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Russian Player Report #3: Vladimir Tarasenko Is The Best Prospect |
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In this third instalment I will continue to look at the KHL and MHL players who have consequence and who matter to you. The season is in full swing and we are starting to see some breaks. As always if a player you want to be reviewed isn’t on here tell me and I will keep an eye out.
Draft Eligible -
Zakhar Arzamastsev, Defenseman – The 18 year old has not improved his puck handling skills or his shot which is a bit disappointing, he has been left off the PP now and mainly plays 22 minutes a night of defensive hockey. As an 18 year old he still impresses me with his positioning and hard hits, he’s 6’2 and 198 lbs now. If he can just improve on those stone hands of his he can easily be a Sean O’Donnell, Anton Volchenkov style defender.
Albert Yarullin, Defenseman – Well maybe I jumped the gun here or Ak Bars Kazan is trying their best to rip the creativity out of the 18 year old but he has looked very poor. With no PP time and very limited ice-time he has looked like a liability against the bigger more mature players. I definitely think he needs some MHL time if he wants to keep his development track going forward. Luckily he will be on the WJC squad and can show his wares there otherwise he will likely go undrafted again.
Andrei Vasilevski, Goaltender – TSN seems to have finally noticed the star of the WJC-U18’s he came in at number 64 on their top draftable prospect list. The 17 year old has had a rough go so far in the MHL, his team is brutal defensively and he has had to make 40 stops every game I have seen so far (4). He’s big, he’s talented and he will be drafted but if Ufa can’t learn to play defence he may fall and be quite a steal for some lucky team.
Anton Slepyshev, Left Winger – Well he cooled off sadly after the best start for a 17 year old in the KHL/RSL since Evgeni Malkin and has lost a lot of ice-time. He still gets PK minutes but has lost all PP. He is a great hard working guy who loves to hit, his forecheck is amazing. The more I watch him the more I see Nikolai Kulemin. He may not have top end talent but he makes up for it with his two-way ability.
Drafted –
Yaroslav Kosov – Another player who just doesn’t have that offensive flair. Kosov has been called up to Metallurg Magnitogorsk and has found his niche on the 4th line. He has been quite invisible but then his game is a bottom-6 grinder so for an 18 year old to not be noticed may be a good thing.
Nikita Nesterov, Defenseman, Tampa Bay Lightning – After lighting the MHL on fire he has been called up to Traktor Chelyabinsk, he is such a great player to watch. Smooth skating, nasty hard slap shot and the best elbower/slew footer around. I’m not sure if I liek the promotion, it’s obvious he is too good for the MHL but if he doesn’t get the PP time he deserves it may hurt his development.
Nikita Kucherov, Right Winger, Tampa Bay Lightning - So dynamic yet reduced to 3rd line minutes with no PP time. It confuses me as he always has a few solid chances every game. Sure he has 1 assist so far but they aren't using him to his strengths. I feel like the CHL would be much better for him as his creativity is being stifled for defensive duty at Moskva.
Maxim Shalunov, Right Winger, Chicago Blackhawks - Continues to hear my praise with his size and skill man I love him. He is such a strong kid that he out muscle’s everyone in the MHL. The word is he will be promoted to Traktor Chelyabinsk for its road trip. Right now he sits with 5 goals in 3 games and looks like an absolute steal for Chicago.
Alexei Marchenko, Defenseman, Detroit Red Wings – He hasn't shown his usual offensive prowess and so far has seemed to me timid, he is holding on to the puck too long and making bad choices. At 19 in the KHL he isn't expected to be great but usually he brings a "Wow" factor, this has been absent so far. Look for him at the WJC’s to show his real flair this kid has wheels and some seriously magical passing skills.
Kirill Petrov, Right Winger, New York Islanders – New team new season and he has been on fire. In Ak Bars Kazan he has found a squad willing to let him go all out offense which has improved his game from Yugra who favored a defensive game. They have really let him go in terms of playing his reckless style of scoring. He has 7 goals in 14 games and looks like a new man. In a recent interview he praised Alexei Morozov for helping him.
Maxim Chudinov, Defenseman, Boston Bruins –Holy crap Bruins fans will be happy with this one. He has become the straw that stirs the drink of the best PP in the KHL and is quickly climbing the ladder to best offensive defenseman in Russia. He has 8 points in 11 games and his speed has really been evident. He’s 3rd on his team in points and close to the league lead.
Maxim Trunev, Right Winger, Montreal Canadiens – He started out on fire but has kind of calmed lately, no matter though as I feel his game is well tailored for the 3rd line. He has shown some vicious forechecks and fearlessness he seemed to have forgotten last year. My main praise though is his net drive, he has been a rebound searching machine, now all he has to work on are those stone hands.
Mikhail Pashnin, Defenseman, New York Rangers – The label of bust might finally apply here Ranger fans...sorry. He has shown me nothing so far this year and has played very poorly. His game has always been reliable but lately he has been making poor decisions and bad turnovers. This may just be a rough stretch of games but I expected a lot more out of him especially in the hitting department.
Stars –
Yevgeni Kuznetsov, Center, Washington Capitals – Not a whole lot to add on the future star but 8 goals in 15 games is extremely impressive. My main issue is he doesn’t trust his linemates and being put back at center for the first time in 3 years has not been a great move, he is very greedy and should be a winger. If Caps fans are pissed that OV isn’t scoring anymore have no worry...Kuznetsov averages 9 shots a night. He leads the league in GWG’s with 3 and if you want a win you send this kid out.
Vladimir Tarasenko, Right Winger, St. Louis Blues – So everybody keeps saying the Blues traded Rundblad for nothing and lost the trade...absolutely wrong. They got Tarasenko a name people should start learning if they hadn’t already when he Captained the comeback WJC’s Gold Team. He is second in the league with 18 points in 15 games along with 9 goals to lead the league. He is a superstar and at 19 is the best prospect in the world. This kid has it all especially heart, I could easily see him as a captain in the NHL someday, he already wears an A (Youngest player in the KHL to don one) and there is speculation he may be given the C.
Alexander Radulov, Left Winger, Nashville Predators – Falling on dire straits as the gap between coach and Rads have started rumours that he may be traded or return to the NHL. He is still having a strong season but far removed from his record shattering year last season. 14 points in 14 games is easy for him and he needs to settle with his coach soon or his play might continue to suffer.
Thanks for reading.
Follow me on Twitter @AdamFrenchReal
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