Nazar Privalov (C, L, 6’4″, 227, CSKA Moskva, 05/25/2009)
2027 Draft Grade: A
Skating: 3.75
Passing: 3.75
Shot: 4.25
Puck Handling: 4.25
Defense: 3.75
Size/Strength: 5.0
Compete: 4.5
IQ: 4.75
Upside/Projection: Top Line NHL
Player Type: Cerebral Power Forward
Comments: SKATING: At 6’4″ he has good posture. Still developing first step explosiveness and power. PASSING: Hard and flat but can force pucks into covered lanes or areas. SHOOTING: Doesn’t need much space and can fire rolling pucks with authority. PUCK HANDLING: Settles rolling pucks without breaking stride. Wide dribble and can protect it for extended periods while players are hanging on him. DEFENSE: Shows above average off puck awareness in the defensive zone and keeps his stick in lanes. As with most young offensively minded players he will sniff it. SIZE/STRENGTH: Exceptional and only going to get bigger, stronger and faster. COMPETITIVENESS: Battles for the puck and will finish hits. It looks like he understands intimidation can be a part of his game. HOCKEY IQ: Plays in the future and is often times heading to soft areas seconds before his teammate can pass it to him. OVERALL COMMENTS: Nazar Privalov is a consensus top-5 selection for a reason, possessing a rare blend of massive size (6’4″, 227 lbs), high-end hockey IQ, and premier goal-scoring traits that instantly project to a top-six NHL power forward with skill. At just 17 years old, playing 6 games in the KHL is a massive statement about where he is as a player. He dwarfs average NHL size standards (6’1.5″, 206 lbs) while maintaining a reliable 67% faceoff winning percentage in limited fourth-line minutes (8:58 TOI). Historically, earlier evaluations raised minor concerns about him playing “too fancy” or relying strictly on early physical maturation over pro-style grit, but his 2025/26 MHL campaign (30 goals in 51 games and posted 4.1 shots on goal per game) proved his dynamic offensive package translates seamlessly against older competition. Statistically, his reduced giveaways (3.4 in KHL down from 7.0 in MHL) and steady pass completion (81% P%) show he is adapting quickly to KHL pace, though his low puck retrieval rates (0.78 PRS) and drop in pre-shot passes (0.33 PSP) highlight a lingering tendency to float when he doesn’t have the play driving through him. As he continues to improve his footwork and consistently leverages his pro-ready frame to dominate physical puck battles consistently rather than deferring on perimeter rushes, he has all the makings of a dominant, top-line 30-goal franchise cornerstone