LW Ivan Nikolishin - CSKA, KHL (2014 undrafted) | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League
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LW Ivan Nikolishin - CSKA, KHL (2014 undrafted)

SBrisScout

Registered User
May 9, 2010
130
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Washington State
He was drafted by the Silvertips late in the draft because he wasn't expected to report to North America. Turns out CSKA Moscow didn't give him any guarantees on playing time for the big club, and he wanted to come to Everett to get more playing time/opportunities.

Everett lacks high-end skill, so he could be a huge bonus for the team. The Silvertips also drafted Finnish winger Waltteri Hopponen, and already have Swiss defensemen Mirco Mueller who will most likely be returning to Everett after San Jose Shark's training camp ends. Hopponen and Nikolishin will be in direct competition for the remaining Euro spot in camp.

If anyone has any information or opinions of him feel free to post on this thread.:)
 
Ivan has scored 20 points in 21 games so far for Everett. He has been playing on the 1st-4th line all season as that is coach Constantine's style. Earlier in the season, as with most skilled Russians, he held on to the puck for too long, and would try to deke everyone. But he has adapted pretty well to the NA game, and has improved his physicality. He tries to hit everything that moves and gets under the skin of opposing players. Very undersized though, and he will need to start putting on weight to increase his impact.
 
Was very impressed by him versus Canada yesterday. Only time I've seen him play, but looks like an interesting mid-late round pick.
 
QMJHLfollower said:
Was very impressed by him versus Canada yesterday. Only time I've seen him play, but looks like an interesting mid-late round pick.
Click to expand...

I like his willingness to play defense, and his leadership skills. His offense will bring him to the pros perhaps, but his defense will let him stay there.

Major size problem though.
 
SBrisScout said:
I like his willingness to play defense, and his leadership skills. His offense will bring him to the pros perhaps, but his defense will let him stay there.

Major size problem though.
Click to expand...

Wasn't really aware of his defensive game and leadership qualitites since it was the first time I saw him play, but that makes me like him even more. I'm a big fan of prospects with willingness to play defense and with leadership skills, adding this to his very good offensive skills and instincts makes him a very interesting prospect.

Size is a concern, but when you have heart, drive and work-ethic, you can overcome that, espcially when you play good defense as well.
 
I'd be surprised if he wasn't drafted this year.
Some team should take a chance on him. I personally do not believe his size will be that much of an issue.

He's shown good heart and drive as QMJHLFollower said, and he certainly showed he can still put up decent offensive numbers this past year.


I think one of the reasons he's dropped off radars is because he's Russian... if he's not highly ranked, or is a project, or an against-the-odds kind of kid, what's stopping him from going home where he will get to play (he was drafted last year into the KHL by CSKA Moscow).
 
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uncleben85 said:
I'd be surprised if he wasn't drafted this year.
Some team should take a chance on him. I personally do not believe his size will be that much of an issue.

He's shown good heart and drive as QMJHLFollower said, and he certainly showed he can still put up decent offensive numbers this past year.


I think one of the reasons he's dropped off radars is because he's Russian... if he's not highly ranked, or is a project, or an against-the-odds kind of kid, what's stopping him from going home where he will get to play (he was drafted last year into the KHL by CSKA Moscow).
Click to expand...

Guess this is why I'm not a pro scout!
I certainly do see teams giving him a chance along the way though. Maybe next year's draft after another year of WHL. Maybe as a camp invite down the road...
 
He seems to be developing a lot of chemistry with Jets 4th rounder Michael Spacek. Spacek has 10 points in 5 games and Nikolishin has 8 points.

Any chance he gets drafted if he has a huge season? I'd love the Jets to take him just because of his chemistry with Spacek.
 
He looked real good with Scherbak last season too. Wanted the Habs to draft him in the 7th round. (Actually wanted them to take him in 2014.)
 
Nikolishin is now 4-th in WHL scoring with 17+23 in 27 GP and is on a 7 game point streak, which includes his first hat-trick. Looks like a pretty impressive progress this year.
 
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