Alexei Smirnov?

[westvandal]

Troy Alexander sends in the following on the Canucks: "Noticed a couple of players listed on the Canucks roster that weren't reported anywhere. 1. Alexei Smirnov - 1st round pick of the Mighty Ducks in 2000 - last played in the NHL in 2003-04 - spent last season with Omsk in Russia. 2. Steve Gainey - 3 round pick of the Dallas Stars in 1997 - spent last season in with Phoenix / San Antonio after a year in France. Smirnov could be interesting as he was highly touted, going number 12 overall, but he never lived up to expectations...maybe a year in Russia straightened him out."

I got this here http://spectorshockey.tripod.com/default.html at spector's hockey. I heard about the Steve Gainey invite but Smirnov?? anybody know about this? I didn't see it on the training camp roster thread, is it BS?

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=00051168

His offense seems limited but I guess at one point he was highly regarded. At first, I had him mized up with Chistov so I was excited....aaah well. Couldn't hurt to give him a try.

[tantalum]

He's on the prospects camp list so it's true.

That said this guy is the poster boy for first round bust.

[jchockey]

He's on the prospects camp list so it's true.

That said this guy is the poster boy for first round bust.

No, I think Patrik Stefan still holds that title.

[MarkMM]

Nathan Smith! Nathan Smith!

[tantalum]

He's on the prospects camp list so it's true.

That said this guy is the poster boy for first round bust.

No, I think Patrik Stefan still holds that title.

As a #1 pick maybe but he still has over 400 NHL games under his belt.

Smirnov has yet to score to score 10 goals or get more than 20 points in any pro hockey year. He's a 20 point AHLer. Stefan aas big a bust as he has been would probably light up the AHL. as he's a 30-40 point NHLer.

[MarkMM]

Hmm, that'd be a thread to do, worst draft pick ever, I'm sure the Canucks could make a decent showing...

[tantalum]

Really Anaheim has a potential back-to-back Russian first round busts in Smrinov and the following year Chistov (though did I hear Chistov was going to attend the Ducks camp this year?)

[tantalum]

wow a triple post somehow.

[tantalum]

....

[jchockey]

Chistov re-upped with the Ducks this year.

[tantalum]

Chistov re-upped with the Ducks this year.

Thought so. I'd imagine this is his last shot at North American hockey.

Great talent but so darn small. Perhaps the "new" NHL will suit him.

[The_Pauser]

Smirnov will either turn out to be a version of Vladmir Krutov (only instead of hot dogs he'll be on vodka), or he could turn out to be a serviceable NHL 2nd or 3rd liner. The jury is still out on him, but at 6'5" he's one mammoth of a hockey player. Give him some time to develop...this could pay off.

[Jester]

ooh, like the next Chara... Or Malik

[The_Pauser]

ooh, like the next Chara... Or Malik

Except he's a forward