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Six through Ten Top Russian Prospects |
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Part two. This is always when it gets harder, especially with so many players to choose from. I should have explained it in the first instalment, but the cut off for “Prospect” status was 50 games in the NHL. I know that this is a pretty harsh description especially when most of those guys haven’t fully developed themselves, but I needed some way to whittle it down.
6. Nikita Kucherov Right Wing (58th Overall, 2011) 19 Years Old, CSKA-Krasnaja Armija Moskva MHL, Property of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Kucherov as alluded to in the previous blog has insane chemistry with Mikhail Grigorenko, they are by all accounts extremely close friends. Kucherov is a highly talented and versatile forward. He has elite speed and all the fancy moves you’d expect from a high flying winger. What makes him so interesting is his style of play which he adapts to fit with different linemates. There are times where all he’ll do is rush down the wing and fire, mainly when playing with grinders, and then he will change to be a complete playmaker when he’s with talent he trusts. It’s hard to explain exactly, but watching him over the course of one week can let you see so many different styles it’s really something. Like most Russian forwards he has a long way to go to reach the defensive capabilities necessary to play in the NHL. Next year will be interesting as he was drafted in the CHL Import Draft by the Quebec Remparts and it would seem that if Grigorenko heads back there he will follow. That would be the best move for his development; otherwise he’ll be with CSKA Moskva fulltime.
Potential: Top-Six Scorer
Comparable: Mikhail Grabovski
7. Alexander Khoklachev Right Wing (40th Overall, 2011) 18 Years Old, Windsor Spitfires OHL, Property of the Boston Bruins
Khoklachev is a ball of offensive creativity. He has amazing hands and moves, plus he has the ability to predict defenders movements at high speeds. His issues are that he tends to disappear when the going gets tough and the physicality is ramped up. Push him around enough and he becomes a perimeter player, which renders him ineffective. Defensively he needs a lot of work, especially if the plan is to play him at center where he is much more effective since he can carry the puck and utilize his great skills. A lot has been made of his option to be loaned back to the KHL (Most likely will play in the MHL), but it does make some sense. Due to his extremely late birthday, Khoklachev would have to play two more years in the OHL before he could make the jump to the AHL. The Bruins management seem to expect him to be ready sooner rather than later and want him playing against stronger competition. The reason I have him lower than many probably would is that he has major bust potential due to his size and penchant for perimeter play; it might not translate well to the NHL style.
Potential: Top-Six Forward
Comparable: Mike Cammalleri (Though I like Chiarelli’s comp of Scott Gomez when he first entered the league)
8. Nikita Nesterov Defenseman (148th Overall, 2011) 19 Years Old, Belie Medvedi Chelyabinsk MHL, Property of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Russia has always had issues developing defensemen and recently the cupboards are still mostly bare. Nesterov brings to the table all the tools required to be a two-way defender. He has some strong puck carrying skills and an extremely hard shot. His skating is strong and fluid. Defensively he is strong and compact and is good at clearing the front of the net. What is interesting is that Nesterov has a really nasty aspect to his game; he’s got a penchant for getting frustrated and throwing cheap shots (King of the Flying Elbow). He plays in all situations and was the number one defender for Russia at the WJC’s and now the Canada/Russia Challenge. He’ll need to get stronger if he’s going to try and play physical against NHL players since he’s only 6 foot (Generous) 178lbs.
Potential: Top-Four Two-Way Defenseman
Comparable: Andrej Meszaros
9. Andrei Pedan Defenseman (63rd Overall 2011) 19 Years Old, Guelph Storm OHL, Property of the New York Islanders
He’s a bit of a project, but his size and physicality will likely allow him to land a role in the NHL. At 19 he’s already 6’4 and 204lbs, and he loves to throw that weight around. After a rough first season in North America, he took huge leaps in the playoffs and translated that success into a great year for the Storm. While he is used often as a shutdown defenseman, he has untapped offensive potential that really came through with added responsibility last season. His speed is pretty decent for a player of his size, but he does have some issues with the speedier forwards in the league. His development is really interesting to watch and if the Isles can go slow and work on his erratic but very hard shot, he could be a big surprise.
Potential: 3-4 Defensive Defenseman
Comparable: Braydon Coburn
10. Anton Slepyshev Left Wing (Undrafted) 18 Years Old, Metallurg Novokuznetsk KHL
Slepyshev went undrafted this past year which left a lot of people scratching their heads. He was rated anywhere from 15-45 by most respected prospect followers. It came out that during his interviews he expressed that he did not want to leave the KHL for financial and personal reasons until he was at least 22...aka danger danger NHL teams. Now what this will mean is that in 2014 he will be drafted and sign a deal so the team can hold his rights. All that past, Slepyshev is a personal favourite. He plays a great two-way game, but also brings a great offensive package. He is a shoot first player and has a lethal wrist shot. He has deceptive speed and has a very powerful stride that leads to excellent top end speed. He likes to get involved in and around the net and thrives on the cycle. For those watching the Canada/Russia challenge, you’ll probably note that he has been the most consistent Russian forward and he’s running the PK. If it wasn’t for the major uncertainty of his future as an NHL player I would put him even higher on the list. Hard working two-way Russian born players are extremely rare; add his skill and you got serious potential.
Potential: Top-Six Two-Way Winger
Comparable: Patrick Sharp
Notables: Vladislav Namestnikov (Lightning), Nikolai Prokhorkin (Kings), Maxim Shalunov (BlackHawks), Yaroslav Kosov (Panthers), Stanislav Galiev (Capitals) and Ivan Telegin (Jets)
Thanks for reading.
Follow me on Twitter @AdamFrenchReal
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