Where would you draft Ivan Miroshnichenko in rookie draft?

[snaxwell]

We're drafting in week and I hold the 9th overall pick in our rookie draft. I'm considering taking Miroshnichenko given his previous pedigree as a top 5 (top 3??) talent in the draft and my most trusted scout/writer's comparison of him to Landeskog (who is a HUGE stud in our league). With his health history is this too risky and should I go for someone more proven? Major props to him for overcoming something incredibly difficult, wishing him all the best.

Side note... any idea which prospects in this draft might be good multi-cat finds? Aka shots, hits and blocks in addition to points a la Brady Tkachuk?

[FinnishFlash]

Personally, I think he is a bit of a reach at #9 but I have seen him go that high.

He is unlikely to be there anywhere later than 17/18 I would think, so if you don't have another pick or the ability to trade down you may have to use #9 on him if you want him.

[Bubba55]

One of the intriguing aspects of this years draft may be how the current global situation impacts where the Russians will ultimately be drafted. A fair number of folks speculate that the Russians will indeed slip in the draft as NHL teams shy away from unknown potentialities. Unfortunately it's unlikely that a Russian is selected before your pick so you can't really judge on that, but if one is, Yurov for example, and you are sold on Miroshnichenko, then grab him. If that doesn't happen I'm more than happy to take guys like Kemmel or Jonathan Lekkerimaki with that 9th. Miro could well fall to you with your next pick.

[2014olympicgold]

It is out there that teams are approaching Russians different from other teams. Some have Russians in their normal draft positions, some have them lower on their draft board, some have them as Do-Not-Draft at all.

Should be interesting after the Kaprizov and Fedotov stuff though.

[fungchen3]

The "Russian factor" is a real thing again. Based on what we're seeing with Fedotov, Kaprizov, and the current conflict... I think Miro takes a hit in real life and fantasy. Plus the Hodgkin's.

That said, if you are picking in the 10-14 range, and you can stash him for a few years, Miro could pay off huge... the kid can score... A LOT!

As for comparisons, he reminds me more of a Tarasenko/Forsberg hybrid than Landeskog.

[2014olympicgold]

Back in February Miroshnichenko signed a deal to keep him in Russia until 2024. This stuff can typically be broken, but the way Russia is right now I doubt it. So whoever picks Miro, be aware he could very well not be in NA until 2024.

[Axeman33]

Generally speaking, I tend to avoid Russian kids at draft time due to various factors (KHL contracts, uncertainty of them coming across, etc) so I would have to see him fall dramatically before I'd even look at him.

[Daydream Nation]

Just too much uncertainty and too many other players I like so it'd probably be something in the 30s before I would get to him.