A highly skilled Russian prospect that has flown under the radar. Plays anywhere he can facilitate looks up front. Has seen very little experience in the KHL as the staffs must feel he hasn’t advanced his game to one where he chooses the correct paths of action that lead to success. He IS a creator more than willing to make a play than scoring. His KHL absence may be partially to his skating with lack of pace, lack of patience, and lack of engagement at this juncture. In the VHL, he took on the role as primary drive ron his line, but when elevated he was acting in a supporting role that generated sustained offensive attacks. Has really advanced hockey IQ, but whenn you see him trying to work at a lower pace, and only able to emabrk at a faster pace in staright lines, you wonder that there has to be a lot more grwoth before he is considered a top prospect. He isn’t using his skating speed to dominate and his flashes of puck handling at the higher level of play. This is not a player whose skills will stay buried in the environment where his skill thrives but his abilty as a primary play driver sputter.
–Bill Placzek–
