It is time for the annual draft-eligible Russian prospects write-up (it is 10th annual write-up for me actually, so kind of a milestone), so let’s get right down to business. Some observations first though:
1. RW Matvei Michkov
Not even sure what I can write about such a well-known talent that Michkov is, maybe just a summary of pros and cons. His biggest strengths are the unique hockey sense and creativity, he obviously has an elite skill, is a goalscoring expert and I’d say due to all of his goals he also is an underrated playmaker. Less impressive is the skating, as it is not slow and he is very agile, but still it is far from great, also size is obviously not remarkable (yet I don’t see any issues here, as I expect him to become stronger) and he isn’t really your guy if you prefer two-way forwards. Another issue is with his character: while he is extra competitive apparently it has side-effects, as it was reported that frequently he was seen being pretty harsh towards the teammates and not everyone would like that. It might be a bit of a mean side, but I don’t think it is that much unusual for a player to be like that, not to mention that to be successful in the KHL for his next three contract seasons (yes, it should be expected that he fulfills those) he will have to apply some anger management whether he likes it or not.
2. LHD Mikhail Gulyayev
Gulyaev impresses with his effortless skating and attacking skills, that’s something that clearly shows that he got the potential to become a high-end puckmoving and puck-carrying defenseman. Pretty smart and creative, he still needs to be more reliable on his own end, but it doesn’t seem to be too worrisome. Size is the issue here though and it is not something that can be fixed much.
3. LW Daniil But
More than enough size in Danill But (just in case it is pronounced more like “Boot”) and he moves that size really well. Got a Malkinesque frame that he will need to still fill out, also extremely impressive reach and stickhandling combination and a precise right-handed shot. Works hard, yet I’m not sure his decision making is at the level that I would like it to be, so some maturing is required.
4. LHD Dmitry Simashev
Simashev possesses a high-end size and skating combination, processes the game well at both sides of the ice, also I actually like his shot. Might be not clear why I have him just outside of the first round then, but the reason is that I doubt the level of his skill, as it seems to me that it might be insufficient for a potential puckmover and if his potential is a good D yet mostly a stay-at-home one then it lowers the draft stock, as in that case I see the best case scenario for Simashev in turning into someone like Gavrikov.
5. LW Alexander Rykov
Rykov (just in case it is pronounced more like “Reekov”) might be my favorite prospect this year, he isn’t ranked too high usually because he is not the most athletic guy out there, but his game is based on the smarts and is very well rounded in all components — he needs to become stronger, maybe a bit better at the defensive side of things, but that’s pretty much everything I can think of.
6. RW Roman Kantserov
Kantserov has been an extremely consistent goalscorer during the last two years in the MHL, skillset and skating are there too and despite the modest size I’d say he is very stocky built. I have questions though, particularly about whether all that will translate to the pro hockey, as well as I’d say adding a two-way component to his game would be very useful, but it’s hard to deny the right kind of fancy attacking skill is there to consider him as a legit top prospect.
7. RW Yegor Rimashevskiy
A bit of similar case to But here: Rimashevskiy has a great frame, mobility, skillset, goalscoring abilities – all the nice attacking zone stuff, but to me all that looks quite raw, a lot of work should be invested in polishing that, making the game more mature and improving effectiveness not only in the attacking zone.
8. W Aydar Suniyev
I must admit I didn’t watch Suniyev much outside the highlights, but so far I had an impression of him being a prolific goalscorer with relentless motor, yet a good but not great skating.
9. W Timur Mukhanov
Over years I’ve become less skeptical about skaters’ size, but with Mukhanov you have to admit it: he is notably on the smaller side and is a one-way forward at this point. With that being said he is mobile, not weak, has an excellent shot and is able to pose threat from everywhere in the offensive zone.
10. RHD Gennady Chalyi
I was a fan of Chalyi’s abilities in terms of puck skills, creativity and skating last season, but looks like something didn’t really click for him in the USHL this year. However I still think there is enough talent for him to be considered a solid draft pick candidate, still he might fall like Kirill Kudryavtsev did last year.
11. RHD Yaroslav Tsulygin
First overager on the list is Tsulygin, who really made a tremendous progress in form of a nice toolbox for the tools he was showcasing last season. He was given an opportunity to prove himself on the KHL level and even though he wasn’t too consistent and had some up-and-downs, when he was at his game at I’d say everything in him looked legit both at defense and offense and that’s quite an achievement for someone just 18.
12. RW Yegor Klimovich
I totally like Yegor Klimovich’s hands, I think his skill and shot are pretty close to Michkov’s level, however I can’t really decide if I like anything else: he is small, not exactly a speedster, is creative, but doesn’t provide an impression of a great hockey sense. Yet in my eyes even that skillset alone is totally worth it.
13. RHD Bogdan Konyushkov
Konyushkov is in his last year of draft eligibility and has just debuted in the KHL this season, but has been simply sensational there, as his cerebral game in every zone has made him one of Torpedo team’s leaders right away. Not much there in terms of strength and athleticism though, yet decent puck skills and mobility.
14. RW Nikita Susuyev
Yet another case of a raw yet naturally gifted attacking minded player here in Susuyev, he can skate, has good motor and athleticism, is able to make good things with the puck including getting it into the net. Pretty usual potential improvement list for that type of players too: adding consistency, maturity, two-way component all would be really good.
15. GK Yegor Zavragin
A top goalie talent of the age group Zavragin, aside from the rather usual for the top talents size and mobility combination, has also a decently refined technique and is a good puck handler. While this season can’t be called a bad one, to me he had a bit too many of subpar games, which makes me worry if everything is fine with the confidence and psychological plane as such, however if it can be fixed we might be talking about a talent of Ilya Samsonov level and type.
16. LHD Ivan Remezovskiy
Remezovskiy is a strong, mobile and reliable defenseman with good passing skill and not bad with the puck overall, yet at this point he looks like just being a solid stay-at-home type of guy.
17. LHD Artyom Kudashov
It is hard for me to understand how Kudashov, while having excellent puck skills and being a solid skater, wasn’t able to gather more points in the MHL. However he was looking impressive at the neutral zone puck carrying duties and overall solid at his own end, so I think points shouldn’t be much of an issue, at least less than the modest size.
18. W German Tochilkin
With the amount of flashy skill, skating and solid athleticism it is unclear to me how Tochilkin went undrafted last year, even though I must admit that his 200ft game certainly needs improvements.
19. C Nikita Nedopyokin
Despite not being overly big, Nedopyokin has solid strength to add to his hard working and overall smart game. Decent skater, but I think there is some deficiency in the attacking skills department, which might hold him back.
20. RHD Maxim Fedotov
Fedotov is a small, but electrifying offensive-minded defenseman with an excellent shot, but to me it just seems that his decision making is frequently kind of a bit random or something.
21. GK Ilya Kanarskiy
Kanarskiy is a lanky and extra mobile goalie with some polishing still to do in terms of technique. Still he was very consistent at stopping the puck for a rather weak MHL team, that was impressive enough to me.
22. C/W Yegor Vinogradov
Very solid season in the bottom-six utility role in the KHL for Vinogradov, as he got a good frame, motor and hands to be effective at it. Shown some flashes of the offensive potential in the MHL, but it is still questionable in terms of if it is translatable to a higher level.
23. LHD Artyom Karpov
A very meat-and-potatos type of guy, Karpov is big, pretty mobile, solid at his own end and got a good passing skill, but basically that’s that.
24. RHD Sergei Kosovets
6’5”, not a pylon, looks solid in terms of the hockey sense and also right-handed — I’d say there are reasons to think that Kosovets might have some potential there.
25. GK Alexei Noskov
I certainly have a soft spot for goalies, who carry a weak team on their shoulders and that is exactly the case with Noskov. Good size, a bit raw in terms of technique, but very competitive stopping a huge amount of shots game in and game out.
26. C Artyom Kashtanov
Kashtanov is 6’6” and has very quick hands, so the draft chances are obvious, but I’d say in order to succeed he needs to improve his mobility and two-way component.
27. W Stanislav Yarovoi
Hands are Yarovoi’s best asset, both because of great stickhandling and goalscoring talents, also he is a smooth skater, but I kind of didn’t have an impression that he is still good enough when the game becomes more intense and physical.
28. C/W Daniil Davydov
Might be not the most generously athletically gifted, Davydov compensates it with good skill, creativity, mobility and hard work, would be good to improve things at the defensive game though.
29. GK Nikita Podlyagin
Podlyagin is another case of being a weak team’s goalie, so the stats are mediocre at best, but I think he has done well both in the MHL and in some VHL games he played. Good size (officially at 6’3”, but some sources have him at 6’5”), mobility, reflexes and overall consistency, yet still some polishing needs to be done like in every area.
30. RHD Nikita Ishimnikov
Ishimnikov has a great size and mobility combination, is very confident with the puck, has a powerful shot — in terms of the draft stock everything looks great, but I must admit I have doubts that there is enough hockey sense.
31. LHD Yaroslav Busygin
I see a very athletic player here in Busygin, as he is strong, can skate, has the right kind of puck skills and shot, yet I don’t think I’m satisfied with what I see in terms of defensive awareness.
32. RW/C Matvei Maximov
If we look just in terms of the skillset and shooting ability Maximov could be considered as a high-end talent, but I’m not a fan of his skating especially considering not exactly the biggest size.
33. C Nikita Telegin
Telegin was considered among the top talents of his age group just last year, as he can skate, got good skills and a promising frame, but he missed a lot of time with an injury and something clearly didn’t click for him when he came back.
34. RW Nikolai Khvorov
Khvorov is a smart and skilled playmaking winger with a promising-looking frame. Not so impressive at the skating and shot departments, improvements at the 200ft game should also be made.
35. C/W Dmitry Katelevskiy
I am a big fan of Katelevskiy, as he is a really hard worker with good motor, but he has certain deficiencies in terms of the skill. Looked solid at the first half of the season in the KHL, yet missed the second half, so probably not this year in terms of the draft chances.
36. GK Ruslan Khazheyev
It might be that I just failed to understand Khazheyev as a prospect, but even though I acknowledge his great size and impressive reflexes I still had an impression of him as of a rather raw and inconsistent goalie.
37. LHD Yegor Savikov
Savikov is a very mobile D, has great shot and can carry the puck, but is undersized and quite underwhelming at the own end.
38. W Valentin Zhugin
Electrifying talent, yet something clearly doesn’t work for Zhugin in the OHL and I can’t really understand what exactly is the issue, as even though the size is modest he got the wheels and offensive skill.
39. C Ilya Ivantsov
With Ivantsov the question was always his skating, as while his size is rather mediocre, mobility didn’t really compensate that, however I’m not fully convinced that the issue is fixed at this point. Still he is a very skilled playmaking center, can’t take that away from him.
40. C Ivan Yanchenko
Yanchenko is a smart and hard-working center, competent at both ends of the ice, but his skillset level is something I’m not entirely sure about.
Honorable mentions
And some HMs – a group of guys that I think are worth mentioning, yet who didn’t motivate me enough to write something specific about them at least for now.
41. C/LW Ilya Rogovskiy
42. GK Evgeny Volokhin
43. W Semyon Sinyatkin
44. GK Denis Utenkov
45. C/W Ruslan Gazizov
46. GK Ilya Nabokov
47. W/C Mikhail Ilyin
48. LHD Mario Patalakha
49. С Raul Yakupov
50. RHD Vladislav Sapunov
51. GK Artemy Pleshkov
52. C/W Alexander Volkov
53. LW/C Mikhail Goryunov-Rolgizer
54. RW Radel Zamaltdinov
55. GK Maxim Arefyev
56. LHD Magomed Sharakanov
57. GK Dmitry Gamzin
58. C Danil Aimurzin
59. LHD Fyodor Kroshchinskiy
60. LHD Valery Sitnikov
