This is kind of backwards to me.
If I was just looking at clips and seeing him skate, and then seeing 6'7, and the KHL points at his age (a lot), I would be blown away.
It's watching full games that makes me more reserved about his offensive upside. You rarely see Silayev trying anything.
If people are offended that some like Simashev more, well that's a great prospect. Simashev is also huge and also has amazing skating. And very unlike Silayev, he has a great ability to deceive with his movements, which gives Simashev more upside in transition than Silayev.
He was a 17 yo playing in the KHL, not the CHL. You have to consider it when you evaluate his offensive shyness.
The kid was trying to play a mistake free game and focussed primarily on his defensive assignments.
On a general basis, the KHL is harsher on their youngsters than the NHL. The Novgorod Torpedo, under Igor "the professor" Larionov, being a little different in that matter, Silayev got a lot of playing time.
Silayev have a Chara like defensive game, with Hedman skating. He's a defensive annihilator.
The kind you win championships with. He's in his element in 2-1 tight games.
Because of his combination of massive size and fluid skating, he's at his best when funneling attacking opponents to the boards to crush them.
And offensively wise, he could easily end up having a Chara/Weber type of offensive contribution. Centered around his wicked shot, that needs a little refinement in terms of precision.
Silayev have a very high floor, he could probably make the NHL right away.
But his roof potential is over the top...
Could end up being a franchise defenseman, in his own fashion.