Player Discussion: Dmitri Voronkov

[Jovavic]

Sounds like I nailed it then

Not really

 

[Monk]

Not really

In terms of style or what? I thought people would think it wasn't a great comparison because Vronk is obviously more skilled than Svitov but you're saying the opposite!

Vronk already has more points than Svitov did in the NHL in half as many games. I'm thinking Vronk is a better skater too but don't remember well enough. They're both lefties & listed on hockey reference within a pound of each other.

 

[koteka]

I think the Anderson comparison is apt. Not because of play style but because you wonder “how did a guy that big who can do what he does go so low in the NHL draft?” Anderson was a 4th rounder (95th overall) and Voronkov was a 4th rounder (114th overall). Everybody thinks the NHL overrates sizes in the draft, but these are two guys that every team passed on several times.

 

[stevo61]

I think the Anderson comparison is apt. Not because of play style but because you wonder “how did a guy that big who can do what he does go so low in the NHL draft?” Anderson was a 4th rounder (95th overall) and Voronkov was a 4th rounder (114th overall). Everybody thinks the NHL overrates sizes in the draft, but these are two guys that every team passed on several times.

That quite often where those guys are found because it's hard to project. They were both kinda late bloomers but Anderson especially developed a ton physically late. Anderson was something like 6'1" 185lbs back then, not really hard to see why teams wouldn't predict a 6'3" 226lbs power forward with a mean streak

 

[ViD]

1 point in first 5 games then 9 points in the next 8.

Looking good out there, riding a 5 game point streak currently

 

[Cowumbus]

1 point in first 5 games then 9 points in the next 8.

Looking good out there, riding a 5 game point streak currently

Very quietly doing so too.

I think Jody talked about it, but he’s very good in the neutral zone tipping pucks into open space for teammates to transition the puck.

 

[Doggy]

In AP's latest article, two scouts comped him as Brian Boyle.

 

[ColumbusTrill]

Do agree with the scout that you haven't seen the same nastiness as he played with last year. Maybe it's more about conserving energy but he rarely finishes checks. He only has 14 hits all season, 15th on the team. Last year he was 7th on the team with 83

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Do agree with the scout that you haven't seen the same nastiness as he played with last year. Maybe it's more about conserving energy but he rarely finishes checks. He only has 14 hits all season, 15th on the team. Last year he was 7th on the team with 83

The physical elements of his game are a complete shock to Me. I completely misevaluated him as a prospect.

When we got him I thought he’d be a 4th line “goon” type with some finishing ability. Then when he started growing as a player, I thought he’d could be a 3rd line physical forward who could fight and chip in offense sometimes (sort of like Olivier). Hes fought before, but it’s a complete afterthought of his game. Hes not big and shy like Laine was, but he’s not a physical force either. I hope he starts bringing that to his game more.

 

[ColumbusTrill]

The physical elements of his game are a complete shock to Me. I completely misevaluated him as a prospect.

When we got him I thought he’d be a 4th line “goon” type with some finishing ability. Then when he started growing as a player, I thought he’d could be a 3rd line physical forward who could fight and chip in offense sometimes (sort of like Olivier). Hes fought before, but it’s a complete afterthought of his game. Hes not big and shy like Laine was, but he’s not a physical force either. I hope he starts bringing that to his game more.

I do think that's more of what he was in Russia. There were so many clips of him laying huge hits and getting into fights

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Finishing checks and fighting etc is cool and all, and I'd welcome it in whatever capacity it arrived from Dmitri. But I'm more interested in his physicality manifesting as a net front presence on offense (at the center of scrums on the regular, too) and a guy who controls the play with his size and strength both on and off the puck. You know, that classic "difficult to play against."

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I do think that's more of what he was in Russia. There were so many clips of him laying huge hits and getting into fights

Guess I should have also specified that I was also really wrong about his offensive upside.

 

[Monstershockey]

Finishing checks and fighting etc is cool and all, and I'd welcome it in whatever capacity it arrived from Dmitri. But I'm more interested in his physically manifesting as a net front presence on offense (at the center of scrums on the regular, too) and a guy who controls the play with his size and strength both on and off the puck. You know, that classic "difficult to play against."

Yes. I would rather have him on the ice than sitting in the box for 5 or more minutes.

 

[koteka]

Yes. I would rather have him on the ice than sitting in the box for 5 or more minutes.

Personally I dream of a CBJ - Capitals line brawl that includes a Dmitri Voronkov - Aliaksei Protas fight that is so epic that the referees are scared to get close so nobody ever stops it. (And to state the obvious, Olivier destroying Tom Wilson’s face is a part of this dream, too.)

 

[Monstershockey]

Personally I dream of a CBJ - Capitals line brawl that includes a Dmitri Voronkov - Aliaksei Protas fight that is so epic that the referees are scared to get close so nobody ever stops it. (And to state the obvious, Olivier destroying Tom Wilson’s face is a part of this dream, too.)

It would be fun to watch, but liking it would depend on who gets the last laugh. Really don't want to see this again.

 

[S1N4TR4]

The physical elements of his game are a complete shock to Me. I completely misevaluated him as a prospect.

When we got him I thought he’d be a 4th line “goon” type with some finishing ability. Then when he started growing as a player, I thought he’d could be a 3rd line physical forward who could fight and chip in offense sometimes (sort of like Olivier). Hes fought before, but it’s a complete afterthought of his game. Hes not big and shy like Laine was, but he’s not a physical force either. I hope he starts bringing that to his game more.

having him in a dynasty keeper league that values blocks and hits immensely, me fricken too. lol

 

[thebus88]

Uhh, it’s almost as if an injury to a players shoulder can impact how aggressive he plays and how many body checks he throws….

 

[majormajor]

Voronkov came into his first pre-season and was asking for help on how to start a fight, who to pick and so on. He fought then, and then fought in his regular season debut vs Arber Xhekaj. He did well. He has only fought twice since then, one of those recently vs Connor Murphy.

My sense is that the disappearing fighting has also mirrored how his physical game has gone. I don't know what happened to his physical edge, but it's not just a this year thing. It started last year. I'd like to know what the coaches think about it and what they've communicated with him about. He can understand "fight and hit more".

I read the scouts in the Athletic and I don't think Brian Boyle is that great of a comp. Voronkov has vision and passing ability and is possibly even stronger than Boyle. He's already had better scoring paces in each of the two seasons than Boyle has had at any point in his career. Voronkov is solidly a top six forward and has shown more promise at center than anyone not named Monahan. He should be playing in that role.

 

[ViD]

One scout said he’s got a potential to score 15-20 goals. He’s already scored 8 this year and 18 last year

 

[ColumbusTrill]

Voronkov came into his first pre-season and was asking for help on how to start a fight, who to pick and so on. He fought then, and then fought in his regular season debut vs Arber Xhekaj. He did well. He has only fought twice since then, one of those recently vs Connor Murphy.

My sense is that the disappearing fighting has also mirrored how his physical game has gone. I don't know what happened to his physical edge, but it's not just a this year thing. It started last year. I'd like to know what the coaches think about it and what they've communicated with him about. He can understand "fight and hit more".

I read the scouts in the Athletic and I don't think Brian Boyle is that great of a comp. Voronkov has vision and passing ability and is possibly even stronger than Boyle. He's already had better scoring paces in each of the two seasons than Boyle has had at any point in his career. Voronkov is solidly a top six forward and has shown more promise at center than anyone not named Monahan. He should be playing in that role.

Ironically I thought this was one of his best games in terms of physicality and he was making great passes on top of that

 

[VT]

Voronkov came into his first pre-season and was asking for help on how to start a fight, who to pick and so on. He fought then, and then fought in his regular season debut vs Arber Xhekaj. He did well. He has only fought twice since then, one of those recently vs Connor Murphy.

My sense is that the disappearing fighting has also mirrored how his physical game has gone. I don't know what happened to his physical edge, but it's not just a this year thing. It started last year. I'd like to know what the coaches think about it and what they've communicated with him about. He can understand "fight and hit more".

I read the scouts in the Athletic and I don't think Brian Boyle is that great of a comp. Voronkov has vision and passing ability and is possibly even stronger than Boyle. He's already had better scoring paces in each of the two seasons than Boyle has had at any point in his career. Voronkov is solidly a top six forward and has shown more promise at center than anyone not named Monahan. He should be playing in that role.

It reminds me of the Xhekai situation. If Habs fans are righ, he's not that into the fights, he doesn't hit at all costs. One is using his stick more, his strength, playing easier, which has shown in his improved play.

Dima is a similar case, he focuses more on his play more, uses his body, his strength, wins battles around the boards, in the net. He's improving offensively, has great vision, good moving. That's important. By the way, he did fight in the KHL, but he wasn't a classic enforcer, rather he played extremely hard, provocated. But his coaches were Dmitry Kvartalnov and Zinetula Bilyaledtinov, who are like agressive players and Dima played in bottom 6.

 

[LazyCircuits]

The whole Brian Boyle comp got me thinking maybe there are not really any stylistic comparisons for a really big ox of a forward who had great hands. I think Vronk could be a real unicorn in the league

 

[majormajor]

The whole Brian Boyle comp got me thinking maybe there are not really any stylistic comparisons for a really big ox of a forward who had great hands. I think Vronk could be a real unicorn in the league

Protas might be setting the ur-example right now.

 

[koteka]

Protas might be setting the ur-example right now.

To me, Protas might be the closest comp to Voronkov. That is why I’d like to see them drop the gloves in an epic battle of scoring big men.

Maybe an epic series of fights - one when they are both about 24 and early in their careers, one when the are about 28 and peaking, and then the finale when they are on the downside of their careers but they know what the people came to see.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Item No. 1: Where’s the menace?​

Dmitri Voronkov has become quite a goal scorer for the Blue Jackets. He’s shown soft hands and high-end vision that belie his 6-foot-5 frame. The big man sets one heck of a screen in front of opposing goaltenders, too. Yes, his list of attributes is longer than his in-seam.
But the Voronkov that has emerged is different than the menacing, malevolent power forward he was projected to be when he left Russia for the NHL two seasons ago.

Who can forget Kirill Marchenko’s stellar scouting report the spring before Voronkov made the leap: “I am a happy Russian boy,” Marchenko said. “(Yegor) Chinakhov is a cute Russian boy. But (Voronkov) … he is like tough Russian boy.”

Nobody questions Voronkov’s toughness. But in 25 games this season, Voronkov has just 16 hits. His hits per 60 minutes (2.38) is 18th among Blue Jackets players and 368th among NHL forwards. That’s staggering.

Asked if he’s been surprised by Voronkov’s lack of combativeness, Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason was blunt.

“Yes,” he said. “And to be honest with you, we’ve talked to him about it several times, and we’ll continue to do that.

“I’ll be honest with you: He has to get into even better shape than he is to arrive (on time for hits). That, to us, is the biggest issue, and he’s committed to doing that. He’s doing extra work after practice. It’s not a desire thing.”

Former Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said many times last season that Voronkov’s energy would fade toward the end of a normal shift, that he was wearing down as the season moved along and the games piled up.

When Voronkov returned this fall for camp, he was noticeably trimmer, dropping from 240 pounds to his current 227. The Blue Jackets were pleased with his progress, but it might take another summer, or another couple of seasons, before he’s trim and fit enough to play at his highest level.

“We’ve asked him to do that, to get going so that you can be that physical presence,” Evason said. “You can see it when he’s down low in a battle, a confrontation, a one-on-one … he’s really hard to handle, physically. We want him to get in on the forecheck and start bumping and grinding.”
Voronkov has eight goals, nine assists and 17 points in 25 games. He has a plus-4 rating and is playing 16:04 per game, up from 13:27 last season. And two plays in recent games have highlighted his impressive offensive touch.

In a 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay last Tuesday, Voronkov made a brilliant touch pass back to Cole Sillinger for a power-play goal in the third period. On Saturday, his pass across the “Royal Road” to Marchenko for a go-ahead third-period goal showed a vision few power forwards possess.
Now, imagine if Voronkov can add a physical edge to his other attributes. That’s a rare player, indeed.

“To put that whole package together,” Evason said, “it could be dominating.”