Miro Aaltonen – McKeen's Hockey

Russia 2019-20 Season Preview: Top Prospects to Watch

Alessandro Seren Rosso — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 14:19:13 +0000

The 2019-20 KHL season started around one month ago, but as the season is still young it is still possible to have a look at the teams and the players seeking possible surprises or confirmations of previous assessments. Who are the contenders? Who are the top prospects in the league? Are there any 2020 draft candidates getting significant time on ice? This article will focus on players who are playing in the KHL or have a good chance to play in the KHL, although it will touch on prospects from lower levels towards the end.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - DECEMBER 16: forward Kirill Kaprizov (77) of Russia National Team celebrates the score during Euro Hockey Tour Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Finland on December 16, 2018, in VTB Ice Palace at Park of Legends, Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Anatoliy Medved/Icon Sportswire)

Western Conference

Championship contenders

CSKA Moscow - The reigning KHL champions, led by Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota) and Mikhail Grigorenko, and backstopped by Ilya Sorokin (Islanders) started the KHL season on a positive note and is now the second seed in the Tarasov Division, in a prime position to try to win back-to-back titles. Kaprizov is currently among the league’s top scorers, with Mikhail Grigorenko not so far behind. CSKA is again counting on strong production by undrafted Konstantin Okulov, whose contract is set to expire this spring. CSKA Moscow has a high number of players in a contract year and is likely to see most of them actively seeking NHL options next summer, including Okulov.

SKA St. Petersburg - A perennial contender, this summer SKA lost a few key players, the most important being Nikita Gusev, and started some kind of rebuild, focusing on a younger roster. However, the team currently sits on second place in the Western Conference. Vladimir Tkachyov is having a career year and is looking excellent on the attack for the St. Petersburg franchise. In goal, undrafted Alexei Melnichuk is posting incredible stats as he won the starting goalie position off Pyotr Kochetkov (Carolina), who didn’t look sure between the pipes. Melnichuk’s contract is set to expire next spring. Blue chip prospect Vasili Podkolzin is yet to score his first KHL points, even if he already played ten games with St. Petersburg.

Vityaz Podolsk - The main sensation of the first month of the regular season, Vityaz is now the first seed of the Western Conference, led by the former Washington Capitals star Alexander Semin. Vityaz is mostly a young, fast, and well-coached team without many superstars or hot prospects, but with solid options on both offense and defense like Semin and former NHL prospects Jakub Jerabek and Miro Aaltonen. While it’s hard to think that Vityaz will keep the pace for the whole season, it is certainly interesting to see what the underdogs can achieve.

Eastern Conference

Championship contenders

Avangard Omsk - Runners up last year, Avangard Omsk, coached by Bob Hartley, strengthened up their lineup signing former NHL prospects Sven Andrighetto and Nikita Scherbak – among others. After a strong season last year, it is expected that Artyom Manukyan (Vancouver) will make another jump forward in his progress, however he is still out with an undisclosed injury. 2019 fifth-round pick Arseni Gritsyuk (New Jersey) had a strong start in the MHL and it is expected that Hartley will call him up at least once this season.

Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg - The Ural franchise made some noise this summer signing former Stanley Cup champion Pavel Datsyuk and also managing to sign to a new four-year deal with their top prospect, Anatoli Golyshev (Islanders). However, Datsyuk only played a couple of games and Golyshev is yet to debut this season as both picked up injuries in the summer. Avtomobilist was excellent in the regular season last year but failed during the playoffs – this season they will certainly want to revert the trend.

Ak Bars Kazan - After a disappointing first-round exit last time around, Ak Bars tried to shake things up hiring former Boston Bruins forward Dmitri Kvartalnov as their new bench boss. The team also got fresher blood into its lineup and is now featuring Danila Zhuravlyov (Colorado), and Dmitri Voronkov (Columbus) – both already scored their first points in the KHL. As usual, Ak Bars have one of the best lineups in the league, and among its leaders we can find Canadian forward Justin Azevedo, in his sixth season with the team, one of the longest-serving foreign players in the KHL.

Top NHL prospects to watch

Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota) - One of the best players in the league, Kaprizov is currently the KHL top scorer and one of the hottest prospects around. An offensively gifted player, Kaprizov can find the crease from multiple positions and showcases great poise.

Ilya Sorokin (Islanders) - The netminder is young, but already a veteran in the KHL and is as usual posting monster-like stats backstopping a very competitive CSKA side. Just like Kaprizov, he is set to move to the NHL after the 19-20 season as his contract will expire.

Vasili Podkolzin (Vancouver) - The 2019 first-rounder isn’t looking out of place, even if he has yet to get on the scoresheet. So far, Podkolzin has only enjoyed limited time on ice, but it might change after the WJC, especially if he has a strong performance there. Podkolzin is finding it a bit hard to translate his game to pro hockey thus far, but it is most likely just a matter of time.

Alexander Romanov (Montreal) - Last year’s WJC top defenseman started the season on a positive note with CSKA with his usual calmness and reliability in the defensive zone. He is patrolling the blue line with great poise and is growing at a good pace.

Andrei Altybarmakyan (Chicago) - Changing teams was good for Altybarmakyan, who is now enjoying top line minutes with HK Sochi and is scoring at a good rate. A technically-sound player, the St. Petersburg native with Armenian roots is poised for a strong 19-20 season and perhaps a call to the national team.

Artur Kayumov (Chicago) - Lokomotiv had a rocky start of the season, failing to find the net with consistency, but Kayumov already netted two pucks and is certainly going to get more as the season goes on. The smooth-skating forward is making good strides forward, but is still at least at a couple of years before he can have a real chance in the KHL.

Grigori Denisenko (Florida) - Denisenko was expected to take on a prominent role with Lokomotiv, and while he had some time on ice, he hasn’t delivered so far. Now the team has changed its head coach and anything can happen – but a player with his talent should start to score as soon as possible.

Danila Zhuravlyov (Colorado) - The gifted defenseman is enjoying a good role in a stacked Ak Bars lineup and this is also a great sign of trust from his coaches. Zhuravlyov is delivering with good performance on the blue line and some interesting offensive runs, but he should be less shy and play and shoot the puck more regularly. That being said, he has all the time in the world.

Dmitri Voronkov (Columbus) - Zhuravlyov’s teammate is also enjoying a good time on ice and has earned his coaches’ trust and has already scored his first KHL goal as well as had his first fight this year. Not overly physical, but a player who isn’t shy of the physical play, he can play on either center or wing and can develop into a very solid option for the bottom-six lineup spots at the NHL level. His versatility and strong play of this season can earn him a trip to the 2020 WJC.

Kirill Slepets (Carolina) - The breakaway specialist has yet to play in the KHL this year as he played only in the VHL, the Russian’s second tier league, but is expected to have his debut soon. He has some of the best wheels in Russia and it will be exciting to check how he will fare with the pros.

Pavel Dorofeyev (Vegas) - A smooth skater with soft hands, Dorofeyev is one of the few positive things for Metallurg so far in the season as the team is now sitting in one of the bottom spots in the Eastern Conference standings. Dorofeyev is developing nicely and is expected to play a leading role at the upcoming WJC.

Daniil Misyul (New Jersey) - The physical defenseman is a great competitor and a player who plays bigger than his size. He needs to cut down penalties and become more involved in the offensive play – his production mostly lies on his cannon of a shot – but he has all the tools to develop into a capable NHL defenseman.

Honourable Mentions

Nikolai Kovalenko (Colorado), Pyotr Kochetkov (Carolina), Artyom Manukyan (Vancouver), Anatoli Golyshev (Islanders), Rushan Rafikov (Calgary), Danil Savunov (Arizona).

Top 2020 NHL draft prospects to watch

Yaroslav Askarov, SKA - The best goaltending prospect in Russia, at least since the times of Andrei Vasilevsky, Askarov is now playing pro hockey in the VHL and is expected to have his KHL debut soon. Will he start at the 2020 WJC?

Rodion Amirov, Salavat Yulaev - The forward has a great shot and an excellent nose for the net. A late-2001 born, he recently had his first KHL assist and certainly his first KHL goal is just a matter of time. First-round talent.

Alexander Nikishin, Spartak - A player with an NHL body and smooth hands, Nikishin is an offensive defenseman who likes to join the rush and play the puck. He is finding himself often on the ice for Spartak and this means that the late-2001 born is on the right path to become a reliable player in the future.

Shakhir Mukhamadullin, Salavat Yulaev - The defenseman is having steady ice time on a strong Salavat Yulaev lineup, and this is something that you meet rarely in the KHL. He needs to keep on working and gaining weight, but he has all the tools to become a first-round selection this year.

Alexander Pashin, Salavat Yulaev - A gifted scorer with a smallish frame, Pashin has yet to have his debut at the pro level. He started very well this season in the MHL, but he needs to gather more experience. After a strong performance at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, many scouts have his name on their draft list.

Marat Khusnutdinov, F, SKA
Pavel Tyutnev, F, Lokomotiv
Maxim Groshev, F, Neftekhimik
Ivan Didkovsky, F, Dynamo Moscow
Vsevolod Skotnikov, G, CSKA
Maxim Beryozkin, F, Lokomotiv
Dmitri Ovchinnikov, F, Sibir
Kirill Kirsanov, D, SKA
Ilya Rychkov, F, SKA
Maxim Motorygin, G, Dynamo Moscow

Older players

F Nikita Rtishchev

D Mikhail Gordeyev

D Danila Galenyuk

Top undrafted players who can make the jump next year

F Konstantin Okulov, CSKA

G Alexei Melnichuk, SKA

F Daniil Vovchenko, Severstal

Toronto – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 11:57:55 +0000

Apres Matthews, le deluge. After Matthews, comes the flood. The Brian Burke era in Toronto, begun with so much truculence and aggression – at least from the front office – ended with a whimper. As good as Phil Kessel was in Toronto – and he was good, even if he could never live down the price paid to get him – the Maple Leafs were a decade-long tire fire, broken up only by the vagaries of a strike-shortened season.

Freed from Burke and his pugilistic bent to team building, the Leafs tanked hard and began the rebuild with a hyper-skilled approach to the draft. In three consecutive years, Toronto had a top ten choice and maxed out on each, selecting William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews in consecutive years.

In the latter two years, the Maple Leafs also had a number of extra picks to play with and it seemed like each and every selection was made with upside in mind. In fairness, the organization left over by Burke was fairly barren, with Connor Brown and Josh Leivo representing the best of a bad lot. Even with the top picks of those two drafts already NHL stars, nine of the 20 players drafted in those two classes are ranked among the current top 20. The talent influx was so great, the Leafs had to literally walk away from three of the players they selected, for sheer lack of available contract space.

Not only did the Leafs run out of contract room. Between the high end players drafted, and a few others signed as free agents from Europe, the team found itself at the draft this year with a loaded talent base, and now actually in need of some of character players. If not exactly hearkening back to the days of “truculence and aggression”, they have now turned their sights on players who, while not lacking in skill, are more fitting to the high-energy, two-way types that new head Coach Mike Babcock likes to use to fill out the bottom end of the NHL roster.

Whereas in the last two years they took hyper-talented players like Dmytro Timashov, Martins Dzierkals, and Adam Brooks with their mid-round picks, all three offensive minded junior hockey producers who made up in points what they lacked in size and strength, this year, those middle round picks were used on Vladislav Kara, Fedor Gordeev, and Ryan McGregor. These three all have in common questions about their offensive skills, and plaudits about their two-way games. They also all have projectable frames, especially the 6-6”, 215 pound Gordeev.

A system can never have enough talent in its ranks, but there is something to be said for having diversity in the types of talents available. The approach to their 2017 draft class is not necessarily a statement about a new direction for their scouting staff, as much as it an admission that they did not have enough of that type of player and that the talented youngsters they already had did not seem like locks that they could remain effective when playing down in the lineup. That said, some of the putatively offensive players in the system have already been accruing experience playing bottom six minutes in the AHL, such as Timashov, and Trevor Moore.

Timothy Liljegren

1 Timothy Liljegren – Seen as one of the top draft prospects 12 months ago, Liljegren’s draft year was slowed by being repeatedly shuffled between levels and teams, as well as a bout with mononucleosis. One of the best skaters available in the 2017 draft class, his raw puck skills verge on the elite, although they have not often showed themselves yet in game situations. Can be devastating when he plays the aggressor. Effectiveness in his own zone comes and goes, but flashes enough to expect that part of his game to grow and improve with time and steady development.

Toronto Maple Leafs Right Wing Kasperi Kapanen (37). (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire)

2 Kasperi Kapanen – One of the main pieces coming back to Toronto in the Phil Kessel trade, Kapanen took a big step forward last year, finally converting his mature and toolsy game into high end offensive production. A strong skater, he regularly shows good instincts with and without the puck. He has quick hands, which he combines with good patience with the puck. Plays with high energy and effort levels. Showed in the NHL playoffs that he was ready for a middle role with the Leafs.

3 Travis Dermott – Although he missed a stretch of time to injury, when healthy Dermott was showed a dynamic, puck moving modern day game from the blueline in his rookie pro season. Undersized, but he maximizes every inch and pound of his frame, catching opponents off-balance with some explosive hits. Can create danger with the puck on a rush. Very mature defensive game highlighting aggressiveness and positioning. Heads up player who loves to walk the line.

Carl Grundstrom HELSINKI, FINLAND - JANUARY 4: Sweden vs Finland semifinal round - 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

4 Carl Grundstrom – A hard working forward with a strong and diverse collection of offensive tools, Grundstrom’s prospect stock took a big step forward last year between great performances for Sweden at the WJC, for Frolunda in the European champions Hockey League and in a late season cameo with the Marlies in the AHL playoffs. An excellent skater with a high hockey IQ and great hands, he is expected to play in Sweden again this year, but could be in the NHL sooner than later.

5 Jeremy Bracco – Ending his junior career on a high, winning both a WJC gold medal and a Memorial Cup, Bracco’s decision to leave Boston College only five games into his freshman season seems to have paid off. He is a fantastic skater with breathtaking puck skills. Undersized but with a nose for the net, he will sometimes play possum only to strike with deadly force once opposing defenders are occupied with one or other of his linemates. Has near elite hands.

6 Adam Brooks – The two-time defending assist leader in the WHL is finally going to bring his sublime passing skills to the AHL this year. Forced into an overage WHL season due to the Marlies’ numbers crunch last year, Brooks creates plays for linemates more through his high hockey IQ and instincts than through pure puck skills. Although undersized, he is more than functional in his own zone and plays a valuable role in getting the puck back and beginning the transition to an offensive attack.

7 Josh Leivo – Along with Garret Sparks, one of only two prospects left in the system from the Brian Burke era, Leivo plays with some of the jam that characterized that time in Maple Leafs’ history. Hampered by injuries throughout his pro career, he produced very well with the NHL club when healthy last year, but that was rare. A solid skater with energy who loves to crash the net, this year is likely his last chance to break through with Toronto.

8 Joseph Woll – By far the highest upside goalie among all netminders in the system, Woll had a very promising first NCAA season with Boston College. Very strong at blocking the bottom half of the net, thanks to quick legs. Likes to challenge the shooter when the puck is straight ahead, but will play deeper in his crease the closer the puck is to the walls. He reads plays fairly well, but can get in trouble due to sloppy footwork.

9 Andreas Borgman – A dynamic skater with great acceleration who relishes open ice hits, Borgman signed as a free agent this spring after helping to lead HV71 to an SHL title. He plays a two-way game, although his play is stronger in his own end than when supporting the attack. He reads the play well and tends to keep a tight gap. His upside is somewhat limited due to his moderate offensive tools, but between his skating and his off-puck work, he will play in the NHL.

10 Calle Rosen – It is not by design that the two talented Swedish blueliners signed by Toronto this offseason rank one next to the other. Of the two, Rosen is more physically unassuming, but carries a bomb from the point. He is also a powerful skater who demonstrates good puck control and precise passing. He is advanced positionally, but can exhibit a general lack of poise when playing without the puck. Has top four upside, but needs own zone refinement to get there.

11 Andreas Johnsson – A smart, smallish player with great instincts, Johnsson proved last year that his game can translate nicely to North America. While he was not the offensive force that he had been in the SHL, he was still able to flash soft hands and a very hard shot. Has a special talent for getting off clean shots through a maze of legs. Will play in the dirty areas, but avoids getting directly involved in puck scrums. Can get to a second gear with his feet.

12 Frederik Gauthier – Although he has less offensive upside than anyone on this list, excepting (probably) the goalie, Gauthier is almost exactly what Mike Babcock looks for in a fourth line center. Huge, with a gigantic wingspan, he plays a strong possession game and is great defensively, particularly on the penalty kill. Solid skater for his size. Has good faceoff technique. Can be used for tough shifts, leaving the favorable situations for his more talented teammates.

13 Kerby Rychel – An offensive force as a junior, Rychel’s game has slowly been morphing into that of his father Warren’s since turning pro. Of course he will never be a 1980’s style goon, but it is fair to point out that he has gone from a bruising power forward with good discipline to a bruising, undisciplined power forward. To his credit, he is a strong skater and he loves to unleash his powerful shot. Attitude issues helped him get traded from Columbus. Will need to earn his chances with Toronto.

14 Martins Dzierkals – The most effective player on last year’s Latvia entry at the WJC, Dzierkals is an exciting player with great puck skills. Drafted out of Latvia before moving on to Rouyn-Noranda, the Maple Leafs had an extra year before needing to sign him to an ELC, so he will play with the Marlies this year on an AHL-only contract. He is a dynamic offensive threat who grades very well on both his skating and puck skills. Plays with more jam than many players his size.

15 Yegor Korshkov – A big physical winger who’s playing style seems more geared to the North American game than the KHL where he is now entering his fourth season. Korshkov uses a variety of shot types to threaten opposing netminders, although his release could stand to be quicker. Although his shot is the stronger tool, his tendency is to play in a passing role. A 200-foot player, his KHL contract expires after this season.

16 Eemeli Rasanen – As awe-inspiring as Rasanen’s towering 6-7” frame is, he also has game to go along with his length. A very good skater, particularly for his size, can be part of the rush instead of only a trailer. His short area quickness still needs refinement. Better at moving the puck around than teeing one up from the point. Came along defensively in leaps and bounds in his first OHL season. Very comfortable at closing gaps and pushing opponents to the walls. Uses his size, but plays clean.

17 Andrew Nielsen – A big boy with an even bigger shot, Nielsen was the runaway scoring leader among Marlies’ defensemen as an AHL rookie, thanks largely to his cannon. In many cases, the facts embedded in the last sentence would be enough for a top ten or even top five ranking. Nielsen lands here due to his clunky, slow skating. He can get away with it at times in his own zone due to great reach and a willingness to get inside opponents and force them to the outside.

18 Dmytro Timashov – A fantastic scorer in the QMJHL with sublime playmaking skills, Timashov still flashed those elements of his game in his first pro season, but struggled in general at even strength. He was still able to get himself into position to score, but was not able to capitalize nearly as much as he did as a junior. Although short, he is stocky, and his stature should not be what holds him back. Needs to prove he can produce on a depth line before moving up.

19 Miro Aaltonen – A small skill player, Aaltonen had a great season in the KHL before signing as a free agent with Toronto. Never signed by Anaheim, which drafted him in 2013, he developed for a few years in Liiga before his year in Russia. He can be selfish on the puck, has a strong enough shot that his approach often pays off. Will shoot from anywhere. His skating is average at best, which results in him disappearing from the action when the puck is not on his stick.

20 Rinat Valiev – Although his second pro season was beset by injuries, Valiev still has a lot to recommend him as a potential third pairing NHL blueliner. He has a solid frame, coupled with excellent mobility and edge work. He makes smart plays in all zones and helps the puck keep moving in the right direction. Can play a very strong game, as well, although could do better at maintaining discipline. Has been passed on the Toronto depth chart, but still worth keeping an eye on.

Even with so many breathtaking young talents already established in the NHL, the Maple Leafs still have an upper echelon system bursting with the next wave. Fully rebuilt from Brian Burke’s mismanagement, Toronto has been able to target different types of players giving the system both breadth and depth. The next question the management team will have to answer is how it plans to integrate their youth now that there is legitimate NHL talent up and down the NHL roster.

Scouting Reports: Russia – Kirill Kaprizov, Miro Aaltonen, Ilya Samsonov, Klim Kostin, Alexei Lipanov

Roman Solovyev — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 14:59:13 +0000

McKeen's welcomes Roman Solovyev. Roman was born in Glazov, a small town in the Udmurtiya region of Russia, and home to longtime NHLer Fedor Tyutin. Having been based in Moscow for the past 10 years, he has spent countless hours watching KHL and MHL games. He began analyzing prospects in 2011 when he first attended the World Junior U-18 tournament. He has since visited the past six WJC U-18s as well as the previous five WJCs. He works as a reporter for Championat.com, a large Russian website. Previously, he spent over four years with the Russian News Agency covering hockey and other sports.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. 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.

Kirill Kaprizov	2015 Draft (135th - Minnesota Wild)
Position: LW, Shoots L	H/W: 5-9", 185 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Salavat Yulaev Ufa, KHL (47-20-22-42-64)
	Russia U20, WJC (7-9-3-12-2)

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 26: Canada forward Mathieu Joseph (11) collides with Russia forward Kirill Kaprizov (7) during the World junior Hockey Championships on December 26, 2016, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Dan Hamilton/Icon Sportswire)

Skating: Kaprizov has improved his skating, and is now a guy who is really hard to hit when in full stride. His post-WJC play was hampered by injuries, but his plus skating was still apparent. He could stand to gain an extra half-stride, particularly before moving to North America to play on the smaller ice surfaces. This applies to both his first few steps and his top speed. His current pace of play is most deadly against tired opponents. Grade: 55

Shot: He is currently one of, if not the, best shooter in the KHL. While he occasionally prefers to pass than to take his shot, the shot itself is special. His main drawback in this category is his tendency to sometimes overplay the puck before shooting, thus minimizing the potency of the attack. He could stand to be more aggressive with his shooting. Grade: 60

Skills: Kaprizov is a great passer, especially in power play situations. His range extends from faceoff dot to faceoff dot. He tends to overplay one-on-one situations, but he is a very dynamic player already. He is also the rare player who has the ability to catch passes in his feet needing only one or two moves to get it up to his stick and ready to move. His puck skills are reminiscent of Alexander Radulov. Grade: 60

Smarts: Kaprizov has high level hockey IQ. His reads of the game, in all zones, rates as plus. Obviously, it is on offense where his vision sticks out the most. He can create chances on his own and also has the sense to find rebounds or other loose pucks and put them away. Grade: 65

Physicality: As he is undersized, there is the perception that Kaprizov cannot handle puck battles in the rougher areas of the ice. That perception is wrong. He has good strength for his size and he is very difficult to knock off his feet. He will also finish his checks and shows no hesitation to engage physically. Grade: 50

Summary: In Russia, many have compared Kaprizov with Sergei Mozyakin, who never played in the NHL, and is known as one of the best European forwards who never crossed the ocean. Kaprizov is very hard to beat, knows how to avoid checks, and owns strong possession skills and the type of shot that can find the net from nearly anywhere in the offensive zone. He is also a very positive and confident player, something which is demonstrated both on and off the ice. His contract will expire in 2018 and he is expected to move to North America at that time. Until then, he will continue to improve.

Miro Aaltonen	2013 Draft (177th - Anaheim Ducks)
Position: C, Shoots L	H/W: 5-10", 170 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Vityaz Podolsk, KHL (56-18-25-43-28)

Skating: Aaltonen is not a very dynamic player. He will go for long stretches in games where he is invisible. A decent skater, this trait helps him to protect the puck and makes some plays. He needs to improve in this area to get to the next level. Grade: 50

Shot: Aaltonen likes to shoot and tries to shoot in every possible situation. He has a quick release and has no problem in beating goalies top shelf from very close range. It seems like half of his assists have come from deflections or rebounds following his shots. Grade: 55

Skills: The Finnish born KHL’er needs to improve on his faceoff skills. He wins far fewer faceoffs than most of his import peers in the KHL. On the plus side, Aaltonen is a plus playmaker and has a propensity for feeding partners with some sweet passes. Grade: 55

Smarts: Aaltonen has good instincts, particularly when it comes to picking his moments to shoot the puck. The downside to being a good shooter is that he can come across as a selfish player. Grade: 55

Physicality: Undersized, Aaltonen tries to avoid physical play. He definitely needs to improve upon this aspect of his game before his expected transition to the North American game. Grade: 45

Summary: There were not high expectations for Aaltonen in his first season in the KHL, but not only has he been excelling, so too have his linemates. Although he has good passing skills, Aaltonen does play a selfish game a bit too often. He projects as a middle six forward and power play specialist who may need to be sheltered at even strength. Aaltonen's contract with Vityaz is about to expire and many expect him to move to North America upon its conclusion.

Ilya Samsonov	2015 Draft (22nd - Washington Capitals)
Position: G, Catches: L	H/W: 6-3", 2000 lbs
Stats to date (GP-GAA-SV%)	Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL (26-2.26-.933)
	Russia U20, WJC (6-2.11-.930)

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 16: Russia's Ilya Samsonov #30 makes the save against USA's Auston Matthews #19 while Mikhail Sergachyov #5 and Kirill Belyayev #28 look on during preliminary round action at the 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Athleticism/Quickness/Speed: Samsonov is very quick in the net, particularly considering his size. He moves like a netminder 3-4 inches shorter. While this tendency is more often than not to his credit, it can sometimes bite back due to unnecessary movements putting him out of position. He is very quick in his crease, and gets down on his pads very swiftly. He sometimes shows some difficulty in getting back to normal position, so he usually finish the play on his pads. He stands out for his ability to go from post-to-post to cover cross-passes. Grade: 60

Compete/Temperament: He stays cool in every game, without letting his emotions out, but like many young goalies, he will sometimes give up a stinker and get his team out of the game. That said, as we saw during the World Juniors, giving up a bad goal would not take Samsonov out of his game. Like all successful goalies, he has a short memory. Grade: 60

Vision/Play Reading: Samsonov has room to improve in this aspect, especially in regards to reading the shooter. His weaknesses against penalty shots were not only apparent in the WJC against Troy Terry, but he was also victimized in similar situations in the KHL. As far as reading the turn of play, he generally does a solid job of anticipating the movement of the puck. Grade: 55

Technique/Style: Samsonov is on the path to finding the style of play the works best for him. He can sometimes make remarkable, scrambler saves, a-la Hasek, but still needs to show more efficiency and avoid making the play harder for himself. An example of his developing style was seen with his frequent forays behind the net in the WJC. Also, as mentioned above, he spends more time on his pads than many other goalies. Grade: 50

Rebound Control: Samsonov is quite consistent regarding rebounds and it is not easy to score on him. He specializes in following the puck, allowing him to get into position to stop any potential follow-up efforts by the opposition. Grade: 55

Puck Handling: The former Washington first rounder has shown improvements in his work with the puck. In practice drills, he shows that he can even shoot the puck wherever he wants, demonstrating at least the capability to assist in the transition game, but in game situations, he still makes his share of mistakes when trying to do something from behind his own net. Grade: 50

Summary: Samsonov is the type of goalie who can win games by himself. He is a fighter in net who never gives up on a play, and with his exceptional athleticism, that mentality often pays off for him. He needs to cut down on unnecessary movements in the crease, and to understand how and how often he should try to play the puck. Although still very young, he has all of the makings of a starting netminder in the NHL.

Klim Kostin	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: LW/C, Shoots L	H/W: 6-3", 195 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Dynamo Moscow, KHL (8-0-0-0-27)
	Dynamo Balashikha, VHL (9-1-0-1-4)

Klim Kostin at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Tournament

Skating: Kostin is a heavy player, and he needs to find better balance between his frame and his weight in order to showcase real speed during game action. At present his skating is roughly average. Grade: 50

Shot: Kostin's shot is not a consistent part of his play. Most of his goals, such as in his standout performance at the Ivan Hlinka tournament, were scored not with a straight shot, but through a tip-in or on the rebound. Even prior to his season-ending injury, there was an open question as to what type of offensive power Kostin could bring and that will remain a question going forward. Grade: 50

Skills: Kostin has a good set of skills with the puck. He can score from penalty shots and on breakaways. In terms of his play with the puck and ability to drive the net with force, he reminds a careful observer of former Dallas first rounder Valeri Nichushkin. Grade: 55

Smarts: Due to limited ice time this year both before the injury - due to playing as a teenager in the KHL - and after, assessing Kostin's hockey IQ is an exercise in speculation. He has shown the ability to read plays, and has a knack for getting himself into good scoring position. Grade: 55

Physicality: This is an area that may have been hampered by his injury, but looking back at his play at last year's WU18 tournament, Kostin likes physical play and he has the frame to support that style of game. Grade: 55

Summary: This has been a very frustrating year for Kostin. He entered it with big expectations heaped upon him, but a shoulder/collarbone injury absolutely destroyed his chances of contributing meaningfully. He played with the injury from the start of the season and that prevented him from reaching his potential, and has since been ruled out for the year. He has the type of frame that is well suited to the small rinks of the North American game, but needs to show better skating ability as he can look heavy at times.

Alexei Lipanov	2017 Draft Eligible
Position: C, Shoots L	H/W: 6-0", 165 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Dynamo Balashikha, VHL (17-3-4-7-6)
	HK MVD Balashikha, MHL (11-0-3-3-6)

Alexander Lipanov at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Tournament

Skating: Lipanov's slight figure allows him to skate fast with plus agility. This grade is also a function of his impressive work ethic. At one moment, he will be battling for the puck behind his own net and the next moment he is flying down the other side of the rink. Grade: 55

Shot: The young center has a good shot, but he prefers a playmaker's game. This is a very stereotypical Russian developmental hurdle, as many Russian teenagers are seemingly afraid of taking their shots, in situations where players from other nationalities would fire away. Grade: 50

Skills: Lipanov has a great set of puck skills in his bag. He can play at the point, kills penalties, is a key man on the power play, and generally likes to play in every possible situation. His puck skills also come to the fore in one on one situations. Grade: 55

Smarts: Lipanov demonstrated his ideal role when lining up with top 2018 draft prospect Andrei Svechnikov. He positions himself well to cut off passing lanes, and as mentioned above, plays a key role in all manpower situations. He plays the point on the power play in deference to his plus vision. Grade: 55

Physicality: Physicality is not a big part of Lipanov’s game. He is undersized and tends to play a smaller man’s (although not necessarily a fearful one’s) game. Grade: 45

Summary: Lipanov is a real two-way centerman. He has great puck skills, and plays with a sense of determination. The areas where he has the most room for improvement are in his shooting prowess and his physical play. While he will increase in size as he matures, the shot is more a function of needing repetitions.

NHL Prospect Watch: Anaheim Ducks

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 16:35:30 +0000

Anaheim Ducks' fans are among the biggest beneficiaries of the AHL’s decision to open up a Pacific division to house the affiliates of the West Coast-based NHL teams. Perhaps not as fortunate as Sharks' fans, whose up-and-comers get to play in the same arena, nevertheless the Ducks’ affiliate, based in San Diego, is only 90 minutes away in ideal traffic conditions. Maybe three hours in regular Southern California traffic.

Beyond proximity, the new Gulls' franchise has also seen many of the most highly touted Ducks' prospects suit up for their fans this season, among them former first rounders' Nick Ritchie and Shea Theodore, as well as others of intrigue such as Nicolas Kerdiles, Stefan Noesen and Brandon Montour.

With help from Hockey Prospectus author Jason Lewis (@SirJDL on twitter), we will review here a few of the more impressive Gulls this season as well as a few more who might be Gulls in the year or two to come.

The highest profile prospect to suit up for the AHL affiliate was winger Nick Ritchie. A former 10^th overall choice in 2014, Ritchie sticks out for his size and stickhandling abilities. Listed at a burly 6-2”, 232, he utilizes every pound on his frame on the ice. He relishes playing in the difficult areas of the ice and knows how to use his strength to his advantage to win board battles for the puck. He fits the Western Conference profile of a forward who can play dirty, play down low and score. While his initial NHL experience has been trying, with only one goal and one assist in his first 26 games, he fared much better in the AHL, with 28 points in 33 games, excellent numbers for a first year pro who only turned 20 two months into the season. Ritchie is a mule on the puck, very hard to dispossess him when he has it along the boards or down low and has a quick shot release, which will help him score with regularity from scrums near the crease going forward. His skating is still a work in progress, as he is not slow, but lacks much wow factor in terms of acceleration.

Considering the limited minutes he has received in the AHL, averaging under 12 minutes TOI per game, his development would have been better served with more time away from the spotlight in San Diego. On the other hand, in spite of his lack of offensive production, his possession figures have been strong in protected shifts and he has been a willing crasher and banger. Further, with the Ducks strong second half play, Ritchie has gained valuable experience – and will gain even more in the postseason – that will come in handy as he works his way up the depth chart in the coming year or two. The premature NHL time may delay his ascent to a top six role, but that is still his expected destination in the near future.

Just as high end as Ritchie on the Gulls roster this year has been two way blueliner Shea Theodore, also a first year pro. Theodore spent more of his with San Diego, getting only 13 NHL games as of this writing. Ironically, he produced three times as many points as his aforementioned teammate in half the games. His possession numbers were also stellar, without the benefit of protection. Whereas Ritchie excels in the power game, Theodore’s skill set lends itself far more to finesse and smoothness. For a team that is already stacked at the NHL level with young and mobile defenders along the caliber of Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindhold and Sami Vatanen, having Theodore waiting in the wings is almost unfair. The former Seattle Thunderbird is a fantastic skater in either direction and is a veritable weapon from the point, equally comfortable winding up for the slap shot, releasing a quicker wrister or passing to a better positioned teammate.

He sees the ice well and does a good job carrying the mail up the ice, or distributing the puck when more appropriate. While not known for his defensive game, he does not lack in that area either. He will never be a pure shut down defender, but his positional sense, willingness to sell out to prevent an opposition play and general ability to clear the zone should be sufficient to see him as part of a second unit, if not paired up with a more traditional defensive-minded partner on the first pairing. The biggest hurdle left for Theodore to climb is the presence of his aforementioned teammates. There were rumors earlier this year that the Ducks may be shopping one or both of Vatanen and Fowler. Without trading at least one of those – most likely Vatanen, a pending RFA – there will be no role for Theodore to take. The British Columbia native will be ready for a full time position in the NHL to start next season. While a few more months in the AHL would not hurt him, he is not far from being in a position of extracting diminishing returns with additional seasoning.

Theodore’s equal as an offensive blueliner is his current Gulls teammate Brandon Montour. A former second round pick, Montour went from scoring a point per game in the USHL to nearly matching that feat in the AHL in the space of two years. Put simply, he is an offensive dynamo. He is a well above average skater with great hands. He will always support the rush and more often than not, will actively participate in it as well. He has an excellent point shot and uses it judiciously, as he knows how to get it through traffic without being blocked.

As good as Montour is when the Gulls have the puck, he is equally as dangerous without it. Very eager to get the puck back, he will make many, many poorly thought out risky decisions, leaving his team in an awkward situation as he recovers from losing position. As fast as he is, very few defenders can recover in time from the positions he finds himself in due to over exuberance. His physical game is also lacking, making him a net negative in his own end. Assuming the Gulls can recover the puck, he finds himself useful once more at orchestrating the outlet, but does not do enough to assist in the process of regaining possession. In spite of his awesome offensive production in the AHL in his first full season as a professional, there is a good reason for his not being given a call up this season. Even as the game evolves, and teams are more likely to choose skill over brawn, there is still little patience for risk, unless even when overwhelmed by reward. See the trials and tribulations faced by Norris winner PK Subban in Montreal for a prominent example. Not that Montour is another Subban, but rather he is much riskier from a defensive perspective, meaning he is less likely to earn the trust needed to get the ice time and prime power play opportunities that Subban does. Assuming he continues to work in his defensive play, Montour could emerge as a powerplay specialist type who is limited to a 4/5 role at even strength. If he doesn’t, T.J. Brennan is the template. Another year in the AHL is a near inevitability.

While not as exciting as the three previously featured prospects, San Diego had a trio of other forwards of note suit up there this year with decent likelihoods of NHL careers ahead of them. Former second rounder Nicolas Kerdiles. Now in his second pro season, Kerdiles does not stand out in any one facet of his game, but neither does he have any glaring weaknesses. An intelligent and versatile forward who can play center or on the wing, he has moderate offensive ability to go along with shutdown center qualities. Frequently used to kill penalties, he has increased his offensive production in his second year in the AHL. It is hard to see a future wherein he scores much more than 30 points per season in the NHL, but that is solid work for a bottom six forward who contributes in his own end. Kerdiles should be ready for an extended NHL trial next season.

Also worth mentioning is Michael Sgarbossa, who came over from Colorado in a minor trade last March. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of the OHL’s Saginaw program by San Jose, he has proven himself to be a strong AHL producer over four pro seasons. His puck skills are solid, but not good enough to be a carrying tool if that was all he could bring to the table. Thankfully, he also has a knack for finding seams in coverage, making strong passes and is responsible enough to be used to kill penalties as well. He may be a tweener, in the sense that his skill set is not clearly strong enough for a top nine NHL role, but can sometimes look like the best player on the ice in the AHL. Nevertheless, a pending RFA, he has earned a longer NHL look than the nine games across two seasons he has so far received.

The last player I was to discuss from the San Diego squad is Czech winger Ondrej Kase. The former seventh rounder is an exciting player with good wheels and solid puck skills, but this year is unfortunately a wash for him in his first season since coming over from Europe. Having returned in the past two weeks, he is already showing why he might soon be regarded as a draft steal. Nonetheless, the down time this season can only be seen as a major disappointment.

A talented player in a similar situation to Kase is NCAA forward Kevin Roy. Undersized at 5-9”, the former fourth rounder has scored at over one point per game throughout his four year stay in the collegiate ranks. In looks last season, Roy showed himself to be a skilled playmaker who plays with a very high panic threshold, allowing him to take positional risks offensively than less brave players would not. Injuries greatly hampered his play this year, but he is now healthy and will look to try to lift a decent Northeastern squad into the NCAA tournament before considering a likely contract offer from the Ducks.

Another collegian who should be on the receiving end of a contract offer shortly is Minnesota-Duluth captain Andy Welinski. Not a standout in any part of the game, he has been a solid NCAA blueliner, proficient in his own zone with strong gap control and a good enough shot from the point that will not look out of place in the AHL. His offensive production was decent for UMD, but never really improved after a solid freshman season. The lack of progress may limit the Ducks offer to an AHL contract only, but the floor of his ability is high enough to warrant at least that, if not more.

Looking to Europe, I received a strong report from Hockey Prospectus contributor Miika Arponen on Finnish winger Miro Aaltonen who compared him to Jere Lehtinen in style. A complete player with a strong own zone game, there have been unconfirmed rumors that the former seventh rounder could make his way to North America in the offseason after three and a half good season in Liiga.

Finally, a few words about the Ducks 2015 first rounder, Swedish defenseman Jacob Larsson. In the midst of a strong rookie season in the SHL, Larsson took some time out to represent his country at the WJC. Another highly mobile defenseman in the Anaheim pipeline, Larsson can absolutely fly when he sees a lane through the zone. He has a high panic threshold and will not rush a shot or pass due to pressure. I would like to see his awareness improve, but playing a full season in a men’s league at age 18 is impressive. His size is also a point in his favor and he has demonstrated that he can be tough to play against in the corners. There is still plenty of room for growth, but he is starting at a very good spot.