32 votes and no one think's he's "pulling a filatov".

How many points do you see him scoring this year? Will he get many top 6 minutes? I think he'd be wasted in a 3rd line checking role although it would be great for him to learn that side of the game and probably what Hitch wants.

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Well he only said he wouldn't be surprised if that happened, not that it is likely or even probable, so really he wasn't saying much at all. The same could be said about every prospect other than maybe the 1st overall picks from the last decade.

st. louis roles a top-9 and tarasenko will find himself somewhere in the top-9. the big question is whether he gets PP time or not. my guess is that he will. it is a safe place that he can really utilize his skill. st. louis doesn't have anybody that can shoot the puck quite as good as tarasenko so it is a role that he can fill to help the team. hitch also had no hesitation putting schwartz out on the PP during his call-up late last year, so the fact that he is a rookie shouldn't hold him back. its a big transition for any rookie to adapt to the nhl game, even the tremendously skilled ones so i think that a prediction of 40 points (give or take) is a safe bet...

Pretty much. His talent is being overstated.

by whom???

Well the people who peg him as a potential 90 point player. And the Blues who just held a press conference for the guy (I don't think I have ever seen a press conference for a team's prospect coming to town - that's overkill). This is where you start to get into the territory of overhyping.

I have seen some people think he is a classic Russian forward with immense points upside, but I would not classify him as that. I don't think he has the skating like other Russians and I don't think he is as dynamic. He is more North-South as opposed to East-West, out of your seat-type play.

Not that that is bad by any means. I think he has similar potential to Landeskog. I'm not trying to shit on the guy. Being similar to Brown/a bit better than Brown/more consistent offensively than Brown is nothing to sneeze at.

There is basically no chance he flames out and becomes a 3rd/4th liner though, that's just crazy.

i actually agree with your take and basically stated it above. but, while he may not be as dynamic as a prototypical russian forward, he certainly brings more skill and finesse to the table than brown or landeskog. less power though...

i don't see a problem with having him sit down with the media. some markets need to be doing everything they can to get/keep fans excited... especially with a lockout looming.

I voted for the 1st one,as I see him as a dynamic player.I think he can be a top 5 player in the Nhl.I have been impressed as hell everytime I have seen him play.I don't own in any league,but I have tried like hell to get him.Just my opinion,but I really think this Russian is elite.

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Don't get me wrong he has a very good skill level and he should be safe to translate to the NHL in some capacity but I get a little gut feeling on him.

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here is a video of armstrong's thoughts on the kid.
basically all been said above...

oh, and his nickname isn't the tank...

http://video.blues.nhl.com/videocent...185909&lang=en