LD Daniil Chayka - Avangard Omsk, KHL (2021, 38th, VGK released)

[LastWordArmy]

Russian defenceman Daniil Chayka came to Ontario in 2017, joining the Toronto Junior Canadiens in the GTHL and choosing that the CHL was the best route for his future. He was the 7th overall pick in the 2018 OHL Draft, taken by the Guelph Storm. Chayka put up five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 56 games as a rookie. The Storm won the OHL Championship and Chayka was a second-team All-Rookie. He also put up a goal and an assist at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, helping Russia to a gold medal.

Chayka came into his own in his second season in the OHL. He started the season helping Russia to a gold medal at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. Chayka scored 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points in 56 games before the season was cut short by the COVID Pandemic.

With the OHL season cancelled this year, Chayka returned to Russia. He had one goal and two points in 11 KHL games with CSKA Moscow. Chayka also added an assist in 10 games with their VHL affiliate. He had more success playing in the junior league, with four points in five MHL games.

2021 NHL Draft #20: Daniil Chayka Scouting Report

 

[MMC]

Welcome to Vegas

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Great value at 38. I think he may have more offense than people think. He played a lot of the year against older competition. If he was playing OHL the whole year and was near 1PPG, people wouldn't complain about his offensive ability, at least as much.

 

[Sweetpotato]

Great pick. Dudes going to be a rock solid animal when he gets going in the NHL

 

[Caser]

 

[wings5]

Back playing in Guelph now. I believe he is also AHL eligible like Sillinger since he was drafted out of CSKA in Russia. I could be mistaken though

 

[CupInSIX]

Back playing in Guelph now. I believe he is also AHL eligible like Sillinger since he was drafted out of CSKA in Russia. I could be mistaken though

I doubt it since he was only on loan to Russia last year. Sillinger left for the USHL IIRC.

 

[wings5]

I doubt it since he was only on loan to Russia last year. Sillinger left for the USHL IIRC.

It was definitely a unique situation. If Chayka is not eligible because he was on loan then that would make sense. Even if I had the option to send him to the AHL, I would probably prefer to send him to the OHL. He hasn't exactly had the production you would expect in juniors up to this point including in the MHL last year for a high NHL draft pick who is labeled as a skilled two way defenceman. Want to see him really breakout offensively this year

 

[Caser]

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Nice development each season, point wisely as well.
0.25 ppg, 0.61 ppg, now this season, 0.90 ppg.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Will be a good one, one day.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Daniil Chayka should get more attention here. Great d-man prospect.

 

[Caser]

 

[Artorius Horus T]

What an amazing d-man!!!, wish Hawks would have picked him at 32nd.....
instead Hawks picked Nolan Allan..

Danii is a future top pair d-man in the NHL, still uncertain for which team, due to the fact that
Vegas loves to trade their top prospects away

 

[wings5]

What an amazing d-man!!!, wish Hawks would have picked him at 32nd.....
instead Hawks picked Nolan Allan..

Danii is a future top pair d-man in the NHL, still uncertain for which team, due to the fact that
Vegas loves to trade their top prospects away

Way too premature, he was average at best last season

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Way too premature, he was average at best last season

He wasn't average, but pretty good instead, i think theres a difference.

This season, he has been really really good.

Maybe too early i know, but that's my take.

 

[Caser]

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Chayka scores his 7th of the season already, 23 points in 26 games, is +9 with 88 sog and 16 pim.

 

[theslatcher]

To the AHL playoffs he goes.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Is he ever going to play in the NHL or just a trade chip or even back to Europe?

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Man, what happened to him?
i had high hopes, believes for him

 

[Caser]

 

[Caser]

Signed with KHL's Avangard until the end of 2025/26.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Was he ever that good in the O? I remember there was a bit of hype behind him in 2020, but his 17 year old production in the O never suggested an elite all around defenseman.

 

[LeProspector]

Was he ever that good in the O? I remember there was a bit of hype behind him in 2020, but his 17 year old production in the O never suggested an elite all around defenseman.

Yeah, he was. Questions with him revolved around maturity vs his peers and how much runway he had left. Turns out those questions were warranted.