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2025 NHL DRAFT: Kurban Limatov, D, MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) – Detailed Scouting Report (Grades + Video)

Position: D, Shoots: L

H/W: 6-foot-3, 200 Pounds

Date of Birth: 2007-03-20

Kurban Limatov has been one of the best (if not the best) Russian prospects available in the 2025 draft class. Ever since he checked into his first MHL game last season, he has been on a steady incline, improving nearly every aspect of his game to become one of the best defensemen in the entire league. From smooth skating and confidence on the rush to well-timed defensive plays and crushing hits along the boards, he has really rounded out into a player with an NHL future.

At the start of this season, Limatov wasn’t my top-ranked defenseman in Russia, but it’s no surprise that he’s surpassed the competition and quickly created a significant gap between himself and his peers. Last season, he spent most of the year getting acclimated to the MHL, playing it safe and avoiding too many risks. However, as the season progressed, his confidence soared, and it became clear that a dominant two-way defenseman was emerging right before our eyes. When rewatching footage at the end of last season there was a clear upward trend in nearly every aspect of his game and the sense that he would continue this path into his draft season seemed inevitable.

Limatov started the 2024-25 season on fire. He scored eight points in his first four games and 14 points in his first 15. His point totals have leveled off since then, but it has allowed him to show off his impact on the game in many other ways. Offensively he has become a great puck rush defenseman who can weave in and out of lanes, cutting at the perfect moment to avoid checks and enter the offensive zone. Not only has he found current success off the rush but he still looks like he can take this skill a few notches higher. Defensively he has become a positionally sound player who has good timing and instincts, making it very difficult to get around him. He uses all of his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame along the wall and makes opponents wish that they hadn’t challenged him after being thrown across the rink.

Every time I have watched Limatov play this season I always leave impressed by how consistently he performs. Even when the points have dried up a bit, every other aspect of his game seems to remain the same with steady improvements being added over the course of the year.

His game (like everyone in his range) is still a major work in progress. He will need to improve his playmaking and shooting abilities to help his offensive consistency. With that being said, he has constructed a great base to build upon and has shown a lot of potential to continue to improve in all aspects of his game. If all goes well, Limatov could become a true two-way threat at the NHL level.

Skating

He showed flashes of a mobile, fluid skater last season but Limatov took his rush game to a new level this year. He moves up ice quickly with a smooth and agile stride. He utilizes crossovers and skilled edgework to make his way through the neutral zone, quickly switching lanes, and taking advantage of openings that develop in front of him. He has a long powerful stride which allows him to pick up great speed when he is given any runway and it's no mistake when his jersey starts flapping behind him. This kid has wheels.

He has become a very agile skater with an impressive ability to escape pressure with quick stops, starts, and pivots to change direction and burst into space. His line walk game is still a work in progress, but he has shown significant improvements in his ability to read opponents, freeze them with fancy footwork and a quick deke before activating into the zone for a shot.

On the defensive side of the puck, Limatov moves very well backwards and is able to maintain a great gap when shadowing opponents in transition. His mobility allows him to stick with opponents and quickly match their cuts, leaving very little chance to be beaten. He keeps his feet moving in the defensive end and can stick with just about everyone he has faced thus far.

Super smooth off the rush. Makes quick decisions to change lanes and takes the puck into the OZ. This is a moment where I would have liked to see him try to pull up and hit a teammate with a pass rather than the flip on goal. A good example of his rush ability nonetheless

Look at the jersey flap on this play. Crazy acceleration takes the puck from D-Zone to O-Zone in a flash.

Great burst of speed to enter the zone. Forces it a bit and loses control afterwards. Good showcase of his ability to quickly accelerate and transition the puck into the offensive zone.

Great edgework and crossovers to circle the top of the zone into space. Gets the shot off and scores. Love his mobility and smoothness with the puck.

Grade: 55

Shot

Shooting is definitely the aspect of Limatov’s game that needs the most improvement. He is a volume shooter who is not afraid to let shots go from anywhere in the offensive zone. While this is not the worst mindset to have, he really needs to learn to pick his spots and move the puck to a teammate with a better look when his angle gets taken away. He typically chooses to force shots through traffic which very rarely make it through to the net. When he does have an open look, the power and accuracy of his shot make goaltenders live’s rather easy. He sends pucks high over the net and his slap shot leaves a lot to be desired in both form and punch.

With that being said I believe there is room for improvement. Every once in a while, Limatov will finish a strong rush up ice or line walk with a laser wrist shot to the top corner. Some mechanical issues will need to be improved but the combination of upper body strength and the occasional pinpoint accuracy makes me very excited about his potential to see some more shots hit the back of the net after tweaking. A volume point shooter is a dangerous asset when they can consistently hit the net. I think he can easily get there with some focused training this summer.

Best shot of Limatov’s season so far. Walks into space to become an option and rips the puck top corner.

Good clip of his occasional shooting accuracy. Not the hardest or most technically sound wrister but he picks the corner well here. If he can improve his mechanics and power, I think we will be seeing a lot more clips like this in the future.

A shot like this is good enough to find the back of the net in Sakhalinsk but there's no chance a muffin like that enters an NHL net without some luck.

A good example of a forced shot. No reason to fire that. Better play was to be patient and keep moving the puck around. He does make a great play on the backcheck here though. Great effort is a constant from Limatov.

Grade: 45

Skills

Limatov will likely never be a Makar or Hughes as an elite puck handling defenseman but he has more than enough skill to pull off some impressive highlight reel moves every game. He controls the puck well when he moves with speed and purpose and is able to dangle opponents 1-on-1 when pushing up ice with the puck.

He uses an impressive blend of footwork and hands to pull off quick fakes on the offensive blue line to open up lanes for himself to create offensively. His agility allows him to quickly explode in all directions and he has great puck handles for a defenseman of his size.

He isn’t afraid to attempt difficult moves. He challenges multiple defenders and while he can’t do it every time, he is often able to handle the puck through a sea of sticks.

Skilled toe drag around his man at the offensive blue line. He blends this move perfectly with an explosive cut to the net and nearly finishes his chance.

Shifty Sergachev-esque line walk move and deep activation sets up a couple of chances in tight.

#12 in this clip. Great moment on the rush. Essentially goes 1-on-3 and is able to maintain control with a couple of quick maneuvers to settle the play down to set up the offense.

Still issues with Limatov’s handling. He wants to make the flashy play far too often and forces moves through opponents which can be easily shut down by any above average defenseman.

Grade: 52.5

Smarts

Limatov has shown an impressive ability to shut down play in his own end using near perfect timing and angles to pinch opponents off and separate them from the puck. He understands how to use his size very well and has a good sense of when to make his move in order to limit his opponents options. He times his movements well and does a good job to shut down plays using his stick and body simultaneously to seal off his man and steal the puck.

The timing to all of his cuts, fakes, and pivots are very impressive. He reads opponents body positioning very well and exploits those that give him the opportunity to do so. He has begun to learn how to drag guys to a spot and quickly shift the opposite way, leaving them in his dust.

His vision is also much better than I think he gets credit for. He does a very good job of reading what’s in front of him and making quick decisions based on all available options. Off the rush, he is able to quickly switch lanes before opponents have a chance to apply pressure. In the offensive zone he keeps his head up and is able to find the appropriate option more often than not. His playmaking game still needs a lot of work. There are plenty of examples of him finding the right option, but there are many more clips of him attempting to force passes through clogged lanes or forcing a shot when a pass is clearly the better option.

This clip could be placed in a couple of categories but it is one of my favorite Limatov goals of the season. He pulls off a skilled deke around his man at the line and attempts a give and go by firing the puck down the wall and cutting to the net. His teammate doesn’t take advantage but when the puck is passed up to the point, Limatov reads the cycle and sets up in front of the net. When the shot comes, he has a great screen of the goalie and is able to get a stick on the puck for a tip in goal. Good awareness and execution on multiple levels during that play.

Sees the opportunity to pick up a loose puck and quickly walks deep into the zone. As he gets deeper, he picks his head up and quickly hits his teammate in the slot with a crisp pass to set up a goal. Passing plays like these are not super common with him right now but moments like this show that he has the right state of mind to create offensive chances, can quickly choose a quality option, and execute his decisions.

Nice set up here. When the puck reached Melnikov at the top of the circle, Limatov quickly cut back to make himself a more open target. As he is receiving the pass, he picks his head up and hits a teammate in the crease for a redirect finish off the shot pass. Good instincts and quick decision making.

Good showcase of his ability to pick lanes. He reads what is in front of him and acts accordingly. I like his second cut where he draws the opponent wide and then cuts back to the middle to enter the zone. Forces the play 1-on-3 but lots can be built on that skating/processing ability.

Takes a great angle and keeps his feet moving to stay ahead of his man and angles him into the wall with a strong check to shut down play.

Reads the play well and stays patient while planning his attack. He leads with the stick to tie up the puck and then shuts it down with his shoulder.

Grade: 55

Physicality/Compete

Physicality has become a very big part of Limatov’s defensive game. He is not a wrecking ball looking to cause havoc on every single play like some, but when he steps up for a hit or goes into the corner, his opponent definitely feels it. He has great timing and instincts lining his man up and then shutting them down with his body, leaving no time or room to escape. He prefers quality over quantity. When he has a player locked into his sights, there is a good chance they are going to be picking themselves off the floor seconds later.

He never gives up on plays either. He keeps his feet moving, keeping up with some of the fastest players in the MHL and forces them to the outside with strong physical play and a heavy hit to finish off the play. He takes great angles to force players away from the net and if they attempt to challenge him physically with a cut to the inside, he has more than enough strength to stop that plan in its tracks.

Limatov claims another victim on an attempted zone entry.

Good example of his strong board play. Literally shoves his opponent to the ice to end the battle. Almost looks effortless.

Almost gets beat after freezing behind the net but turns on the jets and outworks his man to the corner, sealing him off with a strong check into the glass and forcing a turnover and sets up a breakout.

Takes a great angle to cut across and shut down the rush with a big hit.

One of my favorite defensive clips. He nearly gets turned by a quick opponent but doesn’t give up on the play. He gets his feet moving and uses his strength to keep his man to the outside, forcing him behind the net where he meets a violent end.

Grade: 57.5

OFP: 54

A note on the 20-80 scale used above. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.