| Timofei Zhulin | Irbis Kazan | MHL | R | C | 5’11” | 168 | Pavlovo, RUS | 2005 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: A
Comments: Zhulin was the best player on the ice tonight and it wasn’t even close. Every time he stepped over the boards, he got to work and battled hard for possession. He gets involved in every board battle and seems to be the first guy to the puck in every race he gets involved in. There were many times tonight where I watched him push hard and win 50/50 pucks with opponents much closer than he was. He applies tight pressure on the forecheck, forcing his target one way while completing harassing pokes to shut down possession. He worked even harder on the back check. Every time he made a mistake or his team lost control of the puck, he got on his horse and pushed hard, ensuring that the error didn’t end up in the back of his net. Timofei’s defensive game is very sound as well. He is always in the right spots in the DZ, is proactive in stepping into lanes to shut down drives towards the cage, and came away with a ton of steals tonight. He has an active stick and uses it to deflect passes and close off lanes. Zhulin finished with 2G1A and could have easily ended the night with more points if he had gotten a couple of lucky bounces. His assist was a gorgeous dish on the power play. He received the puck at the top of the circle and scanned the ice for options. He moved both his head and body to look as if he was going to fire the puck back to the point, then made a quick turn and fired a pass through two defenders, right into the wheelhouse of his teammate for an easy one time finish. He not only showed great ability to deceive defenders and hide his pass targets but also showed a high IQ and great map of the ice through constant scanning. His first goal came on a powerplay in the second period. He set up in his typical spot (Ovi/Stammer’s office) and opened up for a pass to fire a one touch laser, top shelf over the goalies blocker. It was a lightning quick release and perfectly placed through traffic, right into the elbow of the cage. His final goal was an empty netter but he worked his tail off to win the puck and skate it all the way into the cage. Zhulin is able to cover tons of ice with his ultra smooth skating style. He is currently a very fast skater but could improve his speed significantly if he extends his push a bit further instead of the short strides he uses now. It also seems like he might not be going at top speed. It’s almost as if he’s holding back and if he could push his motor up a notch he would easily become more effective in all situations. He doesn’t have the elite hands or puck handling ability that most elite players possess but he is skilled/smart enough to be able to protect the puck with well timed stick handles and by separating the puck from the defender using his strong frame. He did fumble the puck a few times but was mostly a responsible handler. He powers his way to the cage and continues to skate through contact, barely affected by step ups. One play in particular, he got off the blocks quickly from the faceoff and won a race to the puck at the point that he had no business winning based on how close the opponents already were. He picked it up and charged up the ice. The defenseman tried to step up and hit him but Zhulin ate the contact and slipped right past before pushing up ice. Another thing that he needs to work on is slipping into better space to support his team. He was able to generate a couple of chances with well timed cuts to the net but a majority of the time was not very helpful without the puck in the OZ. He went to areas that were already very congested or got too close to his teammates, allowing them both to be covered by one man. Zhulin has a lot to work on but his overall game is very mature. He uses his brain, broad frame, and high motor to out work his opponents and generate a ton of chances. Add this kid to your list because I believe he has the potential to be a late round robbery pick that will provide an extraordinary return on investment.
Logo Courtesy of Irbis Kazan
Player Evaluation: Henry Lawrence