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MHL: Kurban Limatov

Kurban Limatov (D, L, 6’4″, 190, MHK Dynamo Moskva, 03/20/2007)

Kurban Limatov is a defensive prospect whose blend of size, mobility, and offensive instincts makes him a high-upside option for the 2025 NHL Draft. Standing at 6’4″ with a smooth skating stride and above average puck skills, he is very good in creating offensive opportunities in all three zones while using his physicality to control play defensively. However, his game is still evolving and growing, particularly in terms of defensive positioning, decision-making when under a heavy forecheck, and maintaining consistency throughout the full 60 minutes. Limatov has the raw tools to become a top-four NHL defenseman but will need development and and might take longer than his draft eligible peers to reach his full potential.

Strengths

Mobility and Skating:
Limatov is an excellent skater for his size, showcasing smooth edgework, quick heel-to-heel pivots, and a long powerful stride. His ability to move laterally and adjust on the fly helps him create time offensively and take away time defensively.
His skating allows him to maintain tight gaps and recover quickly when defending against rushes.

Offensive Instincts and Puck Skills:
He demonstrates confidence and poise with the puck, using deceptive weight shifts and feints to make forecheckers turn off.
Limatov can effectively walk the blue line to expand the offensive zone. He has shown flashes of high-end vision, particularly when activating into the offensive zone via a mid-wall scissor or high-roll.

Physicality and Defensive Play:
Limatov uses his size and reach effectively, closing gaps early and smothering opponents along the boards or in front of the net.
He is not afraid to deliver hard body checks (averaging 1 per game) and is adept at taking away shooting lanes and lifting sticks in tight spaces.

Anticipation and Transition Play:
Defensively Limatov shows a strong ability to read plays and step into passing lanes to break up transitions.
He completes 91% of his passes, often springing quick offensive plays with accurate outlets.

Areas for Improvement

Defensive Positioning:
Limatov can get caught chasing the puck or overcommitting to opponents, leading to lapses in coverage, particularly during quick cycles or high-speed transitions.
His tendency to “do too much” defensively needs to be addressed to improve his reliability in his own zone.

Decision-Making Under Pressure:
While poised at times, Limatov can struggle with decision-making when under a quick heavy forecheck. In those situations he will force plays or hold onto the puck too long, creating turnovers in dangerous areas.

Offensive Consistency:
Despite his offensive tools, Limatov can be inconsistent in translating his skill into production. He occasionally misses key passes or gets caught too deep in the offensive zone without the awareness to recover.
Yes he moves well laterally along the offensive blueline but his shot deception needs improvement, as 1.55 of his attempted shots per game are blocked.

Skating Explosiveness:
While a strong skater overall, his first-step acceleration, explosiveness and overall quickness are still developing.

Key Development Goals
Defensive Positioning: Focus on maintaining structure and not overcommitting to puck carriers or running around his zone.
Decision-Making: Work on quicker, simpler decisions under pressure, particularly in his own zone.
Enhance Shot Deception: Reduce the number of blocked shots by improving timing and accuracy from the blue line.
Increase Explosiveness: Build lower-body strength to improve first-step acceleration and overall quickness.

Projection
Limatov projects as a potential top-four NHL defenseman with the tools to contribute at both ends of the ice. His size, mobility, and physicality are assets that NHL teams covet, and his offensive instincts suggest power-play potential. However, his development path will require patience as he refines his defensive awareness, decision-making, and consistency.

Draft Outlook
We currently have Limatov projected as a late first-round to early second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, with the potential to rise if he shows significant improvement in his defensive awareness and consistency.

Player Comparison
Jaccob Slavin – A mobile, physical defenseman who can contribute offensively but thrives in a shutdown role.

Final Assessment
Kurban Limatov is a high-upside defensive prospect with the size, mobility, and offensive potential to thrive in the modern NHL. While raw in some aspects of his game, particularly defensive positioning and decision-making, he possesses the foundational tools to be an impact player. With proper development and focused coaching, Limatov could become a cornerstone defender with the ability to log significant minutes in all situations.

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