| Evgenii (Yevgeni) Kashnikov | CSKA Moskva U15 | International | L | D | 6’4″ | 200 | Gatineau Olympiques | Moscow | 2002 | 2020-2021: C+ |
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, June 2021: If you’re watching the National League playoff’s you realize that 6’4″ 200 plus pound defenders who can skate are at a premium. This doesn’t mean that I think he’s a burner, but what does it mean? Evgennii has low hips, a low center of gravity and excellent knee bend. To me this means that he can carry more weight and possibly be shut down defender. He’s got his work cut out for him when it comes to off ice training, but he has an easy first touch and he seems to understand that every possession doesn’t have to lead to a touch down. If I’m an NHL development coach I would be asking our GM for our list and drooling at the opportunity to work with a big young man like this.
QMJHL: Gatineau vs Blainville-Boisbriand, May 2021: Kashnikov is a massive late 2002 Russian defender. He shows quick feet for his size, with deeper knee flexion than expected for such a large young man. This is his first year away from home as he is still adjusting to major junior hockey and will need to become more assertive in front of his net and along the end walls, but there is a lot to like about his game. He has nice easy first touch, makes hard accurate passes and like to activate as a forth attacker joining the rush. There were a few times that he forced the play offensively, but he recovered quickly while maintaining net side positioning. In a sign of what come Kashnikov had seven take aways compared with only two give aways.