Artyom Ivanyuzhenkov was one of the hockey players sent home from the U18 Worlds. Photo credit: MHL.ru.
In case you haven't heard, the entire Russian U18 team waskicked out of the U18 World Championships for doping. Using a drug called Meldonium, more than 140 Russian athletes boosted their performance illegally - including Maria Sharapova. James Mirtle has suggested that the scandal will lead to a drop in the draft stocks of the players sent home.
There were ten players from Russia's new U18 program, which plays in the MHL, the Russian junior league - nine skaters and one goalie. Take a look at all ten players who were sent home and who could become steals in the later rounds:
German Rubtsov (C)
NHL Combined Rank*: 28
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on June 27, 1998 in Chekhov, Russia
Height: 6'2'' Weight: 178 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
Rubtsov plays a strong two-way game who plays the game with intelligence. He can generate scoring chances with his speed and has a knack for finding open space. And once he gets a shot off, there's a good chance it goes in.
Statistics
There were ten players from Russia's new U18 program, which plays in the MHL, the Russian junior league - nine skaters and one goalie. Take a look at all ten players who were sent home and who could become steals in the later rounds:
German Rubtsov (C)
NHL Combined Rank*: 28
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on June 27, 1998 in Chekhov, Russia
Height: 6'2'' Weight: 178 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
Rubtsov plays a strong two-way game who plays the game with intelligence. He can generate scoring chances with his speed and has a knack for finding open space. And once he gets a shot off, there's a good chance it goes in.
Statistics
Ivan Kovalev (D)
NHL Combined Rank*: 96
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on April 27, 1998 in Yaroslavl, Russia
Height: 6'1'' Weight: 185 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
There is actually nothing on this player. I can't find a single scouting report of him online. From his numbers, I'd guess that he's a big, stay-at-home defenceman who can occasionally chip in on offence.
Statistics
NHL Combined Rank*: 96
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on April 27, 1998 in Yaroslavl, Russia
Height: 6'1'' Weight: 185 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
There is actually nothing on this player. I can't find a single scouting report of him online. From his numbers, I'd guess that he's a big, stay-at-home defenceman who can occasionally chip in on offence.
Statistics
Dmitry Alexeyev (D)
NHL Combined Rank*: 105
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on February 17, 1998 in Chelyabinsk, Russia
Height: 6'0'' Weight: 191 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
A jack-of-all-trades minute muncher who can skate and pass - though with ten points in 30 games, don't expect much offence from him. He can block off passing routes with his long reach and is known for making smart decisions with the puck.
Statistics
NHL Combined Rank*: 105
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on February 17, 1998 in Chelyabinsk, Russia
Height: 6'0'' Weight: 191 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
A jack-of-all-trades minute muncher who can skate and pass - though with ten points in 30 games, don't expect much offence from him. He can block off passing routes with his long reach and is known for making smart decisions with the puck.
Statistics
Mikhail Maltsev (LW)
NHL Combined Rank*: 109
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on March 12, 1998 in St. Petersburg, Russia
Height: 6'3'' Weight: 198 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
As a lot of people like to say, Maltsev has the things you can't teach with a 6-3, 198-pound frame. He can skate, shoot, and move the puck with reasonable skill and can win faceoffs as well, not to mention defence. "Versatile" is how Alessandro Seren-Rosso described him in a Hockey Prospectus article.
Statistics
NHL Combined Rank*: 109
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on March 12, 1998 in St. Petersburg, Russia
Height: 6'3'' Weight: 198 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
As a lot of people like to say, Maltsev has the things you can't teach with a 6-3, 198-pound frame. He can skate, shoot, and move the puck with reasonable skill and can win faceoffs as well, not to mention defence. "Versatile" is how Alessandro Seren-Rosso described him in a Hockey Prospectus article.
Statistics
Mikhail Berdin (G)
NHL Combined Rank*: 112
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on March 1, 1998 in Ufa, Russia
Height: 6'2'' Weight: 163 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
Berdin uses his solid combination of quick reflexes and technical skills to shut down MHL shooters, with a .928 save percentage in 22 MHL games. He can track the puck with ease and plays a hybrid style. Though he might need to strengthen up, he could be the goaltending steal of the draft.
Statistics
NHL Combined Rank*: 112
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on March 1, 1998 in Ufa, Russia
Height: 6'2'' Weight: 163 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
Berdin uses his solid combination of quick reflexes and technical skills to shut down MHL shooters, with a .928 save percentage in 22 MHL games. He can track the puck with ease and plays a hybrid style. Though he might need to strengthen up, he could be the goaltending steal of the draft.
Statistics
Ivan Kosorenkov (RW)
NHL Combined Rank*: 130
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on March 1, 1998 in Ufa, Russia
Height: 6'0'' Weight: 181 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
Kosorenkov is a blazing-fast skater with a strong one-timer and great hands. Though Seren-Rosso writes that "he doesn't commit to the defensive side of the game", he's a potential steal for a team needing offence, as his near point-per-game pace shows.
Statistics
NHL Combined Rank*: 130
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on March 1, 1998 in Ufa, Russia
Height: 6'0'' Weight: 181 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
Kosorenkov is a blazing-fast skater with a strong one-timer and great hands. Though Seren-Rosso writes that "he doesn't commit to the defensive side of the game", he's a potential steal for a team needing offence, as his near point-per-game pace shows.
Statistics
Alexander Yakovenko (D)
NHL Combined Rank*: 209
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on February 22, 1998 in Karaganda, Kazakhstan
Height: 5'10'' Weight: 160 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
The Russian-Kazakh dual citizen is the smallest of any player on this list thus far, but he makes up for it with good skating and a booming, if inaccurate, slapshot. Yakovenko is a great puck-mover who can make good decisions with the puck on his stick. Could be the kind of player with time on the penalty kill at the professional level.
Statistics
NHL Combined Rank*: 209
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on February 22, 1998 in Karaganda, Kazakhstan
Height: 5'10'' Weight: 160 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
The Russian-Kazakh dual citizen is the smallest of any player on this list thus far, but he makes up for it with good skating and a booming, if inaccurate, slapshot. Yakovenko is a great puck-mover who can make good decisions with the puck on his stick. Could be the kind of player with time on the penalty kill at the professional level.
Statistics
Artyom Ivanyuzhenkov (LW)
NHL Combined Rank*: 212
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on March 1, 1998 in Ufa, Russia
Height: 6'2'' Weight: 212 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
Known as "the Tank", Ivanyuzhenkov really puts the "power" in power forward. He plays a simple game oriented towards a dump-and-chase system and could develop into a solid middle-six player.
Statistics
NHL Combined Rank*: 212
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on March 1, 1998 in Ufa, Russia
Height: 6'2'' Weight: 212 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
Known as "the Tank", Ivanyuzhenkov really puts the "power" in power forward. He plays a simple game oriented towards a dump-and-chase system and could develop into a solid middle-six player.
Statistics
Artur Kayumov (LW)
NHL Combined Rank*: 233
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on February 14, 1998 in Podgorny, Russia
Height: 5'10'' Weight: 154 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
The undersized but offensively talented forward has scored 31 points in 39 games in the MHL thanks to his speed, shot, and vision. Like Ivan Kosorenkov, his defensive game may need some work, but he definitely has raw potential.
Statistics
NHL Combined Rank*: 233
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on February 14, 1998 in Podgorny, Russia
Height: 5'10'' Weight: 154 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
The undersized but offensively talented forward has scored 31 points in 39 games in the MHL thanks to his speed, shot, and vision. Like Ivan Kosorenkov, his defensive game may need some work, but he definitely has raw potential.
Statistics
Ilya Karpukhin (D)
NHL Combined Rank*: 243
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on July 13, 1998 in Chelyabinsk, Russia
Height: 6'1'' Weight: 192 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
Karpukhin does the little things, like moving the puck and making smart passes. He doesn't score a lot of goals, but he's a valuable defensive defenceman.
Statistics
NHL Combined Rank*: 243
Birthdate and Hometown: Born on July 13, 1998 in Chelyabinsk, Russia
Height: 6'1'' Weight: 192 lbs.
What the Scouts Are Saying
Karpukhin does the little things, like moving the puck and making smart passes. He doesn't score a lot of goals, but he's a valuable defensive defenceman.
Statistics
In conclusion, there are numerous prospects that an NHL team should look at before they dismiss them because of the doping scandal. Personally, I think that Kosorenkov, Rubtsov, and Berdin are the best. Comment below what you think.
* Rankings taken from Eldon McDonald's Combined Midterm Rankings.
** Note on the scouting reports: they are not mine. I'm just reporting what other people have seen and written down on the Internet. Of course, I'm not directly copying their work either.
** Note on the scouting reports: they are not mine. I'm just reporting what other people have seen and written down on the Internet. Of course, I'm not directly copying their work either.