Russian Prospects 2002-03 player review Part II
Vladislav Evseev
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Boston
Bruins 2002 2nd round pick (56th overall)
2002-03:
Evseev missed the second half of the 2001-02 season, costing him about 50
spots in the draft order. He returned to action in September ’03, as a
result missing all the preseason tournaments. After skating a month with
Dynamo 2 and practicing with Dynamo’s main squad, the talented winger earned
a promotion and was provided a spot in the main lineup. His impact this
season has been limited, as the young player was clearly adjusting to the new,
significantly more competitive level of hockey. Evseev did not, by any
means look out of place, and more importantly, it appears his shoulder has completely
healed.
Outlook:
Dynamo fans are very excited about this young forward. He will remain
with Dynamo for the upcoming season and will likely take on a more prominent
role in his sophomore campaign. Evseev has a significant upside,
and will likely rival Ovechkin this upcoming season.
2002-03
Season Statistics
Fedorov
Los
Angeles Kings 2000 7th round pick (201st overall)
2002-03:
Fedorov was lost in the depth of Ak Bars and had a mediocre 2002-03 season.
Though a talented center, he remained behind the league’s stars Benda, Chupin
and Zinovjev. Towards the end of the season, however, he picked up his
scoring and salvaged the season. Interestingly, with the decreased ice time,
Fedorov’s defensive game improved significantly. He finished with a +10 rating,
compared to a -7 just a season earlier.
Outlook:
Fedorov has tried to come to LA last summer, but the team did not seem to
be interested in the small center’s services. This summer isn’t
likely to be any different. Thus far, it seems he will remain with Ak
Bars, despite the team’s reorganization, and may get a more prominent role with
the departure of Chupin and a possible departure Zinovjev to the NHL.
2002-03
Season Statistics
Gladskih
Vancouver
Canucks 2001 3rd round pick (114th overall)
2002-03:
Metallurg lost many players during the 2002 off-season and Gladskih was one
of the young players that the team depended on stepping up. The young
center raised his game to a new level, but it was not enough to maintain him
as a third line center, forcing the club to venture into the free market to
solve their problems. Gladskih did not have a terrible year, but it was
by no means a break through season experienced by his teammate, Alexei Kaigorodov.
His point production equaled to that of the previous season, though his overall
play did improve.
Outlook:
Gladskih will remain with Metallurg for the 2003-04 season. He will likely
be more ready to take on a bigger role with the squad and will have a break
out year in 2004.
2002-03 Season Statistics
Gorbunov
New
York Islanders 2000 4th round pick (105th overall)
2002-03:
Sidelined with a shoulder injury late in the 2001-02 season, Gorbunov
in late October ’02. Though given plenty of ice time, the young,
gritty forward struggled to find his scoring touch early in the season, adjusting
during his first year in the Super League. When the team picked up it’s
scoring late in the season, so did Gorbunov, who earned half of his ten points
in the season’s last ten games of the season.
Outlook:
After an injury free 2002-03 season, Gorbunov is ready to build on his success.
It is unclear, whether the New York Islanders have any immediate interest in
the talented winger, but without a contract, it is unlikely that he would be
able to leave Tikhonov’s heavily disciplined squad.
2002-03 Season Statistics
Grebeshkov
Los
Angeles Kings 2002 1st round pick (18th overall)
2002-03:
Grebeshkov performed strongly in the preseason and earned himself
duty on Lokomotiv’s top defensive pairing. After about a month at the
peak, his performance started to slightly decline and the young blue liner spent
the rest of the season on either the second or third pairing. Grebeshkov
also saw significant duty on the senior national team, playing at three of the
four EuroTour tournaments. The young defenseman also earned the gold while skating
on Russia’s top defensive pairing at the U20 WJC.
Outlook:
The Los Angeles Kings signed the talented defensive
prospect to a three year deal this summer and he will compete for a position
on the NHL club's blue line.
2002-03 Season Statistics
Grigorenko
Detroit
Red Wings 2001 2nd round pick (62nd overall)
2002-03:
Igor Grigorenko solidified his position as the up and coming leader of the Super
League’s Lada Togliatti club. The young forward lead the team in scoring during
the regular season and formed a dynamic one-two punch with Montreal Canadiens
prospect Alexander Buturlin on Lada’s top line. Towards the end of the
season, the young forward suffered a bit of exhaustion due to being overextended
with the demanding combination of his club, and national team duties. He skated
on Russia’s senior national squad, as well as played a leading role at the 2003
U20 World Junior Championships in Canada, where Russia won the gold medal.
He picked his game up again in the playoffs, but his offensive production was
stiffled by the other team’s paying special attention to the speedy winger.
Soon after the bronze medal campaign with Lada, the young winger suffered serious
lower body injuries during a car accident. Expected to sign a deal with Detroit
during the summer of ’03, the young winger’s career was now in jeopardy.
Fortunately, the young forward is recovering well from his injuries and has
already started to work out several times each day, though the cast will not
be removed from his leg for another month.
Outlook:
Grigorenko will likely rejoin Lada during the December transfer period and spend
the second half of the season returning back to his old form. The injuries
were severe, but the young forwards has recovered well thus far.
2002-03
Season Statistics
Grot
Vancouver
Canucks 2002 2nd roudn pick (Denis Grot)
2002-03:
Denis Grot returned from the NHL Entry Draft with a lot of expectations
put on his shoulders as Vancouver’s second round pick. Early in
the summer he was given the opportunity to make an impact on both Super League’s
Lokomotiv, as well as Russia’s U20 national team. Unfortunately,
Denis did not have a good start of the season, playing poorly for Lokomotiv
and not making any waves on the national squad, which had a mediocre first tournament
in August. After spending the first month with Lokomotiv’s second
squad, the discouraged defenseman was loaned by Lokomotiv to HK Lipetsk until
the end of December. Grot came alive in the new surroundings, and his
loan was extended until the end of the year. The young defenseman had
a productive season, with eight points (4+4) in 27 games, and an impressive
+8 rating. He has also repotedly grown about an inch over the past season.
Outlook:
After getting his development back on track during the 2002-03 season, Grot
is going to get a close look by Lokomotiv in 2003-04. The club has recently
changed the coaching staff, and this will likely work in Grot’s favor, since
Vujtek wasn’t impressed with his abilities. Look for a strong season by the
young defenseman on Lokomotiv’s third defensive pairing, likely with his old
partner, New York Islanders’ Alexei Stonkus.
2002-03
Season Statistics
Ignatuchkin
Washington
Capitals 2002 8th round draft pick (242nd overall)
2002-03:
Ignatuchkin returned to Elemash Elektrostal and had a successful season
that will likely earn him a ticket to the Super League. He broke his wrist
early in the season, but returned from the injury less then a month later.
The young forward spent most of the season with Ilya Krikunov, who definitely
boosted Ignatuchkin’s numbers. Unlike his linemate, Ignatuchkin wasn’t
invited to join Russia’s U20 squad at the spring tournament in St. Petersburg,
where the potential roster for next year’s U20 WJC met for the first time.
Outlook:
Ignatuchkin delivered a solid season and will likely land with a Super
League squad next year. Look for him to have a quiet season, while the young
left wing learns the ropes at the next level.
2002-03
Season Statistics
Kadeykin
New
Jersey Devils 2002 2nd round pick (51st overall)
2002-03:
Soon after the draft, Anton Kadeikin signed a three year deal with the New
Jersey Devils, clearing the way for his arrival in North America. The
young defenseman spent most of the camp with the Devils, before being shipped
over to the Sarnia Sting, who drafted him in the CHL Import Draft. The
defenseman made a significant impact on the squad, being one of the team’s leaders
in +/- for most of the season. He received significant ice time, though
was used only sparingly on the power play and mainly kept in the defensive role.
Unfortunately, the situation soured for Kadeikin during the playoffs, when he
was benched for part of the Sting’s losing effort in the OHL’s first round of
the playoffs.
Outlook:
It is doubtful that Kadeikin will return to Sarnia next season. He will
likely attend New Jersey’s camp and spend the next season in the AHL with the
Albany River Rats.
2002-03
Season Statistics
Kaigorodov
Ottawa
Senators 2002 2nd round draft pick (47th overall)
2002-03:
Kaigorodov took the next step with the Metallurg Magnitagorsk. Throughout
the season, he centered the club’s second line, delivering on the hefty expectations
placed on his shoulders. The talented center also traveled with Russia to the
U20 WJC in Canada, though his role there was limited to the seldom used third
line. The young forward’s strong performance also earned him a spot on
Russia’s squad at the 2003 IIHF World Championships in Finland. Though he only
received limited ice time in just two games, his presence there was an indication
that he is on the radar of the coaching staff.
Outlook:
The young, mature forward is currently ready to make a jump to North America,
but is likely to benefit immensely from another season in the Super League.
Look for Ottawa to keep their young prospect with Metallurg Magnitagorsk for
the 2003-04 season.
2002-03
Season Statistics
Kazionov
Tampa
Bay Lightning 2002 4th round pick (100th overall)
2002-03:
Despite the rumors of Kazionov coming over to North America to play in the
juniors, the young center stayed out in Togliatti, spending the entire season
with Lada. Unfortunately, Kazionov was unable to break into the
team’s lineup, spending most of the season polishing the bench. He did gain
valuable experience while practicing with the main squad under the watchful
eye of Petr Vorobiev, and showed his ability during a six game stint late in
the season, when he filled in nicely for the injured Igor Grigorenko.
Outlook:
Lada’s tough stance on Kazionov indicates that the team has plans for the
talented center. Look for him to remain in Togliatti and earn a spot on
the club’s third or fourth line.
2002-03
Season Statistics
Khomitski
Dallas
Stars 2000 5th round overall pick (123rd overall)
2002-03:
The young defenseman made an impressive transition from the Upper League
to the Super League. He skated the entire season on CSKA’s second defensive
pairing, playing well defensively and at times providing his team an offensive
boost.
Outlook:
Khomitski will likely remain with CSKA for the upcoming season.
It is unclear as to what plans Dallas has for this promising prospect, but he
has continued to improve every year.
2002-03
Season Statistics
Knyazev
(now with Phoenix) Carolina Hurricanes 2001
1st round draft pick (15th overall)
2002-03: Igor Knyazev signed a three year deal with Carolina in the
summer of ’02 and made his way to the NHL club’s AHL affiliate. The young
defenseman struggled early on to adjust to the smaller rinks and fast paced.
Towards the end of the season he seemed to play with more confidence.
The Carolina Hurricanes did not allow Knyazev to join the national team at the
U20 WJC in Canada.
Outlook: Will have a tough time earning a top six spot with Phoenix given their depth, unless the Coyotes want him to step in now. His chances of making the NHL next season were far better in Carolina.
2002-03 Season Statistics
