLYERS FANS ! www.naawayland.com Robert Wilson - I JUST GOT MARRIED May 07th 2011th !!!!

by FLYERROB on Jun 22, 2011 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

Welcome

Thanks for joining Punch. This is a good idea but could use more fleshing out. Here’s the FanPost guide to give you an idea of what we’re looking for.

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by PPP on Jun 23, 2011 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

Bruins 2nd round pick

Drafting a Russian always brings a certain degree of risk. But using a second round choice on this kid makes great sense for the Bruins. The kid doesn’t need to be rushed and just adds to the stable of good prospects the Bruins have stock piled.

by JimT389 on Jun 26, 2011 9:43 AM EDT reply actions

i love this pick by the bruins

as for the sterotypes of russian players, i think they get a bad rap. so nik Zherdev and fitalov are brats. but does that mean every guy coming east of Germany is a locker room cancer? no and this guy has skillz to pay da billz

You know how I said my profile pic would always be an animal? well, Chara's a BEAST!

by muffinman2 on Jun 28, 2011 10:34 AM EDT reply actions