W Ilya Protas - Des Moines Buccaneers, USHL (2024, 75th, WSH)

Pavel Buchnevich

"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Dec 8, 2013
60,018
26,736
New York
Big, skilled, and has a good motor. His problem is that he’s a bad skater, and for the rest of his skillset it might be bad enough that he’s not worth being drafted. I wouldn’t be too surprised if someone takes him late rounds, but I’d probably say he’s not a pick.

Brother is the NHL'er Alexei. Young for the 2024 draft as a mid-July birthday. Has 8+25=33 points in 44 games.

 

austin63867

Registered User
Nov 13, 2018
513
605
His skating seemed average, which isn't terrible for being 6'3 and bulky. His offensive game and playmaking IQ makes me think he'll be taken potentially some point around rounds 3-5 as of right now, especially if you think he can become like his brother.
 
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Pavel Buchnevich

"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Dec 8, 2013
60,018
26,736
New York
Seems like a reach. Very poor skater. Padded his stats on a bad team. Got outscored pretty handily by a 2025 draft eligible who likely won't be a first rounder.

I'm a big advocate for USHL players, but I think they took him too early because of his brother and could've waited a few more rounds.
 

pgfan66

Registered User
Jun 26, 2019
1,286
1,151
All of the Caps beat reporters said he looked better than expected skating, and Mahoney (Caps AGM) called him out for it as well when rookie camp wrapped up. So yes, he’s probably pretty sure.
“Impressive skating” and “better than expected skating” are two very different things to me.
 
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