| Maxim Ilyichyov | Russkie Vityazi Chekhov | MHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 154 | Ufa, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Ilyichyov is a hardworking, two-way forward with good offensive upside. He plays a very calm game and is not affected by pressure applied when the puck is on his stick. He forechecks hard and is not afraid to get dirty along the boards. He drove up ice with confidence but was not able to beat opponents 1v1 consistently. His best rush came in the second period where he pushed wide with speed, used his body to keep the defender away from the puck while he cut to the net, then slid a perfect pass to his teammate in the slot for a dangerous look. His decision making was poor at times. He forced passes that were not there and got a bit lazy with some of his choices, resulting in turnovers in bad spots on the ice. He was given time on the penalty kill and was able to effectively shut down opponent’s lanes/chances. Not his best game tonight but worth a look as a potential late round pick based on other viewings.
| Yegor Bashlykov | Russkie Vityazi Chekhov | MHL | R | C | 5’8″ | 148 | Moskva, RUS | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Bashlykov is a skilled offensive leaning forward with quick feet and a high motor. He is undersized, standing 5’8 but makes up for it with his high paced play and playmaking ability. He explodes up ice with the puck and enters the zone with a plan. He was able to draw defenders to him to open up space before sliding the puck to a teammate in the other direction. He remains calm under pressure and was able to complete passes despite multiple defenders attacking him. His motor remained strong without the puck as well. He applied good pressure on the forecheck and joined battles, digging pucks off of the wall and moving them to space at times. He makes deliberate scans with and without the puck. He makes sure to look over his shoulder multiple times to get a good look at the zone before retrieving the puck. Bashlykov is a quick offensive playmaker with some upside but his lack of size and inconsistent scoring this season will likely keep him from being drafted.
| Pyotr Saranov | Russkie Vityazi Chekhov | MHL | L | C | 5’10” | 165 | Moskva, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Saranov is a high energy forward who scored a goal on the power play tonight. He plays with a very high motor and does not give up easily when hunting the puck. We were impressed with his hard forechecking effort and how active he was in the defensive zone. He plays the game at a good pace and does a great job of slipping into open space when the puck is not on his stick to support teammates. His goal came on the powerplay where he snuck into the slot before burying a feed with a one-time finish past the goalie. He showed off a heavy wrister multiple times tonight. There were times where he had some trouble handling the puck but made up for his fumbles with hard pressure to attempt to make up for his mistakes. Good energy and heart from Saranov.
| Vladislav Bondar | MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva | MHL | R | D | 6’1″ | 176 | Moscow, RUS | 2006 | 2024-2025: B |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Bondar is a two-way defenseman with good size. His skating is poor. He moves with a very choppy and ineffective stride that holds him at a very slow pace. He showed some flashes of skill with the puck on his stick, executing an agile line walk and completing some passes to start breakouts. Overall, he has a lot of trouble controlling possession, especially under pressure. He showed good effort, hustling after loose pucks. He finished checks when there were opportunities to. Some flashes of good play but his skating and lack of puck handling hold him back.
| Ivan Kirilin | MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva | MHL | L | LW | 6’0″ | 183 | Klin, RUS | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Kirilin is a forward with a big frame. He has heavy feet and takes a while to accelerate. He showed good effort chasing after pucks and joining battles. He showed the ability to make effective decisions with the puck. One example came in transition where he spun back towards the blue line after entering the zone to avoid pressure then his teammate entering the zone late to create a better look. This showed some brains with his ability to read the play in front of him and stop up rather than force the puck through a defender. Kirilin was noticeable but is far from a positively contributing forward.
| Khetag Gagiyev | MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva | MHL | L | D | 5’10” | 165 | Vladikavkaz, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Gagiyev is a very mobile defenseman who is able to complete creative plays under pressure and rush the puck with confidence. He is a very agile skater, able to stop and start on a dime and cut away from pressure. He moves the puck around well and is able to remain calm under pressure to complete difficult passes. One of his most impressive plays came behind his own goal. He was under attack from multiple forecheckers, and he chose to bounce the puck off of the back of the cage around his opponents and pick it up on the other side, escaping pressure and jumping into wide open space to break the puck out. He is a very creative problem solver. We would like to see him take some more risks offensively. He was not able to generate too many chances with his passing and due to his skillset, we believe there is more under the surface waiting to be tapped into. He is unlikely to be drafted but has potential to become a good offensive defenseman in the KHL if he is willing to put in the work to take his game to the next level.
| Amirkhan Gusniyev | MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva | MHL | L | C | 6’0″ | 203 | Moscow, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Gusniyev is a skilled forward that wears the ‘C’ for his team at 17 years old. He showed off some soft hands with quick toe drag moves to beat opponents. He did a great job of staying in motion to find better space. He consistently snuck behind the defense and became a target. On one occasion he generated a dangerous chance by slipping into the slot and opening his hips towards the puck. He received a pass and in one fluid motion, pulled off a smooth drag move around the defender and walked in 1v1 with the goalie. He wasn’t able to finish the chance but nearly tucked it inside the post. He showed some playmaking potential in transition by making quick, smart decisions to move the play up ice. No points tonight but Gusniyev showed some ability to create chances in multiple ways using his skill and IQ.
Scout: Henry Lawrence