F Daniil But - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL (2023, 12th, ARI)

[mistaclick]

Big kid with good hands, decent IQ, good offensive tools overall. Usually kids his size aren’t as developed offensively yet as he is. I can see a “Tage Thompson” sort of upside but I doubt he reaches it. From my viewings I would project him to have pretty fair potential at becoming a third liner who can play PP. If I remember correctly he was used on the bumper last season and had great hands in tight, surprised me for someone as large as him. He’s a project though and of course could hit a top-6 role but likely middle-6/third liner. But for a forward or player in general that is his size, he’s very well developed.

 

[Wateredgarden]

And he's a goal scorer as the prophecy said.

 

[majormajor]

Big kid with good hands, decent IQ, good offensive tools overall. Usually kids his size aren’t as developed offensively yet as he is. I can see a “Tage Thompson” sort of upside but I doubt he reaches it. From my viewings I would project him to have pretty fair potential at becoming a third liner who can play PP. If I remember correctly he was used on the bumper last season and had great hands in tight, surprised me for someone as large as him. He’s a project though and of course could hit a top-6 role but likely middle-6/third liner. But for a forward or player in general that is his size, he’s very well developed.

He's definitely got good PP upside, from the halfwall too, looked like Blake Wheeler with the cross passes. I was less impressed with the 5v5 play where he seems to get lost in crowds. Better in open space.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

I actually see him pretty comparable to a young JVR, don't know if that's crazy but he reminds me of the JVR that finally looked like he broke out in the 2011 playoffs in Philly.

 

[barriers]

 

[Chainshot]

His second assist today -

 

[barriers]

 

[Caser]

 

[Nabrules]

Late riser? Funny enough Pronman has had him top 10 all year but others seem to as well

 

[WeThreeKings]

Late riser? Funny enough Pronman has had him top 10 all year but others seem to as well

Might rise on some of the lists but he's still probably going round 2 or late round 1 with a Columbus pick.

 

[Peasy]

I can see what people like about him. Hes been high up on HockeyProspects list too. Big dude who can skate well, great hands. Just kinda feel like hes lacking a bit of offensive ability to go in the top 10 of this years draft. Wont be surprised though if a team takes him mid first round or even higher.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I can see what people like about him. Hes been high up on HockeyProspects list too. Big dude who can skate well, great hands. Just kinda feel like hes lacking a bit of offensive ability to go in the top 10 of this years draft. Wont be surprised though if a team takes him mid first round or even higher.

I'd be surprised.. if the Russian factor is going to influence where Michkov could go, it's going to have a bigger impact on the crop behind him.

 

[mistaclick]

I think there’s a good chance he’ll go in the back half of the first round

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Intriguing skillset for sure.

Question is will he be closer to Jimmy Hayes/Nick Bjugstad

Or a Tage Thompson.

Polarizing player for me.

 

[Peasy]

Well he sure as hell has no way near the shooting abilities of Tage Thompson.

 

[Kase]

Intriguing skillset for sure.

Question is will he be closer to Jimmy Hayes/Nick Bjugstad

Or a Tage Thompson.

Polarizing player for me.

I have the same feeling.

I go between N.Ritchie/Kostin and A.Tuch (not necessarily pure style comparison but in terms of impact)

With his tools he should be an NHLer at the very least, that is if he is happy to grind out a career as a depth player if things don't go as well as he hoped.

 

[majormajor]

Intriguing skillset for sure.

Question is will he be closer to Jimmy Hayes/Nick Bjugstad

Or a Tage Thompson.

Polarizing player for me.

I have the same feeling.

I go between N.Ritchie/Kostin and A.Tuch (not necessarily pure style comparison but in terms of impact)

With his tools he should be an NHLer at the very least, that is if he is happy to grind out a career as a depth player if things don't go as well as he hoped.

C'mon, Blake Wheeler.

Elite open ice speed, workhorse motor. Beautiful soft touch on his passes. Oh and 6'5.

He's much more skilled than Ritchie or Kostin. Low end on agility so pretty much the opposite of Tage in that regard. Shot is also currently below average.

Might be more like Nichushkin with a lot more powerplay assists.

 

[dj Mahoney]

Victor Kozlov maybe

 

[Kase]

C'mon, Blake Wheeler.

Elite open ice speed, workhorse motor. Beautiful soft touch on his passes. Oh and 6'5.

He's much more skilled than Ritchie or Kostin. Low end on agility so pretty much the opposite of Tage in that regard. Shot is also currently below average.

Might be more like Nichushkin with a lot more powerplay assists.

Yeah could be.

I think Wheeler might be a bit too far for me. Not sure if I see the elite open ice speed, at least atm. It's good, but pretty far away from NHL level elite that Wheeler has/had. Fantastic motor tho.

At first when I was thinking about low ceiling comparables for But I also thought that he must be way more skilled than Kostin and Ritchie. I'm not sure if I've ever seen Ritchie or Kostin play so I checked some of their old draft year highlights (goes without saying that this is not the proper way to determine this but that's all I had) and I was surprised how good they actually looked in terms of skating and puck skills on those 10ish min videos, not that different from But. I probably shouldn't be surprised because they once were very highly touted prospects, and probably for a reason. Turns out they weren't skilled enough or smart enough, like I said, I haven't seen them play.

I think with But it comes down to his smarts. The physical tools are clearly there, but how well does he actually prosess the game. Imo that will determine whether he will be able to produce consistently enough to warrant top 6 ice time. I'm not sure if his producing tools (goal scoring, playmaking) are of the level that he can produce consistently enough with mediocre smarts. And properly assessing player's smarts with his physical tools playing in a junior league can be a bit tricky. Not that I've noticed anything that concerning tho.

Early career Nichushkin impact wise could be a pretty safe projection, whether he takes off the same way, I'm not sure. I'm starting to lean a bit on the middle of the lineup kind of impact.

 

[Chainshot]

I wonder at how his speed and burst might increase as his leg strength increases. He's got nice handles but it seems like what fails him when trying to make agility moves or get separation is due to wobbly legs. Not that it solves any questions that someone might have about how he thinks the game, but in terms of physical tools, how much faster will he be and how will he be able to hold his edges on cuts when he's bigger is something I am always wondering about when I watch him play.

 

[Chainshot]

Curious if someone can let me know why he hasn't played in the series against Chaika Nizhny Novgorod so far?

 

[Castle8130]

I wonder at how his speed and burst might increase as his leg strength increases. He's got nice handles but it seems like what fails him when trying to make agility moves or get separation is due to wobbly legs. Not that it solves any questions that someone might have about how he thinks the game, but in terms of physical tools, how much faster will he be and how will he be able to hold his edges on cuts when he's bigger is something I am always wondering about when I watch him play.

He's just super young. The body of a big guy that doesn't have the strength of a big guy yet. I have high confidence he will be picked top 15, possibly top 10. He has great potential and doesn't have a weakness aside from some skill attributes (like shooting accuracy). He is really fast for his size and has an incredible compete level.

 

[Seb]

What what

 

[SlafySZN]

What what

Daniil But

 

[Kshahdoo]

I'd say Boot would be a more proper spelling of his last name. I'd even say a more properer spelling...