Undrafted Russians

A few overage Russians (1988 birthdays) who were passed on twice are looking good at the WJC.

Viktor Tikhonov
Dmitri Sayustov
Evgeni Bodrov

From the little I watched of the Russia-Czech game, Sayustov caught my eye with a dazzling rush that resulted in him hitting both posts and the puck coming out.

What is the word on these three? You think teams will draft them this time around? You'd think so if there was any shot they would come over to NA.

WJC are overrated. Why waste a draft pick on a player that will not come over? And even if they will, this guys aren't elite talents, they are almost 20, and aren't even remarkable RSLers. Same story with T.Forsberg.

Tikhonov would certainly be worth it.

He's a bigger player that looks like he's finally putting all the tools together.

Same story with T.Forsberg.

Forsberg was injured for a big portion of the previous season and would probably have made it to Modo:s senior roster if he had been healthy.

thikonov has really impressed me. he looks awesome in the offensive zone......

he could be worth a late round pick if he is willing to come to NA...

I would definitely use a mid- to late-round pick on Tikhonov. He's lived and played in North America, plays hard, skates well and is showing he has good hands.

some teams should take a chance on them in the 4th round or something.

Bodrov has looked like a very good player in all the tournaments I have seen him in. If not for the transfer agreement I think he would have already been drafted.

Very good stickhandler
Good Vision
kills penalties

I think he has the makeings of a very good two-way third liner.

I would definitely use a mid- to late-round pick on Tikhonov. He's lived and played in North America, plays hard, skates well and is showing he has good hands.

I don't got a clue how he is off the ice, but assuming he is a normal kid, IE atleast solid attitude, this kid must be worth a 1st roundeer IMO.

IMO, I don't think there have been a single player in this tournament who have been better then him. Not Patrik Berglund. Not JVR.

Tikhonov is both smart on the ice, and very talented. He don't got any flaws whatsoever on the ice, like many of the WJC standouts who aren't drafted have had. Tik got solid size.

I think the teams usually interview the kids and either gauge or flat out ask them whether they would be willing to come overseas.

If they seem like they'd be pretty likely to come over and are obviously a good-great player, they draft them. Maybe down a round or two, but they get drafted. If the kid says something like "I'll never play overseas, I hate it" then they don't bother.

I think the teams usually interview the kids and either gauge or flat out ask them whether they would be willing to come overseas.

If they seem like they'd be pretty likely to come over and are obviously a good-great player, they draft them. Maybe down a round or two, but they get drafted. If the kid says something like "I'll never play overseas, I hate it" then they don't bother.

Yeah, probably, that Shirokov kid a few years ago was also a very solid player who didn't get drafted, and if I remember correctly his willingness to come to NA was questioned...

But with Tikhonov? I don't know, it seems very few was drafted from Russia last season, and he have probably developed allot since then. People probably just missed him, though they only had 2 years to sign him and gambled on kids from other places instead.

The thing that makes me so high on him is that unlike virutally all WJC-success players that couldn't keep it up outside the tournament, like a Brandon Reid a couple of years ago, Linus Omark last season, and many many others -- all had big flaws, size et c; Victor Tikhonov got solid size (6'2), he was Russias by far best offensive player, but also their best PKer -- heck he could even be the best PKer in the entire tournament... And he is a coach dream on the ice in every other aspect, very smart on the ice, goes to the net hard, harder then I've seen any Russian the last handful of years at this level besides AO.

Not to mention that he is a rightshooting playmaker/sniper and is very poised on the PP. Coaches absolutely love that today -- in the game right now teams that can play a "wide" pp with players that can shoot and move the puck fast from both wings and the blueline, got allot of succes on the pp. Like Philly with Briere and Richards on either side for example. Tik would be perfect on the left side in a setup like that.

I am just a amature fan, but Tikhonov is among the better players I've seen in the entire tournament... And nobody can call me biased when it comes to him! ;) It will be interesting to see what the NHL teams does this comming season, but I personally got a hard time seeing how he not could be worth atleast a mid-late 1st rounder.

vasiliev

Viktor Tikhonov doesn't sound Russian at all........he talks like he's a kid from the USA.:amazed::biglaugh:

Interview at :45, then again at 1:05

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBLAWz0I3yc

With the lack of a transfer agreement there would be no reason to take a chance on any of these guys other than a flier in the last round.

Viktor Tikhonov doesn't sound Russian at all........he talks like he's a kid from the USA.:amazed::biglaugh:

Interview at :45, then again at 1:05

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBLAWz0I3yc

i think he is born and lived a feaw years somewhere in NA...

i think he is born and lived a feaw years somewhere in NA...

yeah he grew up in california for what its worth and i think hes one of the best players in the tournament... could be a similar situation to nikolai kulemin if someone decides to take him early in this years draft seeing how they have been passed over already in previous drafts

and he does look like one the best players in the tournament both offensivley and defensivley so he should get drafted if hes willing to come over to NA

With the lack of a transfer agreement there would be no reason to take a chance on any of these guys other than a flier in the last round.
The lack of a transfer agreement is largely a baloney excuse. NHL clubs managed to lure a total of 12 Russian prospects to North America this past offseason without it. If a player wants to leave, he will do so - who else apart from Malkin did an RSL club really cling on to for dear life? The problem consists of convincing the actual player to leave the comfort of home and financially competing with RSL teams for his services within the salary cap and entry level contract structures.

When it comes down to it, the lack of a transfer agreement benefits NHL teams in allowing them to maintain the rights of their Russian prospects until they hit UFA age. Very few players become NHL ready within two years of being drafted. And since NHL teams would have just as hard a time convincing Russian players to play in the AHL as they are experiencing now - drafting Russians WITH a transfer agreement would be even more pointless.

Viktor Tikhonov doesn't sound Russian at all........he talks like he's a kid from the USA.:amazed::biglaugh:

Interview at :45, then again at 1:05

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBLAWz0I3yc

It's an insult to those like him and me that can speak sevral languages without a cheezy accent! :)

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I'd like the Habs to throw a late rounder on Sayustov. He seems to have many tools.. a late blossom maybe. I'd definitly give it a try if he's still available in the 3rd or 4th round.

I don't got a clue how he is off the ice, but assuming he is a normal kid, IE atleast solid attitude, this kid must be worth a 1st roundeer IMO.

IMO, I don't think there have been a single player in this tournament who have been better then him. Not Patrik Berglund. Not JVR.

Tikhonov is both smart on the ice, and very talented. He don't got any flaws whatsoever on the ice, like many of the WJC standouts who aren't drafted have had. Tik got solid size.

a first rounder? Tikhonov? an undrafted Russian who has been seen countless times by scouts is worthy of being a first-round pick based on that fancy stickhandling rush? and he has no flaws?


He may get drafted - a longshot as he's an undrafted Russian, but it's a possibility that the Leafs will draft him - they like taking overage Russians...can't think of anyone else that does.

Seleznev has looked pretty good - should have been drafted last year.

I would take a chance on Tikhanov in the second round.....