| Timur Rogachyov | SKA-Yunior Krasnogorsk | MHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 172 | Voronezh, RUS | 2007 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Rogachyov showed off some smooth skating and the potential to be a solid two way defenseman. He displayed some balanced edgework and good puck distribution ability on the power play from the point. He has decent hands which need some improvement to become more effective possessing the puck and escaping pressure but was able to handle himself out of some difficult situations. He played solid defensively, sticking with his man, staying in position, and closing off sticks to shut down passing lanes. He had a physical step up in the third period where he played the body and shut down the rush with a well timed hit. He is not the most skilled player but has some signs of a potentially solid two-way defenseman.
| Yegor Surin | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | KHL | L | C | 6’1″ | 176 | Voronezh, RUS | 2006 | 2023-2024: B+ |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Surin had another good game tonight showing off many of the qualities that keep him high on our list. Early in the game he had a great rush attempt where he took the puck wide with lots of speed and then made a hard cut to the center lane and got a great chance 1v0 with the goalie. Later in the period he had a similar rush with an earlier move to center and an attempt to flip the puck past the defense and a making a hard cut to pick it up on the other side. The physical play he has brought this year continues to impress Neutral Zone. He finishes every opportunity for a check, driving the opponent hard into the boards or dropping them in open ice. He’s a tougher kid now and is not afraid to throw his weight around. His decision making with the puck still needs work. He had some trouble today handling the puck and attempted to force it through defensemen or held onto it for too long and turned the puck over. He is definitely a shoot first player right now. There was a moment off a faceoff where he got a pass and skated the puck into 4 defenseman and attempted a shot rather than drop the puck back to any of the three open teammates he had around him. There was another moment in the second where he stood in front of the net watching his teammate struggle against the defenseman in the corner rather than cut behind the net and give him a target to pass to. He scored the tying goal late in the third with a nice off puck cut to the front of the net and a quick release to beat the goalie 5-hole. Great game from Surin. Neutral Zone has upgraded Surin to a “B+” rated 2024 draft prospect and will be a great prospect to add to your system.
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