2nd year eligible who should have heard his name called last year, but the prejudice of his Russian heritage and his diminutive size must have left teams wanting to wait and make sure he was going to build on his game. Fearless and tough, he is a scorer who moves puck quickly. Doesn't display breakneck speed but gets it done with skill and toughness. Debrincat-like, there seems to be no chance of his name not being called after another steller North American preformance. He is fearless in high traffic areas, a strong skater who forces teams to take penalties to stop him. This little guy is afraid of no one, and moves pucks quickly on the attack. Sets up on the right half wall on the power play. This is not a perimeter player, but one who not only engaes in board battles but wins them and brings the pucks out into play. He drives the net. Has excellent vision, and reads and reacts well with good anticipation. Looks like a natural scorer, iwth top-end puck skills, but will he be given the opportunities to prove he can be a NHL scorer? Or maybe the question, is will his need to play better away from the puck deter the reward he might bring as apossible goal scorer?
--Bill Placzek
