How does Nickolaj Ehlers compare to Valeri Nichushkin?

[jdatb]

I remember last year that a lot of fans were disappointed that the Canucks passed over Nichushkin in favor of Horvat. However, this year we have a chance to draft a similar type of player to Nichushkin, namely Nick Ehlers. Does Ehlers compare favorably, or at all to Nichushkin?

[elvis15]

There's the same in that neither are Canucks prospects currently. Other than that, they aren't the same at all.

[JiffyPB]

Nichushkin was only passed over due to the "Russian factor." If he wasn't Russian, he would have not gone past 5th in that draft. He is also what people consider a "power forward."

Ehlers is a high risk high reward prospect due to his size and the fact the league he is lighting up is the Q, which isn't exactly the lowest scoring league in the CHL (not saying you can't get good players from there ie. Mantha, MacKinnon, etc). Ehlers definitely has talent but the question is how much of that is gonna translate and this is what makes picking him more risky.

[jdatb]

There's the same in that neither are Canucks prospects currently. Other than that, they aren't the same at all.

Where should I have posted this? General Hockey Discussion? I wasn't quite sure, as I'm a noob to this forum :\

[thad]

Nichushkin is twice the man Ehlers is.. Literally

[Rey]

I remember last year that a lot of fans were disappointed that the Canucks passed over Nichushkin in favor of Horvat. However, this year we have a chance to draft a similar type of player to Nichushkin, namely Nick Ehlers. Does Ehlers compare favorably, or at all to Nichushkin?

Not the same at all. Nichushkin plays a power game, has a huge frame, size, and skill package. Ehlers will rely on his speed and is considered undersized.

This draft sucks. Personally, even if i had the 1st overall pick. I'd trade it to see if you can get higher value for it. None of these players are franchise types, not yet anyways. Sure, they're players that can be important on a roster, but none of them are what you'd expect from their draft positions because the draft is so weak.

If Nischushkin was in this draft, even with the "Russian Factor". He'd be in the top 3, easily. The top 3 in this years draft are Reinhart, Bennett, and Ekblad. Reinhart seems like a potential 2nd liner. Benett is a power forward, who probably won't be ready to be in the NHL for a while. Ekblad will likely pan into a 2nd pair defense man, because he has no tools that stand out. Lots of what he is doing now, isn't likely to translate. You don't have "these" type of players, as potential 1st overall picks, in most drafts. Just a terrible draft. These three, would be 8-12 positions in the last draft.

B+ prospects in the top 3, B in the 4-5, B- in the 6-10, and it's a crap shoot afterwards. People can say Hindsight is 20/20, it may be true but that's why we can only judge them by how they've played, not how they'll progress and develop. Sure, someone could exceed all expectations, but no one can see the future. As it stands, this draft sucks.

[LeanBeef]

They aren't similar at all.

Virtanen is the closest to Nichuskin this draft, however Valeri is more skilled and a tad faster.

[Plum]

Valeri is alot bigger and more of a sniper/powerforward than Ehlers who is a finnese playmaker.

[Absent Canuck]

Ehlers is far faster both laterally and north south. Nischushkin is bigger and stronger. Ehlers is more tenacious in forechecking . Nischushkin is tougher to knock off the puck. Both see the ice well and both have an excellent shot.

They are excellent talents.

[R3aL]

[70seven]

Nichushkin was only passed over due to the "Russian factor." If he wasn't Russian, he would have not gone past 5th in that draft. He is also what people consider a "power forward."

Ehlers is a high risk high reward prospect due to his size and the fact the league he is lighting up is the Q, which isn't exactly the lowest scoring league in the CHL (not saying you can't get good players from there ie. Mantha, MacKinnon, etc). Ehlers definitely has talent but the question is how much of that is gonna translate and this is what makes picking him more risky.

He also plays with Jonathan Drouin.

[Plum]

He also plays with Jonathan Drouin.

He doesn't get his stats padded by Drouin.

[TOMapleLaughs]

He doesn't get his stats padded by Drouin.

In that most of his points in the playoffs have been coupled with Drouin's, yes he does.

They also get padded by the QMJHL itself. 11 goals scored by a team in a playoff game is utterly ridiculous.

The failure in drafting one-dimensional Ehlers would be that we passed on Nichushkin, a way better one-dimensional player.

[elvis15]

Where should I have posted this? General Hockey Discussion? I wasn't quite sure, as I'm a noob to this forum :\

Everyone has to start somewhere, so +1 for at least asking!

There's a great draft thread in the Canucks Prospects forum where you could ask these kinds of questions, or you could put it in the Junior Hockey Discussion forum (there are draft threads there too).

There's also all the redundant draft threads and even a specific Ehlers thread in Canucks Talk already, but I'd stick with one of the first two suggestions.

[Madness]

Ehlers and Drouin don't play on the same line.

[TOMapleLaughs]

Ehlers and Drouin don't play on the same line.

So how are they assisting on each others goals even-strength and power play?

When one player on a team scores 100pts and another also scores 100pts on the same team, um, that means they're assisting on each others goals. That's not rocket science.

Also heard the same talk about Fox, the overager. He's lead the OHL in goals this year and just happens to be on the same team as McDavid, projected phenom. 'Oh, but they're not on the same line.' Please... Many, many of Fox's goals have been primary assists of McDavid.

Both players are clearly benfactors. Why people even try to reason otherwise is confusing.

[Niloc009]

Ehlers and Drouin don't play on the same line.

While I do like Ehlers a lot, and he is tied in my top 3 with Ritchie and Nylander, don't forget that if he's on a different line, he can't be playing against the other team's top defensemen every night. Some teams will give Drouin the tough matchups, others will give it to Ehlers. Compare that to someone like Draisaitl who is the only offensive threat his team has, so he's constantly playing tough minutes.

[Robongo]

Not the same at all. Nichushkin plays a power game, has a huge frame, size, and skill package. Ehlers will rely on his speed and is considered undersized.

This draft sucks. Personally, even if i had the 1st overall pick. I'd trade it to see if you can get higher value for it. None of these players are franchise types, not yet anyways. Sure, they're players that can be important on a roster, but none of them are what you'd expect from their draft positions because the draft is so weak.

If Nischushkin was in this draft, even with the "Russian Factor". He'd be in the top 3, easily. The top 3 in this years draft are Reinhart, Bennett, and Ekblad. Reinhart seems like a potential 2nd liner. Benett is a power forward, who probably won't be ready to be in the NHL for a while. Ekblad will likely pan into a 2nd pair defense man, because he has no tools that stand out. Lots of what he is doing now, isn't likely to translate. You don't have "these" type of players, as potential 1st overall picks, in most drafts. Just a terrible draft. These three, would be 8-12 positions in the last draft.

B+ prospects in the top 3, B in the 4-5, B- in the 6-10, and it's a crap shoot afterwards. People can say Hindsight is 20/20, it may be true but that's why we can only judge them by how they've played, not how they'll progress and develop. Sure, someone could exceed all expectations, but no one can see the future. As it stands, this draft sucks.

You're seriously underestimating the top 3, even top 5 with Dal Colle and Draisaitl.

Reinhart has first line C potential for sure. His hockey IQ is off the charts, definitely at an elite level, awesome passer, he oozes leadership and He's an "A" prospect no question.

Same goes with Bennett; he's gritty, explosive , puts up a lot of points, fantastic two way game and is drawing comparisons to have a career path similar to Toews.

Ekblad has a bomb of a shot, pp qb, 6'4 220, a pretty good skater and reminds a lot of people of a young Shea Weber. He's supposed to be as sure fire of a pick in this draft, perhaps not a clear cut franchise player but he has the potential and most certainly will be a very solid no2.

Dal Colle is an all around stud, can do it all pk , pp, unbelievable shot, good size, vision. He's still only 17 years old and one of the younger players this year. Like reinhart he's destroying the playoffs points wise.

Leon draisaitl I haven't seen enough of but he sounds like a bigger taller Hank Sedin. Slows the game down when the pucks on his stick and is supposedly the best passer of the draft. Others have mentioned that he has 40 more points than second on his team which is pretty amazing!

If these five players aren't "A" prospects to you then I don't really know what else to say lol.

The only part that I can agree with is that there is a huge drop off after the top 10 and it's a total crapshoot thereafter.

[HunterHorvatBure]

You're seriously underestimating the top 3, even top 5 with Dal Colle and Draisaitl.

Reinhart has first line C potential for sure. His hockey IQ is off the charts, definitely at an elite level, awesome passer, he oozes leadership and He's an "A" prospect no question.

Same goes with Bennett; he's gritty, explosive , puts up a lot of points, fantastic two way game and is drawing comparisons to have a career path similar to Toews.

Ekblad has a bomb of a shot, pp qb, 6'4 220, a pretty good skater and reminds a lot of people of a young Shea Weber. He's supposed to be as sure fire of a pick in this draft, perhaps not a clear cut franchise player but he has the potential and most certainly will be a very solid no2.

Dal Colle is an all around stud, can do it all pk , pp, unbelievable shot, good size, vision. He's still only 17 years old and one of the younger players this year. Like reinhart he's destroying the playoffs points wise.

Leon draisaitl I haven't seen enough of but he sounds like a bigger taller Hank Sedin. Slows the game down when the pucks on his stick and is supposedly the best passer of the draft. Others have mentioned that he has 40 more points than second on his team which is pretty amazing!

If these five players aren't "A" prospects to you then I don't really know what else to say lol.

The only part that I can agree with is that there is a huge drop off after the top 10 and it's a total crapshoot thereafter.

I think he meant top 3'for vancouver's 6th

[BanTSN]

How is this silly thread not locked?

Nichushkin craps bigger than Ehlers.