Rus: Dimitri Kazionov Review

Dimitri Kazionov - Tampa Bay Lightning

Although Dimitri Kazionov spent most of the 2003-04 season on Lada Togliatti’s third and fourth lines, this season should be considered a breakout one for the young forward.

Kazionov moved to Togliatti prior to the 2002-03 season, but hardly played a game for the Super League club during that season, and rumors arose that he may have been on his way to the North American junior leagues. Despite the rumors, Kazionov stayed put in Russia and during the summer of 2003, he was part of Lada’s preseason plans and made most of his opportunity.

While looking at his stats, the point totals do not look all that impressive. However, on a defensive club like Lada, the main stats that one should look at are the games played and the player’s +/- statistic. After skating for just five games for Lada during the 2002-03 season, he was in the club’s lineup for 47 regular season games, finishing with a +6 rating.

Lada’s coach Petr Vorobiev, who is known for his belief in the neutral zone trap system, used Kazionov not because of his offensive skill, but largely because of his well rounded game, excellent vision of the ice and ability to be effective at both ends of the ice, something that is imperative for a center on a club that preaches a defense first mentality.

On the international arena, Kazionov made his way back to Russia’s national team, skating for the U20 squad at the U20 World Junior Championships. Despite being one of the more capable centers on the Russian squad, he was largely reduced to fourth line duty, giving way to younger 1985 born Dimitri Pestunov, 1986 born Evgeny Malkin, and even his 1984 born peer Alexander Kozhevnikov, who spent the entire season playing in the CHL, while Kazionov spent it playing against professional hockey players in the second best league in the world.

The center’s defensive savvy was missed on the squad’s top lines, as Russia failed to earn a medal at the championships. Widely considered to be Russia’s best ’84 born center, Kazionov is dangerous on face-offs, a very good skater with an impressive top speed and sees the ice very well.

He is not a pure scorer, nor is he an upper echelon playmaker, but the overall package that Kazionov offers would fit very well in the NHL style of hockey and with another two seasons with Lada, the young forward could effectively be ready to step in with Tampa Bay.

article courtesy Evgeny Belashchenko and RussianProspects.com