I have probably watched more of Zelenov than anyone who is not his family or coaches this year aha... not just saying that.
Very fun player to watch.
The ChatGPT abbreviated version of the report I did on him for PHLY as part of a sleepers piece (
Alex Appleyard's sleepers in the 2024 NHL Draft - PHLY Sports) as while I would love for you all to subscribe I doubt any Sabres fans are going to pay to read Flyers content all year...
At 18, Zelenov played against men all season and nearly reached a point-per-game pace in AlpsHL, effectively the Austrian second-tier "pro" league with teams from Austria, Italy, and Slovenia. His team, RB Hockey Juniors, acts as Red Bull Salzburg’s U23 team while many of the other teams feature a more standard age-range for pro hockey. This year, Zelenov produced similarly (or just a step below) many of the North American players in the league who are 5-10 years older than him, and who back when they were 20 and still developing broke the point-per-game mark in the CHL, excelled in the ECHL afterwards, and in some cases even stuck around in the AHL for a while.
Zelenov’s draft position may be impacted by playing in AlpsHL, a less prestigious league for prospects. Virtually no legitimate prospects have ever played in AlpsHL in their draft season. The only exception was during COVID, with Francesco Pinelli and Francesco Arcuri. Incidentally, Zelenov outproduced both on a game-by-game basis, albeit on a stronger team.
Other reasons that Zelenov may go undrafted? His speed is “average,” though he is agile. He is also not physical, and he can get slightly lazy with his stick and take silly penalties. His shot needs to improve in all aspects — he has a slow release and fails to generate velocity. Almost all of his goals were undressing a goalie in close or via tap-ins.
Zelenov handles the puck like a magician. While his creativity can lead to risky overhandling, he's far from a puck-hog and consistently makes incredible passes from any position. He excels on the rush but is easier to defend during slower play. He works hard on the boards, finds dangerous rebound areas, and remains a strong passer in the zone, regularly making accurate cross-ice feeds. In transition, Zelenov shines, carrying the puck from his own zone through both blue lines with ease. He prefers controlled transitions and only dumps the puck when necessary. Beyond his skill, Zelenov's upbringing as a center shows in his defensive attentiveness. He defends zone entries well, takes on tough assignments, supports defensemen, and breaks up plays despite occasional mistakes. Additionally, he is a good forechecker and penalty-killer, making him versatile and not a "top-six or bust" player.
To reach the highest level, Zelenov needs to improve his speed, shot, and overall maturity. Despite his flaws, he’s shown he can play well against men and has a well-rounded game. While he may not reach the NHL, he has the potential to become a solid pro and possibly carve out a role on an NHL third line in the future if things go well.
www.eliteprospects.com
www.recruitscouting.com
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