| Alexander Shen | Khanty Mansiysk | MHL | R | LW | 6’0″ | 191 | Nizhnevartovsk, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Shen’s style of play requires him to have a very high motor at all times to be successful. This has been a problem for him this year due to the fact that he has been inconsistent with the amount of effort that he brings each game. Tonight, he was somewhere in between. He is a great forecheck player that uses his brain to make smart reads of opponents choices and shut down play with well timed attacks. He showed off some good pace at times but he would have had a much more efficient night without the puck if he had just picked up his foot speed a bit more. He is trusted with a ton of time on the first penalty kill unit and is able to shut down options by covering lanes with his body positioning and stick extending in front of passing options. He made well timed attacks to shut down chances around the wall and cleared the puck the length of ice many times. Offensively Shen could have benefitted from a higher pace and footspeed in this one. He was able to push play up ice and enter the zone with control by powering past opponents and showing off some skilled dekes. He did not have the speed to fully beat his man and was forced to dump the puck in or fire a low danger shot from distance. He is trusted on the first power play unit and was able to snap the puck around well but did not set up any chances. He showed off some slick hands and was able to pull off some clean fakes angling his body one way before cutting back the other to beat opponents. This was a pretty average performance from Shen. His entire game would benefit from a consistent high motor effort each time he steps on the ice. Maybe some potential as a bottom six forward if he can improve his offensive skill but likely peaks in the KHL or VHL levels.
| Itai Gurevich | Mamonty Yugry | MHL | R | C | 5’10” | 183 | Ramat Gan, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Gurevich is a skilled offensive leaning forward with some potential upside. He has skilled hands and was able to work his way all the way to the slot, snaking his way through the defense on multiple occasions. He successfully transitioned the puck the full length of the ice and was able to help set up on offense. He needs to improve his footspeed and refine his soft skills. He is able to keep up at this level but will struggle against better opponents. His movements can be a bit clunky at times and he is not the most engaged on defense. Solid offensive performance tonight generating some chances and picking up the secondary assist on Yugry’s only goal but he is going to need to improve a lot if he wants to continue playing past juniors.
Scout: Henry Lawrence