Let's Go Blues

For all still interested, Tarasenko seems to be back in training after his shoulder injury. Not sure how soon he will be playing but he's traveled with his team for the first two games of their playoff series.

Without having followed him closely (and by that I mean just following what others have been posting about him on this board) it seems to me this year for him has not been exactly tantalizing. Especially with the shoulder injury and our recent acquisition of Stewart, it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't make the jump next year. Or if he does, we get him a solid AHL season under his belt before trying to get him in the bluenote.

I just want #57 back

with his play in the WJC, i have no doubt that he might be offered a slot in training camp next year to see how far he progresses. I think i will have a solid chance to replace the 4th line grinders on our team. if anything he would be most suitable for the third line since our first 2 lines are pretty rock solid.

Can we get a comparison, at this point, between Tarasenko and Ovechkin? I've heard that Tarasenko is ahead of Ovechkin in terms of development at this point in his career, but I can't imagine that could even be remotely true.

Here you go.
Of note: Sibir was 19th and 20th in 08-09 and 10-11 seasons. They are in 11th this season and made the playoffs. Dinamo was 7th, 7th, 6th and 1st in Ovie's years there.

glen a richter wrote:Can we get a comparison, at this point, between Tarasenko and Ovechkin? I've heard that Tarasenko is ahead of Ovechkin in terms of development at this point in his career, but I can't imagine that could even be remotely true.

Unless he comes in and scores 106 points, there's no way.

Ovechkin is a "great." Any comparisons to him or Crosby, etc are just pointless. NHL scouts typically don't miss someone THAT good THAT badly. Wishful thinking. Although I would never be more happy to be wrong.

From what I understand of the style of play over there he is doing very well. Does that mean it will translate to North American Hockey?? I guess that is the million dollar question but still a good work on digging up the comparison between the two commrade.

WaukeeBlues wrote:

glen a richter wrote:Can we get a comparison, at this point, between Tarasenko and Ovechkin? I've heard that Tarasenko is ahead of Ovechkin in terms of development at this point in his career, but I can't imagine that could even be remotely true.

Unless he comes in and scores 106 points, there's no way.

Ovechkin is a "great." Any comparisons to him or Crosby, etc are just pointless. NHL scouts typically don't miss someone THAT good THAT badly. Wishful thinking. Although I would never be more happy to be wrong.

That happens all of the time....and Detroit usually ends up drafting them in the 5th round.

cprice12 wrote:

WaukeeBlues wrote:

glen a richter wrote:Can we get a comparison, at this point, between Tarasenko and Ovechkin? I've heard that Tarasenko is ahead of Ovechkin in terms of development at this point in his career, but I can't imagine that could even be remotely true.

Unless he comes in and scores 106 points, there's no way.

Ovechkin is a "great." Any comparisons to him or Crosby, etc are just pointless. NHL scouts typically don't miss someone THAT good THAT badly. Wishful thinking. Although I would never be more happy to be wrong.

That happens all of the time....and Detroit usually ends up drafting them in the 5th round.

Oh, but that's because the Red Wings' scouts know what they are doing when they draft those players.

Comparisons to Ovechkin are a bit optimistic, but those numbers were fairly similar. I read or heard somewhere that Tarasenko was ranked as the number 3 talent in last year's draft, but was passed on because of concerns of him ever leaving the KHL.

cardsfan04 wrote:Comparisons to Ovechkin are a bit optimistic, but those numbers were fairly similar. I read or heard somewhere that Tarasenko was ranked as the number 3 talent in last year's draft, but was passed on because of concerns of him ever leaving the KHL.

Ding ding ding. Is he actually going to come over and play in the NHL???

He's actually been pretty vocal about wanting to play in the NHL (take that as seriously as you want). There's interviews of him saying it on youtube. That's the least of my worries about him.

And I've heard Army mention him in interviews 2 or 3 times now. In one from a couple months ago he said how much they want to have Tarasenko at camp this summer.

cprice12 wrote:

WaukeeBlues wrote:

glen a richter wrote:Can we get a comparison, at this point, between Tarasenko and Ovechkin? I've heard that Tarasenko is ahead of Ovechkin in terms of development at this point in his career, but I can't imagine that could even be remotely true.

Unless he comes in and scores 106 points, there's no way.

Ovechkin is a "great." Any comparisons to him or Crosby, etc are just pointless. NHL scouts typically don't miss someone THAT good THAT badly. Wishful thinking. Although I would never be more happy to be wrong.

That happens all of the time....and Detroit usually ends up drafting them in the 5th round.

You're telling me you wouldn't trade Zetterberg for Ovechkin in a heartbeat? Datsyuk? At the time they were drafted you couldn't deal them both COMBINED for Ovechkin. I'm talking draft-projections, not who the player ended up being.

I meant 'that good' as in "this is a guy that, with 99% probability, is going to blow up the NHL" good. Consensus #1 overall pick at the age of 16 good. Nobody shocked he came in and scored 100 points good.

Nobody the Wings have ever drafted since Yzerman (and arguably not even him) has fit that billing.

I'm talking the "once in a decade" type players that Ovechkin and Crosby clearly are. No- THOSE types do NOT happen all the time. If Tarasenko was that good there would be no debate about it because when Ovie and Crosby were taken first overall- there wasn't. There's zero comparison.

Malkin might be a better measuring stick.

cardsfan04 wrote:Malkin might be a better measuring stick.

If that happens, consider me happy.

the games I've seen Tarasenko play - he's like Oshie. Uses his body well, seems to have a non-stop motor, tends to win most puck battles on the boards, actually hits, and seems to have excellent awareness (knowing where his teammates are/or will be, when to shoot, and when to setup those teammates).

He will be a good fit for the Blues. Pair him up with Perron and a center - which is a missing piece right now - and see what happens.

theohall wrote:the games I've seen Tarasenko play - he's like Oshie. Uses his body well, seems to have a non-stop motor, tends to win most puck battles on the boards, actually hits, and seems to have excellent awareness (knowing where his teammates are/or will be, when to shoot, and when to setup those teammates).

I hope to god he has much better puck skills.

I love Oshie to death.....maybe my favorite Blues.....but he's a role guy.

Talking this guy up as the 3rd best in the draft....I hope...and have heard.....he brings a lot more offensive (or at least goal scoring) upside to the table then TJ.

If we got 3G and 5A in 5 games from role-players regularly, I would be ecstatic.

Oshie should have had 2 goals last night, but got robbed by some excellent goaltending from Schneider.

theohall wrote:If we got 3G and 5A in 5 games from role-players regularly, I would be ecstatic.

Oshie should have had 2 goals last night, but got robbed by some excellent goaltending from Schneider.

And before this hot streak he had 3 goals in 24 games. That's a 10.3 goals for the year pace.

Again..not knocking him, I love him, but he is not an elite scoring threat.

DaDitka wrote:

theohall wrote:If we got 3G and 5A in 5 games from role-players regularly, I would be ecstatic.

Oshie should have had 2 goals last night, but got robbed by some excellent goaltending from Schneider.

And before this hot streak he had 3 goals in 24 games. That's a 10.3 goals for the year pace.

Again..not knocking him, I love him, but he is not an elite scoring threat.

After coming off of a broken ankle. It takes time to get back up to speed. If Perron ever comes back, he won't be the same for 15-20 games either.

Not to mention consistently facing the other teams best defensive lines - until MacDonald returned. Guess what? When they can't focus on Oshie - he's not just another role-player.