General Game Notes: An MHL game dominated by the home team, CSKA Krasnaya Armiya. Neutral Zone focused our attention to first time 2024 NHL draft eligible players.
| Alexei Dontsov | Krasnaya Armiya Moskva | MHL | L | C | 5’8″ | 176 | Moscow, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Dontsov is a powerful undersized left shot center with excellent four way agility, and as evidenced by his going 14/17 on face-offs has very quick strong hands. He showed a deep kneed athletic skating base with a full hip-knee-ankle stride and a long smooth glide that carried his momentum forward. Whether he was along the wall or in open ice Dontsov was strong through contact showing the balance and body control to initiate or absorb contact and still be able to make the next play. After making the play he would accelerate past his opponent to stay alive in the play and be a pass receiving option. While in the defensive zone he provided reliable low support by containing his man to the wall and he understood that as a low forward his job was to be there for a 5′-10′ outlet pass when his defenseman needed him. During offensive transition he scanned the ice and showed the game awareness to fill different lanes at different depths and widths so his teammates had better passing option or more ice to carry the puck into if needed. It was obvious that his coaches trusted him as he was forth among forwards with 16:35 in total ice ice, forth among forwards with 4:53 in power play ice time and forth among forwards in penalty kill ice time. Interestingly he was 4/4 on defensive zone face-offs, but did not tale any defensive zone face-offs while shorthanded. On the power play he was used as the slingshot or to swing the net and it was obvious why as he seemed to be fast with that puck than without. He finished the game even with a power play secondary assist, 2 shots, 2 grade ‘A’ opportunities and 2 hits. At this point Neutral Zone has Dontsov as a ‘B-‘ rated 2024 NHL draft prospect.
| Alexei Rodionov | Krasnaya Armiya Moskva | MHL | L | D | 6’4″ | 183 | Krasnogorsk, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Rodionov is a long lanky left shot defensive minded defenseman who defensively takes up so much ice and takes away so much time that he appears much larger than his listed 6’2′. He showed an upright skating posture and at times looked stiff through the hips and shoulders but again he looks much longer that his listed size so maybe has has grown since his last reliable measurement. Skating wise he often played with two hands on his stick which really limited the separation of his upper body from his lower body and this added to his stiffness but he showed above average straight line speed and a smooth pivoting ability for a young player his size. Offensively his passes were flat and he worked well to be a hinge with his partner. In the offensive zone he executed the blueline high cycle and when he activated down the wall he would go to the top of his opponent’s crease whether he has the puck or not. On the night he was second on his team in total ice time at 20:14, second among defenders with 3:49 of power play time on ice and second among defenders with 2:14 of penalty kill ice time. Rodionov finished the game +1 but he was on the ice for two goals for and 1 goal against. On the first goal for he did not earn an assist but the goal originated with him ending a cycle by forcing the puck up the wall and then settling a hot bouncing puck to his backhand then making a 12′ backhand pass to his center option. The play looked simple and harmless but it is the exact type of transition that leads to goals in the National League. His minus occurred off of broken defensive zone coverage where his low forward did not recognize that the opponent’s F2 had quickly fallen into the dot-lane for a one-timer. Rodionov tried to block the shot by getting big low but the shot appeared to deflect off his hip past his goalie to the blocker side. He had nothing to do with the second plus. One thing to keep an eye on is that he had two shots blocked with both coming on wrist shots from the blueline (one on the PP). Overall he finished +1, with 0 shots, 2 hits and 2 shots blocked. Rodionov currently has a ‘B’ 2024 Neutral Zone draft grade.
| Maxim Velikov | Krasnaya Armiya Moskva | MHL | L | RW | 6’1″ | 189 | Moskva, RUS | 2005 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Velikov is an offensively gifted left shot forward who played primarily right wing. He showed a very soft first touch on both his forehand or backhand and he had little trouble kicking pucks in his feet up to his stick blade without breaking stride. Th elate 2005 did not play a very grimy style but when it looked like his team was going to gain possession of the puck Velikov was gone showing real acceleration and anticipation. He earned the primary assist on a beautiful tic-tac-toe goal where as the puck carrier on zone entry he attacked the middle lane and kicked it to his right. After the pass he drove the royal road and then slid off to his right from where he received and one-touched a pass into the high slot where the goal scorer had a wide open net. On the night he totaled 14:59 of time on ice, including 1:48 on the power play, 1:13 while shorthanded. He was even with 1 primary assist, 2 shots, 1 grade ‘A’ opportunity, 1 hit and received 2 hard hits. Velikov currently has a ‘B’ Neutral Zone 2024 NHL draft grade and with added jam he with his offensive skill set he could move higher.
| Ivan Okunev | Krasnaya Armiya Moskva | International | L | C | 5’11” | 161 | Voronezh, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Okunev is an undersized left shot forward who depending on the situation lined-up at both wings. He showed a deep kneed skating posture with a full length stride that propelled him to top speed in a single thrust. He used a full cross-under push to accelerate through turns as well as using the same hard cross-under to create space as a puck carrier when coming out of power turns. As the puck carrier he showed deception as well as the puck skills to carry the puck at top speed without stickhandling and then use a subtle curl & drag to fire snapshots through the defender’s legs (he did this twice while as top speed so it was not an accident). He had one grade ‘A’ opportunity that came after backchecking, popping his opponent’s stick near the redline, then slamming on the breaks to create a 2 on 1 after showing real acceleration to pull away from any potential backcheckers. Among CSKA forwards he totaled a game high 19:57 as well as playing a game high 7:50 while on the power play. On the power play he was positioned as the net front option where used his quickness to slide to an extended goal line when needed or to provide flash screens which was the case on CSKA’s first goal of the game. He did not kill penalties, but we feel that his speed and quickness would be a real asset as a professional. He finished the night -1, with 2 shots, 1 grade ‘A’, 1 hit and received 3 hard hits. At this point Neutral Zone has Okunev with a ‘B-‘ 2024 NHL draft prospect grade but we have a feeling that grade will be moving higher as the season progresses.
| Danila Poroshkov | Krasnaya Armiya Moskva | MHL | R | C | 5’11” | 169 | Ozyory, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Poroshkov is a below average sized right shot forward who played primarily right wing. He showed a sturdy shoulder width skating base and full stride that ended with a toe snap. His glide leg returned to shoulder width and on its flat edge. In the offensive zone he understood how position himself 6′-8′ from the boards so when his teammates wrapped the puck or cycled it to him he already had the space he needed to make passing play or protect the puck. He finished the game with 1 goal and 3 shots on net. The goal came on a quick stick one-timer from the high slot on a very pretty tic-tac-toe passing play that originated with Poroshkov one-touching a pass into his middle lane support than moving his feet to put himself in position to bury the one-timer. His other 2 shots came on 1 on 1’s where he faked to his left to get the defender to open their legs then used the defender as a screen to fire the puck through their legs. Poroshkov played forth line 5 on 5 minutes finishing the night with 12:24 of total ice time including 2:13 on the power play. He did not play on the penalty kill. He currently has a “C” 2024 NHL draft grade from Neutral Zone.
| Nikita Frolov | Krasnaya Armiya Moskva | International | L | RW | 5’11” | 157 | Ryazan, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Frolov is a slightly below average sized left shot forward who played primarily center, but there were times on bad line changes where he recognized that he needed to fill in at either wing and he did so with confidence and an understanding of the winger’s defensive responsibilities. He showed a powerful toe snap stride that allowed him to be at top speed in a single thrust and an easy flat edge glide that allowed him to change direction without his edges digging into the ice to slow him down. His skating base and smooth edges allowed him to change pace and manipulate both offensive and defensive gaps into his favor. During offensive line rushes he recognized when the defender was leaning, he would then art laterally and as soon as the defender opened his legs Frolov showed the touch put passes through their feet onto his teammate’s stick. He finished the night with a goal and a primary assist and on both plays he showed high level puck anticipation and overall game awareness. The assist came on a line rush where his right winger delayed coming over the offensive blueline and then wrapped a puck to the near side post. Frolov recognized the wrap and accelerated towards the puck while looking over his shoulders to locate his right shot eft wing. He then faked going behind the net and gave a perfect pass off the near side post for one-timer goal. The pass was not by accident. His goal came on the power play where he was positioned as the bumper. Over the course of the power play he set picks, popped sticks, kept the power play alive by winning races to loose pucks and then making hard accurate passes on both his forehand or backhand. The goal was a direct result of him keeping a play alive and then showing the puck anticipation to use his body to box out an opponent on his way to a rebound to which he hammered home. On the night he totaled 15:03 in ice time including 1:22 on the power play and a CSKA forward high 2:16 while short handed. He finished +2, with 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 shot, 1 grade “A” opportunity, 5/6 on face-offs, 0 hits, received 3 hard hits and had 1 shot blocked. Frolov currently has a “C+” Neutral Zone 2024 NHL draft grade but with consistent games like this he will be heading much higher.
| Matvei Shuravin | Krasnaya Armiya Moskva | International | L | D | 6’2″ | 165 | Moscow, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Shuravin is an athletic left shot defender who showed a deep knee over toes skating base and a long stride that returned on his flat edge. At this point he has a bit of a heel kick but he is quick and agile so we feel this will naturally correct itself as he gains core strength. Whether it be looking to jump into the play after an outlet pass in the defensive zone, rolling across the blueline for a one-timer or activating in the offensive zone for a scissor or backdoor pass Shuravin was always on the move and very active offensively. We liked how he scanned the ice prior to receiving a pass so he was ready to make the next play without looking hurried. On the night it was very obvious that his coaches trusted him as he had a team high 20:57 in total ice time, a defender high 5:22 on the power play, a team high 2:38 while shorthanded. He finished the night even with 0 points, 1 shot, 4 hits, received 3 hard hit, had 1 shot blocked and blocked 4 shots. On three of his four hits he knocked his opponent off their feet while on the forth hit if the wall wasn’t close by that player would have ended up on their butt as well. At this point Shuravin has a ‘B’ 2024 Neutral Zone draft grade but with continuous games like this one and with his size and athleticism that grade will be moving higher.