Hi Everyone!
A bit out of time now, but I managed to finish my start-of-the-season watchlist (yes, it's more of a watchlist than a ranking) of draft-eligible Russian prospects. Some say that this draft year is weak, but, to be honest, I don't really care, as so far I really like the Russian draft class. I also thought about the format of the watchlist and, since my posts have received such a good reception here, I decided to go with a 'straight out of my head' style - to write a description of my very very raw impressions of these guys. Of course, those impressions will change during the course of the season, but I hope it will be fun this way too. :)
1. Klim Kostin (W, 6'3", 196 lbs; Dynamo Moscow, KHL/Dynamo Balashikha, VHL/HK MVD Balashikha, MHL)
Klim Kostin is #3 at Bob McKenzies rankings, so I guess it is not a surprise that he is #1 at my list. Big kid, plays a creative game and definitely can finish. Heard of Nichushkin comparisons, but I think those are a lazy ones, it might sound a bit funny due to size difference, but Kostin's hands and vision remind me of Panarin a bit. And yes, so far I'm a fan.
2. Nikita A. Popugaev (W, 6'5.5", 202 lbs; Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL)
Popugaev is a really big bird, got some wheels and is a solid finisher, definitely can gain some more power though, so the result could be scary for his opponents.
3. Kirill Slepets (W/C, 5'10", 146 lbs; Loko Yaroslavl, MHL)
Slepets got really quick hands that can dribble, make a pass or shoot the puck with a quick release. That, while being a bit lightweight, sounds somewhat like Buchnevich. A bit of a slow start this season, but he was pretty good last year, at least good enough to make top 3 in my list.
4. Pavel Koltygin (C/W, 6'0", 192 lbs; Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL)
Koltygin was always credited with being able to provide some physical power at high mobility, so here Nichushkin comparison might be in place. Was also credited as a biggest Russian talent for this draft some time ago, but missed a lot of time last year due to injury.
5. Mark Rubinchik (LHD, 6'0", 181 lbs; Saskatoon Blades, WHL)
What I like about Rubinchik is that he seems to be playing that patient "think first" game, just like Provorov, that's why I have him a bit higher than other D prospects here.
6. Dmitriy Samorukov (LHD, 6'2", 181 lbs; Guelph Storm, OHL)
Comparing to Rubinchik, Samorukov plays more dynamic and aggressive game, a bit like Sergachyov, except Sergachyov is in another league of physicality. Actually for Samorukov I like Marchenko comparison more.
7. Artyom Minullin (RHD, 6'2", 202 lbs; Swift Current Broncos, WHL)
Here I have to plead guilty: Minullin should belong in the 'limited view' part, as I haven't seen him enough to evaluate him properly yet. Still too much of good things heard about him, so I decided to put him here.
8. Georgiy Ivanov (W/C, 6'0", 187 lbs; Loko Yaroslavl, MHL)
I was extremely surprised when I found out that he is just 6'0": kid plays aggressive and much bigger than his size in a blink of an eye he will be in front of the net and noone will get him away from there before he has done all his stuff.
9. Ivan Chekhovich (W, 5'10", 176 lbs; Baie-Comeau Drakkar, QMJHL)
Some good hands, vision and hockey sense here reminds me of Dadonov in that way.
10. Alexey Lipanov (C/W, 6'0", 165 lbs; Dynamo Balashikha, VHL/HK MVD, MHL)
Since I have compared Chekhovich to Dadonov, I will have to compare Lipanov to Shipachyov, as they had played together for so long. And actually that comparison has something about it Lipanov is also a great skater, passer and a hard working type.
11. Yaroslav Alexeyev (W, 5'11", 145 lbs; Sherbrooke Phoenix, QMJHL)
Undersized kid with good hands and a finishing touch sounds like Tolchinskiy, maybe a bit less electrifying though.
12. Daniil Tarasov (GK, 6'3", 163 lbs; Tolpar Ufa, MHL)
Tarasov was one of the main reasons for Russia U18 NT decent result at WJC, he looks to be combining a modern patient goaltending style with some breathtaking saves and in that way Bobrovsky comparison is the first thing that comes to my mind. Unfortunately Tarasov got seriously injured recently, so he will miss at least couple of months of the season.
13. Ivan Kozlov (W/C, 6'0", 209 lbs; Val-d'Or Foreaurs, QMJHL)
Kozlov was able to be pretty dominant physically at the U18 WJC and in this way I think he could be the next Dergachyov (yes, skating is a question here too).
14. Kirill Kozhevnikov (W, 6'1", 203 lbs; Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk, KHL/ Mamonti Yugri Khanty-Mansiysk, MHL)
Kozhevnikov is pretty strong and can really skate and shoot the puck. Already debuted in KHL and looked pretty interesting there, seems to be a bit of a North-South guy like Guryanov. A good candidate to become a sleeper pick.
15. Maxim Zhukov (GK, 6'3", 181 lbs; Green Bay Gamblers, USHL)
When I first saw Zhukov I thought that I didn't see this kind of size and mobility combination since Vasilevskiy. Unfortunately he let in everything he could at the U18 WJC and reportedly had somekind of issues with coaches at Loko team, so now he went after a career restart in USHL. He is only 15-th on my list just because I totally don't know what to expect from him now.
LV
Limited viewing group players, who I think could be interesting, yet all are more or less mysteries to me now:
German Poddubny (C/W, 6'1", 183 lbs; Erie Otters, OHL)
Daniil Vertiy (W, 5'11", 206 lbs; North Bay Battalion, OHL)
Kirill Maximov (W, 6'2", 190 lbs; Saginaw Spirit, OHL)
Daniil Sokolka (W, 5'9", 166 lbs; Acadie-Bathurst Titan, OHL)
Maxim Marushev (C, 6'0", 175 lbs; Irbis Kazan, MHL)
Vladislav Kazamanov (RHD, 6'2", 183 lbs; HK MVD Balashikha, MHL)
Dmitriy Rodionychev (LHD, 6'3.5", 229 lbs; HC Sarov, VHL/Chayka Nizhniy Novgorod, MHL)
Artyom Melnikov (GK, 6'0", 161 lbs; Loko Yaroslavl, MHL/Loko-Yunior Yaroslavl, NMHL)
Alexey Toropchenko (W, 6'3", 187 lbs; HK MVD Balashikha, MHL)
Overagers (in no particular order - just wrote them down as soon as I remembered)
As usual (at least in the last years) we have a lot of talented draft-eligible overagers, and, as we can see, NHL teams are not shy of picking those nowadays. So here is my top overager watchlist (in no particular order) with a description of what I expect from them this season.
Vladislav Sukhachyov (GK, 5'10.5",181 lbs; Chelmet Chelyabinsk, VHL/Belie Madvedi Chelyabinsk, MHL; 1 year overage)
Sukhachyov is stopping almost everything on each level he plays (now in VHL). The thing that he went undrafted because of his size is pretty much absurd to me.
Vladimir Kuznetsov (W, 6'2", 208 lbs; Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL; 1 year overage)
Also a notable undrafted kid, can prove that he got enough firepower to make everyone forget about skating issues.
Yevgeniy Mityakin (W/C, 6'3", 198 lbs; Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, KHL; 1 year overage)
Big kid who is a bit slow at his transition to pro hockey, but should get his chance nevertheless. Got injured at the start of the season though, so he'll miss some games.
Mikhail Sidorov (RHD, 6'0", 214 lbs; Ak Bars Kazan, KHL; 2 years overage)
Strong right handed D, who quickly became a full-time defender at Ak Bars team and that can be considered as kind of a quality mark.
Yegor Voronkov (LHD, 6'0", 183 lbs; Vityaz Podolsk, KHL; 2 years overage)
Voronkov already got WJC experience last season, so now we are hoping he will get some bigger role there.
Alexandr Polunin (LW, 5'9", 172 lbs; Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL; 2 years overage)
For Polunin the biggest question is if he is good enough even without Kraskovskiy and Korshkov, he should get the chance to prove it at this WJC.
Kirill Pilipenko (W/C, 5'9", 183 lbs; Dynamo Balashikha, VHL/Dynamo Moscow, KHL/HK MVD Balashikha, MHL; 2 years overage)
Those, who have followed my lists/posts, probably noticed that I really like this skilled kid, this year I'm hoping for a breakout performance from him.
Yegor Zaitsev (LHD, 5'11", 185 lbs; Dynamo Balashikha, VHL/Dynamo Moscow, KHL/HK MVD Balashikha, MHL; 1 year overage)
Zaitsev has made everyone talk about him this KHL preseason and is continuing to look solid in VHL.
Artyom Volkov (LHD, 6'2", 194 lbs; Dynamo Balashikha, VHL/Dynamo Moscow, KHL/HK MVD Balashikha, MHL; 2 years overage)
Another defender overlooked after the unsuccessful 2015 U18 WJC, will try to prove them wrong at the U20.
Nikita Makeyev (RHD, 5'8", 168 lbs; Zvezda Chekhov, VHL/Krasnaya Armiya Moscow, MHL; 1 year overage)
Small defender already established himself as a VHL regular at the start of the season it's hard not to root for this guy.
Artur Tyanullin (W/C, 5'10", 173 lbs; Ottawa 67's, OHL; 2 years overage)
Once touted as the most talented 1997 born Russian player, Tyanullin needs to remind us about that and do it already this season.
Daniil Miromanov (W, 6'4", 193 lbs; Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL; 2 years overage)
Big two-way kid had a high-scoring preseason, so probably we can expect something good this year.
Igor Shvyryov (C, 6'0", 205 lbs; Stalnie Lisy Magnitogorsk, MHL/Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL; 1 year overage)
I've criticized Shvyryov for inconsistency last season, but so far at the start of the season he is very impressive.
Andrey Altybarmakyan (W, 5'10", 183 lbs; Serebryannie Lvy St. Petersburg, MHL/SKA-Neva St.Petersburg, VHL; 1 year overage)
Great start of the season in MHL, got called up to VHL and is totally fine there too.
Anton Krasotkin (GK, 6'0", 179 lbs; HC Ryazan, VHL/Loko Yaroslavl, MHL/Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL; 2 years overage)
Krasotkin has a reputation of the 'second after Samsonov' and this status should allow him to show what he's got at the SuperSeries.
Vladislav Lukin (RW, 6'1", 196 lbs; Tri-City Americans, WHL; 2 years overage)
Getting 6 points in one WHL game is pretty intriguing, let's see what happens next.
Andrey Svetlakov (C, 6'0", 203 lbs; CSKA Moscow, KHL/ Zvezda Chekhov, VHL; 3 years overage)
Svetlakov's teammate Maxim Mamin got drafted as a triple overager this year and I don't see why Svetlakov couldn't repeat that.
Maxim Mizyurin (C, 6'3", 203 lbs; Val-d'Or Foreaurs, QMJHL; 1 year overage)
Physically gifted center, who was considered a big talent a year ago, decided to try to leave Omsk and go to the Q.
Ivan Kosorenkov (W, 6'0", 189 lbs; Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL; 1 year overage)
A very common opinion on Kosorenkov was that he would be drafted if he had enough exposure, this season he should have enough of it.
Yegor Babenko (W, 5'9", 157 lbs; Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL; 2 years overage)
Babenko was invited to the main training camp at Arizona, but couldn't earn the contract, I hope that motivates him for a good sophomore WHL season.
Loko line (HC Ryazan, VHL/Loko Yaroslavl, MHL):
Danil Yurtaikin(LW, 5'11", 170 lbs; 2 years overage)
Denis Alexeyev (C, 6'0", 183 lbs; 1 year overage)
Roman Krikunenko (RW, 5'10", 168 lbs; 1 year overage)
This line was pretty dominant at junior level and they are now trying to translate that to VHL. Looking forward to see what they can show at the SuperSeries.
Alexandr Samoylov (GK, 6'2", 179 lbs; Zvezda Chekhov, VHL/Krasnaya Armiya Moscow, MHL; 2 years overage)
Latest entry here, Samoylov just had three huge (and I mean it) debut games in VHL, sounds interesting to say at least.
I think I need to stop here, as I could go on with this list like forever. Now you have an idea what is/was going on in my head at the start of the season. :) As usual, your comments, updates, additions, corrections, contributions and basically almost everything are welcome.
