| Danila Sysoyev | Omskie Yastreby | MHL | R | LW | 5’10” | 179 | Achinsk, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: B |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Sysoyev lacked energy tonight. He was often seen standing around and going at a much slower pace than we have seen him play at in the past. He showed very little effort in the defensive zone tonight, standing around and watching play develop. In the offensive zone he showed off some slick moves but was moving so slowly he was unable to pull much off. We did like the number of shots he took. Most missed the net but we liked the choices he made to shoot rather than pass. He has the speed and skill to be a potential impact player but has played at a lower pace the last two times we have watched him and he is slowly slipping down our list.
| Mikhail Akhmetshin | Loko Yaroslavl MHL | MHL | L | C | 5’8″ | 151 | Izhevsk, RUS | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Akhmetshin is a quick forward with lots of skill. He scored a gorgeous breakaway goal on the penalty kill where he stole the puck and rushed up ice making a slick move to the backhand and burying it before the goalie could get across. He finished the goal with a great celebration, posing for the girls in the front row. He also was able to set up his teammate in the third on a 2v0. Poor defense by Omskie set him up in front of an undefended cage and he slid a well timed pass for an easy finish. He also showed off his elite hands again in the shootout attempting to pull of a Kane-esque move where he made about 7 stick handles in front of the cage but Dolgov was able to track it and stop the puck. He has a lot of skill but his size and play style will likely hold him back
| Roman Shokhrin | Loko Yaroslavl MHL | MHL | L | D | 6’4″ | 192 | Nizhny Novgorod, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: B- |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: We were very impressed with Shokhrin’s game tonight and think he is comparable to many of the other top defenseman we have scouted so far from this draft class. We were able to watch him a few times last season and the improvement he has shown in all aspects of his game is incredible. He has gained so much confidence with the puck and shows off high IQ when moving it around in all three zones. He is patient and waits/moves until he can find a good option then fires a crisp pass up ice. His skating is buttery smooth. We liked the way he moved last year but he looked like a baby deer at times and this season he has shed all of those notes. He has a powerful stride, is extremely agile and can go all directions with smooth edgework and quick crossovers. The way he moves out there is uniquely impressive for young defender his size. One of our favorite plays from him tonight was a give and go where he set up a teammate in the neutral zone. He received the pass in the defensive zone, skated over the blueline and made a smooth pivot backwards to put his body in between the puck and a forechecking opponent, he moved the puck to his backhand to avoid a poke then slid the puck perfectly to hit his teammate in stride to keep the rush going. We also liked his work as QB on the man advantage. He made quick hard passes and was able to set up a couple of nice chances. He is a smooth skating playmaker and we can’t wait to watch more of him this season.