No niin.
Ensiksi nähtiin kauppa, jossa 18th & 79th vaihtuivat vuoroihin 22nd & 36th. Mielestäni oikein hyvä liike jos ja kun tuolla 18. vuorolla ei ollut mitään selvästi muita parempaa vaihtoehtoa mielessä.
Tuolla 22. vuorolla tarttui sitten venäläissentteri German Rubtsov. Valinta josta pidän ja paljon. Jonkusen maajoukkuepelin olen Rubtsovilta nähnyt ja on vaikuttanut hyvältä paketilta ajatellen vahvaa kahdensuunnan NHL sentteriä, joiden varaan menestyvää joukkueetta tulee pyrkiä rakentamaan. Todella kokonaisvaltainen, älykäs ja monipuolinen pelaaja korkella työmoraalilla. Pelaaja josta on helppo pitää.
Tässä muutamia poimintoja eri draft-guideista:
ESPN-Insider Corey Pronman (oli rankannut Rubtsovin sijalle 13):
"The well-rounded Rubtsov was the top player on the inaugural Russia under-18 team this season, and showed well in international play. Offensively, he has the traits one would expect of a top Russian prospect. He's an above-average skater, with a good first step and an easy stride. His skills aren't elite, but he shows good hands and is able to create space for himself. His hockey IQ is very impressive, as he displays great patience with the puck, sees his options well and always finds himself involved with the play. Rubtsov is a fierce competitor in puck battles and, despite having a lean frame, is able to win a fair amount of them. He's also a quality defensive center, who has been leaned on all season in critical defensive situations, and is often a threat to score shorthanded. Though he and the rest of his teammates were disqualified from the under-18 world championships, it's hard to see his draft stock slipping too much."
Future Consideration (olivat rankanneet venäläisen sijalle 20):
"STRENGTHS:
Rubtsov is a highly intelligent contributor all over the ice. He is a game-changer and a highly competitive kid. He can be a dominant puck-possession guy, a strong puck-distributor, a finisher, a defensive specialist and even a pest at times. He has strong skating ability, as he is fast and agile; he uses his skating on both sides of the puck. The Russian center plays a complete game and commits defensively, getting back and being hard on his man at all costs. Rubtsov gets back with speed and can break up plays unexpectedly from behind with a quick stick lift and puck scoop. He continuously makes great defensive plays before turning back up ice.
Rubtsov seems to always be on the puck, and when he is not, he is relentless in getting on it. He pounces on opportunities, taking advantage of loose pucks and time and space, and has an impressive ability to create something out of absolutely nothing. He is strong on the puck and possesses unexpected soft hands in tight. Rubtsov uses his size and strength to protect the puck and fend off incoming checks all while maintaining possession and getting himself in position to try a shot or pass. He uses his long reach to his advantage to break up plays as well as pull the puck back in tight to his body and away from opposing players; he also uses it to keep the puck a distance from the check, increasing his ability to protect it in open ice.
Rubtsov has deceptive speed and is quite shifty while moving full steam ahead, making excellent use of his edges to move laterally. He possesses incredible hockey sense, reading the play well and adapting accordingly, showing no quit in his game. Rubtsov picks his spots very well and has a high-velocity shot that he can get off as he moves toward the net, keeping the puck away from his body just enough to unload. He has a creative mind, and can find his man in traffic with crisp tape-to-tape passes. Rubtsov’s on-ice vision, awareness of the game and work ethic are probably his biggest strengths.
WEAKNESSES:
Well, there’s the Russian birth certificate thing, oh, and the Meldonium controversy that caused the entire Russian U18 squad to miss the IIHF World U18 Championships in North Dakota. While we don’t hold it against the player for taking a supplement that his coaches appointed him, it was too bad that many NHL teams could not get the last viewings they wanted of the talented Russian. It’s kind of nitpicking a little as Rubtsov is such a hard-working guy and tries to do everything well, but he will need some coaching and strength work on his faceoff ability. H does get involved iin physical battles, but not consistently as sometimes he would rather use his stick than finish a hit along the boards. Rubtsov would be better served to bring the physical element more consistently as he is a force when he is using his body and playing with an edge.
SCOUT’S QUOTE:
'He plays a 200-foot game, aware of his defensive duties and is always in good position to retrieve the puck, covering his man tightly in his own zone. A skilled playmaker who can make skilled passes to his linemates or take the puck himself. In the end, the uncontested best Russian prospect this year.'
NHL POTENTIAL: Top-Six Two-Way Center"
HockeyProspects (Rubtsov löytyi sijalta 16):
"As a 16yrs old Rubtsov had a secondary role at last year U18 Worlds and didn’t shine offensively, but this season he was put on center stage as the leader of Russian national team and was able to thrive in the bigger role. Unfortunately, to prevent the risk of testing positive to meldonium him and his teammates were prevented from taking part at this year event, but the fact he had already been able to impress on North American soil at the WJAC may help his case.
Rubtsov improved in different areas this year, he has looked more dynamic in his skating and more comfortable on the powerplay, showing he can efficiently dictate the play with the man advantage as well. At this point, there aren’t many flaws left in his game. He is the kind of player who seems to be always around the puck. His sense for the game paired with the work ethic he shows on the ice allows him to be consistently involved in the play, no matter if his team has possession or not. The way he pursues the puck time after time is impressive and his relentless backchecking through the neutral zone is often successful, when he targets and chases the puck carrier he is usually able to catch-up and engage sooner or later. He is a workhorse with an active stick that he uses to disrupt opponents’ plays on a consistent basis in just about every area of the ice.
When his team has the puck, Rubtsov is always there to support his linemates and keep the play alive. He has the puck protection ability and the stickhandling to gain time and make plays. He can drive the net, play an up-tempo game with great intensity, or slow it down when he feels the need in the neutral zone or he looks for options in the offensive zone. He has very good hands and is a smart passer able to take advantage of his strong vision. His offensive numbers may not be overly impressive, but need to be put in the perspective of his all around work, he does the heavy lifting for his linemates making them better and plays a lot on the penalty kill as well.German doesn’t possess blazing acceleration, but is a strong overall skater, with nice balance and a powerful motor that can generate good speed. He has a legit shot that he should probably use more. We would have liked to see him finish a bigger percentage of the scoring chances he had in our viewings, but that doesn’t seem enough not to consider him top-6 material. As a two-way center that projects to be relied in all situations he will probably need to improve in the faceoff circle, though. All in all, Rubtsov is a rare blend of skills, tenacity and hockey IQ, a prospect that has the likes of a terrific player in the making.
Quotable: “Loved his defensive game and work-ethic, but it took me half a year to be convinced on his offensive upside. Initially, I was very skeptical that he’d be anything more than just an o.k #3 center, though I would still have liked to have him on my team. The more I watched and the more I thought about it, I realized that he’s just a kid who gets it done against whatever opposition you put him up against. I have him as a #2 or a high-end 3# center now.” – HP Scout Nik Funa
Quotable: “It’s rare to see a 17 year old skilled center play such a mature, all around game. Rubtsov just drives puck possession for his team.“” – HP Scout Mik Portoni
Quotable: “Even Don Cherry will like the way this Russian prospect plays the game.” - HP Scout Mark Edwards
Quotable: “Interview was ok. Tough because it was through a translator and he gave a lot of one word answers.” - NHL Scout (Combine week)"