Prospect Info: 2024 - #50 OA - LW Nikita Artamonov

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I flat out don't get the Kucherov comparison at all. Kucherov is a better passer than any other player who has ever played a game for the sightless eye. That's no slight on Francis, Stillman, Ray Whitney, and the other skilled players we have had over the years. Kucherov is just that good at finding seams and lasering rocket passes to open men. Watch even just the highlights of Artamonov and the thing that stands out is a high motor and getting to dirty areas, not elite passing.
I always took the comparison posters made to Kucherov was that he (Artanomov) is 2nd round pick from Russia, like Kucherov, that fans are “hoping” is a steal like Kucherov. I agree with you that from what I’ve seen/read, his playing style is different.
 
I always took the comparison posters made to Kucherov was that he (Artanomov) is 2nd round pick from Russia, like Kucherov, that fans are “hoping” is a steal like Kucherov. I agree with you that from what I’ve seen/read, his playing style is different.
I agree.

Comparing Kucherov to Artamanov because they are both Russians in the 2nd round is almost as silly as comparing Wayne Gretzky with Matthew Highmore because they were both undrafted Canadians.
 
I like that goal because it shows that you don't have to be fast and quick as long as you have great hockey sense to know where the soft spot in the defense is going to be and to be there.

Really, that's all we need. We need a guy who can just kind of float into those soft spots and be able to immediately do something with the puck. From what I've seen of this kid so far, he's got that skill to his game.
 
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18 and leading a KHL team in points
 
As much as I'm loving the regularity with which this thread shows up as having new posts (iow, this kid continuing to score), I look at things like Letunov looking like a potential 2nd-line center in the NHL based on the plays he's making for Artamonov, as well as each team's scoring race being led by guys who couldn't hack it in the NHL and have to temper my excitement for this kid. Still, I love seeing this thread turn up with such regularity!
 
As much as I'm loving the regularity with which this thread shows up as having new posts (iow, this kid continuing to score), I look at things like Letunov looking like a potential 2nd-line center in the NHL based on the plays he's making for Artamonov, as well as each team's scoring race being led by guys who couldn't hack it in the NHL and have to temper my excitement for this kid. Still, I love seeing this thread turn up with such regularity!
Yea, a lot of the goals he's getting are from beautiful cross-ice passes that leave him an open net to score on, still he's finding those areas and cashing in. How many more goals would we have this year if we didn't shank a shot on a gaping open net? 5+? He is also leading the team in points, which is impressive for an 18yo
 
Yea, a lot of the goals he's getting are from beautiful cross-ice passes that leave him an open net to score on, still he's finding those areas and cashing in. How many more goals would we have this year if we didn't shank a shot on a gaping open net? 5+? He is also leading the team in points, which is impressive for an 18yo
That is true, but if you also watch what he does leading up to the plays, he makes smart decisions to get to an open spot on the ice and make himself available for a cross-ice pass. I've seen it frequently in the highlights. Watch his movement in this most recent goal. He gives up the puck and doesn't just drive the net, he goes to an open spot AND gets himself in a position to shoot a 1 timer that the goalie has no chance on.

That's going to be a lot more difficult in the NHL where there is less time and space for that, but it's still a very good trait he has that has allowed him to be in the right spots for those goals.
 

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