Decided to make a small overview about possible draft candidates from Russia to keep it all in one thread (since looks like there is some interest in the topic). Since my opinion was made based on rather limited views, feel free to disagree and make corrections and additions. For some of players I've tried to find comparison from previous year Russian prospects, also tried to make some predictions (it should be fun to take a look back at it after the draft).
Top tier
In my opinion those five guys are locks to be selected at the draft:
Ivan Barbashev (QMJHL: 48GP, 25+43; QMJHL PO: 6GP, 4+6; U20WC: 7GP, 1+1) - dynamic winger that can also play center, very competitive (looks captain material to me), smart, nice hands, great playmaking vision - basically a complete skill set.
Comparison: Kuznetsov's skills and vision mixed with Tarasenko's energy and competitiveness.
Prediction: second half of first round, no way that he can slip to second round.
Nikita Scherbak (WHL: 54GP, 26+43) - passionate winger that went from zero to hero - from being unknown even in Russia to a ppg player in WHL. Extremely smart, great hands and passing, controls his body well.
Comparison: since Scherbak is my favorite prospect at this year's draft, please don't take me too serious: he reminds me of young Malkin a little bit.
Prediction: second half of first round, might slip into second round if a lot of teams will not be willing to draft winger or/and dealing with Russians (I should insert smiling SteveY photo here
).
Nikolay Goldobin (OHL: 67GP, 38+56) - skilled offense generating winger who needs to improve on his physical game and work ethics.
Comparison: Kucherov-lite.
Prediction: second half of first round, slipping into second round is very possible.
Vladislav Kamenev (KHL: 16GP, 1+0; VHL: 3GP, 0+1; VHL PO: 1GP, 0+0; MHL: 15GP, 4+6; MHL PO: 5GP, 1+2; U18WC: 5GP, 2+5) - big center from Metallurg Magnitogorsk team, but don't be fooled, it is not the next Malkin (I believe Craig Button got fooled with this thing actually
). Physical guy, can pass and score as well as doing all the dirty stuff.
Comparison: reminds me of Zykov, but more defensive minded.
Prediction: second round - had a strong U18 WJC to be picked higher than 3-rd round, but still got KHL contract for 2 more years that will not allow him to get into first round.
Vladimir Tkachyov (KHL: 2GP, 0+0; MHL: 16GP, 7+12; QMJHL: 20GP, 10+20; QMJHL PO: 6GP, 7+2) - explosive skilled winger, great hands and skating, knows how to score. Showed that he is able to adapt quickly to different hockey style by successfully switching MHL to QMJHL in the middle of a season. Still he is very tiny (by the way, anyone knows his current weight?
He is listed as 163 lbs at eliteprospects, so does it mean he finally gained some weight?) and non-physical.
Comparison: Before the start of this season I wrote that he is an improved version of Tolchinsky (that was before Tolchinsky's breakthrough training camp appearance).
Prediction: Despise his size, should be selected in a third round. Interesting is if team that will draft Barbashev will be also willing to get Tkachyov to get a chance to capitalize on their long time chemistry (sound like an Yzerplan, eh?).
Second tier
Those guys have all the talent, but for different reasons (Russian factor, didn't have very impressive season etc.) they can get passed.
Igor Shestyorkin (KHL: 9GP, 2.80, .903; MHL: 23GP, 1.42, .947; MHL PO: 19GP, 1.75, .937 - MHL Champion) - confident and charismatic goalie with some quick reflexes. In his short KHL stint showed that he is ready to play pro hockey and looked fine in a crashing and burning bankrupt Spartak team. Because of Spartak's bankruptcy he might be willing to go to NA immediately, which might raise his draft stock.
Comparison: Varly-lite.
Prediction: Might go in 4-th round, since the talent is definitely there. Rangers have scouted him and they got two picks in 4-th, so...
Arkhip Nekolenko (MHL: 19GP, 2+5; MHL PO: 21GP, 3+11 - MHL Champion) - skilled winger with a good body and nice shot. Was considered as a potential first rounder at the start of the season, but missed more than half year because of injury. His play at MHL play-offs showed that he is fine again. Got the same contract situation as Shestyorkin, so it is also possible that he might decide to go to NA already this summer.
Prediction: 5-th round (this year's draft is not that strong to let pass talent like that).
Maxim Lazarev (QMJHL: 45GP, 13+18; QMJHL PO: 4GP, 1+0) - scoring winger with some skills, but not a physical one and also work ethics need to be improved. Was one of a few bright spots on Russia NT at last Hlinka tournament, but this season was spoiled because of injuries.
Prediction: end of 5-th round if he is very lucky, 6-th round more likely.
Nikita Lyamkin (QMJHL: 65GP, 3+9; QMJHL PO: 4GP, 0+0; U18WC: 5GP, 0+5) - big physical defender that can make a first pass, skating needs to be improved though.
Prediction: 6-th round.
Ivan Nikolishin (WHL: 72GP, 18+41; WHL PO: 5GP, 0+3; U18WC: 5GP, 2+3) - creative, skilled and hard working winger (have also played center before), very competitive, but also lacks size. He is a son of a former NHL-er Andrey Nikolishin and that actually might raise his draft stock, since looks like being a son of a pro hockey player is considered somewhat of a quality mark by scouts these days.
Prediction: 6-th or 7-th round (Wahington got 3 picks in 6-th and 7-th and NikolishinSr. had some good time playing there).
Maybes
Guys that can become a late round steals if selected (had a lot of candidates for this part, but came down with just two guys, so I think a lot of additions can be made here actually).
Denis Orlovich-Grudkov (MHL: 51GP, 20+32; MHL PO: 10GP, 2+6) - hard working winger with good skating, puck handling and decision making, was ppg in MHL this season as a 18 year old (which doesn't happen very often actually). Strength is an issue though, but if he will gain some, he can be very good at the pro level also.
Vladislav Gavrikov (MHL: 45GP, 3+9; MHL PO: 7GP, 0+2) - big calm defender, good at selecting position, can hit. Was one of the best defender at SubwaySuperSeries on U20 Russia NT.
Overagers
Most interesting part: at recent drafts at least one overager from Russia was selected (usually in late rounds), so let's try to guess who could it be this time.
Ilya Sorokin (18 years old; KHL: 27GP, 2.90, .911; MHL: 4GP, 2.69, .917; MHL PO: 2GP, 4.04, .800) - hard working goalie that was constantly playing in KHL this season, getting some decent numbers on a not very strong team. Extended his contract recently and that can make him not very popular at the draft.
Andrey Mironov (19 years old; KHL: 46GP, 3+7; KHL PO: 7GP, 0+1; MHL: 3GP, 0+1; U20WC: 7GP, 1+3) - responsible defender that likes to play physical. Played in his second KHL season, was leading Russia team's defense at U20, made debut for Russia NT this season at the age of 19.
Vyacheslav Osnovin (20 years old, KHL: 31GP, 2+0; VHL: 7GP, 0+0; MHL: 18GP, 5+10; MHL PO: 15GP, 6+5; U20WC: 7GP, 2+2) - smart hard working center that plays a solid two-way game.
Ivan Nalimov (19 years old; VHL: 1GP, 1.00, .966; MHL: 12GP, 2.84, .894; U20WC: 2GP, 2.65, .897) - goalie that was .945 at Subway Super Series, already expressed his desire to go to NA, so some team might want to secure his rights by spending a low round pick.
Nikita Tryamkin (19 years old; KHL: 45GP, 1+6; KHL PO: 4GP, 0+0; MHL: 2GP, 2+1; MHL PO: 1GP, 0+0) - huge physical defender (6'7"/229lbs) that looked good at U20. Needs to work on positioning.
Alexei Bereglazov (20 years old; KHL: 6GP, 0+0; VHL: 10GP, 1+0; MHL: 8GP, 0+3; MHL PO: 4GP, 1+2; U20WC: 7GP, 0+2) - one more big guy from U20 and SSS, was one of the key persons there - tough defender that has also some offensive upside. Not fully established in KHL yet, but that might even be seen as a plus by some NHL teams.
So, to make a bold prediction on total Russian players selected this year: 5 from top tier group, 3 from second tier group and 1 overager.
. But still...
