| Matvei Babenko | Tolpar Ufa | MHL | R | LW | 6’2″ | 194 | Ufa, RUS | 2005 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: C+
Babenko earned 14:30 in ice time (7th among fwds) including 1:23 on the PP (8th among fwds). He did not play on the PK. he finished even with 0 points, 0 shots and 1 hit.
Comments: Babenko is a 6’3″, 200 lb. power forward, who had a much better game without the puck than he typically does. He joined just about every battle possible, throwing his weight around and working hard to dig pucks out. He hustled hard to win races to dumped pucks and was aggressive on the forecheck. He was also much more attentive in the defensive zone than we have seen in previous viewings. He had a very poor game with the puck tonight. He very rarely touched the puck at all and when he did, he was unable to possess it for more than a few seconds before a turnover. Babenko skates with a short and inefficient stride that is hindered with a side-to-side arm swing, holding him to a much slower pace than many others at the VHL level. He will also need to strengthen his lower body and improve balance as he was knocked to the ice fairly easily many times tonight. In previous viewings there has been some impressive offensive sequences from Babenko but none of those plays have occurred recently. He has great size and a powerful shot when he is able to get to space but Matvei might be too big of a risk to be worth a selection in the 2024 draft.
Scout: Henry Lawrence