Igor Chibrikov (3.75 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C+) Defense
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, May 2020: What is there not to like about Igor’s potential? He’s massive. He’s competitive and smart. And he’s got good feet right now which are only going to get better. I mean let’s be honest, an NHL team isn’t going to draft him with the hopes of him turning into a number 1. He’s going to get drafted to play a very specific role of reliable five on five player who makes smarts decisions with the puck and is an absolute beast while short handed. It’s that simple. Does an NHL team or General Manager think that Igor can be a 5 or 6 in a few years and be a plus killer? And that answer is yes. He’s worth the shot every day, it’s just trying to figure out where. If I’m running an NHL team’s draft and I’ve been able to draft an offensive type defenseman in the first couple of rounds then Igor is my man in the fifth. You can’t teach size, but I think you can improve every other aspect of his game that is going to help him play in the NHL.
February NHL Draft Rankings, February 2020: Igor was ranked #141 in Neutral Zone’s February NHL Draft rankings with a ‘C+’ grade.
OHL – Owen Sound Attack Prospect Update, November 2019: A lanky defender with a massive reach, at 6’7, Igor is among the tallest players in the Ontario Hockey League. Chibrikov is showing a consistent level of steady defensive play in each of our viewings so far this season. A defense first defender with good defensive instincts, defensive focus (attention to detail) and strong compete in his zone. Chibrikov was rarely caught out of position in this tight checking defensive game. Each viewing he continues to show improved skating and puck handling ability. Chibrikov is a first unit penalty killer and is effective at clearing the front of his net and winning loose pucks to start the transition up ice. He was also clean and efficient in his zone with the puck and rarely got into trouble on the forecheck. A player we would like to see improve his offensive game – we do not expect to see Igor managing the power play this season but he needs to continue to work to get pucks through on target and present himself as a secondary option in the offensive zone more often. Game Grade: C Other 2020 NHL Draft hopefuls that were evaluated in this game: Mark Woolley, Nolan Seed and Joshua Samanski.
Owen Sound at Kitchener NHL Prospects, October 2019: Igor is a lanky defender with a massive reach, at 6’7, Igor is among the tallest players in the Ontario Hockey League. A defensive defender who has developed his mobility and puck management skills since our viewings in his 2016/17 Minor Midget season. Igor plays as a top pair defensively and is a key penalty killer who shuts down the opposition quickly. He is most effective when he is physical using his large frame to protect the net. We feel he thrives in battling situations where he can break down the cycle and win corner battles. Igor showed good puck composure while breaking down forechecks and used the boards effectively to find his teammates in breakout situations. He plays a simple steady game and blocked a number of shots during penalty killing situations. Igor needs to continue to develop in the defensive transition game. There are occasions where he has difficulty with his gap control on quickness allowing his opponents a lane to the net. Game Grade: B- Other 2020 NHL Draft hopefuls that were evaluated in this game: Donovan Sebrango and Ville Ottavainen.
OHL Draft Top 300 Ontario Rankings, March 2017: Igor was ranked #67 and had a 3.75 Star Amateur Rating heading into the OHL Draft. Brandon Coe #6, Billy Constantinou #10, Ty Jackson #15, Robert Calisti #16, Hayden Fowler #25, Dylan Jackson #30, Cole MacKay #37, Cam Supryka #85, Jack Quinn #113 and Zachary Uens #180 are late 2001 birth years who Neutral Zone has scouted this year for the 2020 NHL Draft.
Toronto Marlies Holiday Tournament, January 2017: Tall, slender, two-way defender with puck handling ability, mobility and passing skills. Igor plays the offensive attack well with tight gap, is not overly physical but plays the body well. Igor is very strong in his own end at winning pucks and has the ability to quickly transition pucks up the to the speedy Reps forwards. He is among the biggest of a very large defensive core on the Mississauga Reps. It is easy to see why the Reps are a very strong defensive team in the 2001 group.