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F Sasha Pastujov- San Diego Gulls, AHL (2021, 66th, ANA)

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Pavel Buchnevich said:
7 points in 4 games so far in this tournament.

I think he can thank Jason Robertson for making him a first rounder. After the season Robertson is having, can you really drop a guy with clear NHL impact talent, aside from the skating, from the first round? I’m starting to believe the answer is no.
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Agreed. I also think Pastujov stride is smooth enough that he will benefit greatly from added leg strength.
 
The U.S. National Team Development Program has consistently produced top draft prospects in recent years. The latest is Bradenton, Florida native Sasha Pastujov. A talented left-winger, Pastujov spent most of this season on the Under-18 team’s top line. He put up 30 goals and 35 assists for 65 points in 41 games with the NTDP. Pastujov was named one of the top three players on the team at the IIHF Under-18 World Championships. He certainly did his part with five goals and three assists for eight points in five games in the tournament. Despite the U.S. suffering a disappointing quarter-final loss, it certainly can’t be blamed on Pastujov.

In 2019-20 Pastujov put up 14 goals and 36 assists for 50 points in 49 games with the Under-17 squad. He also helped the team to a silver medal at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, putting up one goal and seven assists for eight points in six tournament games. In fact, he led the tournament in assists. Pastujov is committed to attending the University of Notre Dame and playing for the Fighting Irish next season. Should he change his mind and go the CHL route, his rights belong to the Guelph Storm.


2021 NHL Draft #25: Sasha Pastujov Scouting Report
 
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Zaddy said:
His skating looks brutal. No way I'd touch that in the 1st round.

@Pavel Buchnevich Robertson is 6'3, 210 lbs. Pastujov has very average size.
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Is he? I always thought Robertson was about 6'1/6'2. He does not play like he's 6'3 210. And NHL teams almost always inflate player heights by about an inch, so I'd suspect he's closer to 6'2, if he's listed at 6'3. I've found some sources since his NHL career started that stated he's 6'2.

As for Pastujov, he's listed at 6'0 by every source, but looking at those NTDP measurements, a lot of those kids look taller than the listed height. NTDP does not inflate player heights, so if Pastujov was 6'0 at the start of the season, there's a chance he may be taller now. He still hasn't turned 18, so he could still be growing.

Regardless, I think the point I was making goes beyond just comparing the players, even if Robertson ends up being 3 inches taller. Size is not an issue for Pastujov. It may end up a slight strength, but he has the type of offensive ability that Robertson had. The players who weak skating usually impacts disproportionately are the small players. Players can overcome being small or being weak skaters. They often cannot overcome both.
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
Is he? I always thought Robertson was about 6'1/6'2. He does not play like he's 6'3 210. And NHL teams almost always inflate player heights by about an inch, so I'd suspect he's closer to 6'2, if he's listed at 6'3. I've found some sources since his NHL career started that stated he's 6'2.

As for Pastujov, he's listed at 6'0 by every source, but looking at those NTDP measurements, a lot of those kids look taller than the listed height. NTDP does not inflate player heights, so if Pastujov was 6'0 at the start of the season, there's a chance he may be taller now. He still hasn't turned 18, so he could still be growing.

Regardless, I think the point I was making goes beyond just comparing the players, even if Robertson ends up being 3 inches taller. Size is not an issue for Pastujov. It may end up a slight strength, but he has the type of offensive ability that Robertson had. The players who weak skating usually impacts disproportionately are the small players. Players can overcome being small or being weak skaters. They often cannot overcome both.
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Regardless if Robertson is 6'2 or 6'3 he has the body/frame to shield and hold on to the puck when he is making plays offensively. Pastujov, while not small per se, does not have that same advantage. He gets away with it in juniors but in the NHL it's going to be much tougher for him to be effective. Guys like him are pretty easy to knock off the puck and render ineffective, and with how brutal his skating is that is...not a good combination regardless of his offensive skill.

Maybe he becomes a really good AHLer but I don't think he'll do much in the NHL. I think Tyler Benson is probably a better comparable than Robertson. He's lit up the AHL three years in a row and has a similar frame and lots of offensive skill too with skating being the main drawback, and he has still not established himself as an NHLer. Average size + poor skater is a really bad combination.
 
Zaddy said:
Regardless if Robertson is 6'2 or 6'3 he has the body/frame to shield and hold on to the puck when he is making plays offensively. Pastujov, while not small per se, does not have that same advantage. He gets away with it in juniors but in the NHL it's going to be much tougher for him to be effective. Guys like him are pretty easy to knock off the puck and render ineffective, and with how brutal his skating is that is...not a good combination regardless of his offensive skill.

Maybe he becomes a really good AHLer but I don't think he'll do much in the NHL. I think Tyler Benson is probably a better comparable than Robertson. He's lit up the AHL three years in a row and has a similar frame and lots of offensive skill too with skating being the main drawback, and he has still not established himself as an NHLer. Average size + poor skater is a really bad combination.
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I don't know how you're sure that Pastujov won't be able to use his frame to protect the puck as he moves to higher levels. It's purely speculative. What we can project in that area is that his size will be no worse than average, but I guess it's all speculation, so we'll see if you're right or I'm right.

As to comparing him to Benson, I think Benson was more of an all-around player coming out of junior. He didn't have the offensive potential that Pastujov did, even though he scored a lot in junior. He wasn't a great skater, which they have in common. Aside from that, I don't think it's a great comparison, but maybe you're right. We'll see. I personally think Pastujov will be a very good scorer in the NHL.
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
I don't know how you're sure that Pastujov won't be able to use his frame to protect the puck as he moves to higher levels. It's purely speculative. What we can project in that area is that his size will be no worse than average, but I guess it's all speculation, so we'll see if you're right or I'm right.
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I mean it's not based on nothing. NHL is a big, physical league. Pastujov would have to be extraordinarily strong on his skates to be able to play a puck-protection game at his size. Not impossible but seems unlikely.
As to comparing him to Benson, I think Benson was more of an all-around player coming out of junior. He didn't have the offensive potential that Pastujov did, even though he scored a lot in junior. He wasn't a great skater, which they have in common. Aside from that, I don't think it's a great comparison, but maybe you're right. We'll see. I personally think Pastujov will be a very good scorer in the NHL.
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Benson absolutely had high offensive potential. He has scored at every level, broke records in AMHL, put up 45 points in 62 games on a poor Giants team as a WHL rookie and then had his draft year ruined by injuries. He then went on to put up 66 points in 68 games in the AHL in his first pro season, something you don't do if you don't have really good offensive skills. The only thing that has limited him is exactly what I'm lamenting here: lack of size and skating abilities. The very same thing Pastujov lacks. The only meaningful difference between the two IMO is that Pastujov is a better goalscorer which in general is more valuable and might give him a longer look in the NHL.
 
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Apparently Wheeler has Pastujov at #14 wow...that's bold. But Wheeler seems to be a guy who is purely focused on skill so I guess it's not that surprising.
 
What is a good comparison for Pastujov?

Is his skating still a concern or has it improved?
 
I’m happy the Ducks picked him, but what is with the fall from grace? I could’ve sworn reading about players like Raty and Pastujov being locks for the first round. (DONT remember where tho)
 
Smirnov2Chistov said:
I’m happy the Ducks picked him, but what is with the fall from grace? I could’ve sworn reading about players like Raty and Pastujov being locks for the first round. (DONT remember where tho)
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Because every year NHL scouts disrespect some huge proven talent because the player does not fit a standard mold. See Kucherov, DeBrincat, Robertson, even Caufield to a degree.

Pastujov is a first round prospect and will make a lot of scouts look stupid, not that it will teach them anything
 
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Beesfan said:
Because every year NHL scouts disrespect some huge proven talent because the player does not fit a standard mold. See Kucherov, DeBrincat, Robertson, even Caufield to a degree.

Pastujov is a first round prospect and will make a lot of scouts look stupid, not that it will teach them anything
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I disagree with the bolded statement here. Professional scouts and their job is a year round process.

I can’t stand these armchair GM and scouts on here that over analyze every single damn prospect as if they can do a better job than a professional.
 
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Smirnov2Chistov said:
I disagree with the bolded statement here. Professional scouts and their job is a year round process.

I can’t stand these armchair GM and scouts on here that over analyze every single damn prospect as if they can do a better job than a professional.
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Overall I think professional scouts do a good job, and of course better than I could do. I think there are valid reasons for having general rules about player that are poor skaters, small or Russian, which appear to be the three biggest reasons players drop.

I do think its a mistake when there is no room for exception to those rules for an extraordinary player. Kucherov, DeBrincat and Caulfield all just showed extraordinary and special ability prior to their drafts. I think Pastujov has shown similar indications, both in being prolific and scoring at clutch times.
 
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Beesfan said:
Because every year NHL scouts disrespect some huge proven talent because the player does not fit a standard mold. See Kucherov, DeBrincat, Robertson, even Caufield to a degree.

Pastujov is a first round prospect and will make a lot of scouts look stupid, not that it will teach them anything
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Just be real here.

How about those truckload of hockey gems according to HF that were not gems after all. I think that list is longer…..a lot longer.

We only notice the examples you provide.
 
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