No Love For Russia...This Year

A recent question from the guys at Illegal Curve is the inspiration for this blog. The fellas wanted to know about Russians for the upcoming draft. We here at The Pipeline Show pride ourselves on knowing the draft (Guy went 27-30 last year and has pegged 3 of the last 4 Oilers first round picks) so I thought I would throw my two cents out and try to answer the question.

It doesn't appear to be a good year for Russians in Montreal this June, in fact I don't think a Russian will be taken in the first round, which hasn't happened since 2005 when the first Russian, Vitali Anikeyenko was taken in the 3rd round, 70th overall by Ottawa. According ISS, which is the exclusive scouting source for TPS, there isn't a Russian ranked in the first round, which does include 7 Europeans. In fact the highest ranked Russian among the top 30 Euros is Anton Burdasov, who is rated 11th among those from across the pond. Burdasov was supposed to be in Camrose with the Russian team for the World Junior A Challenge, but an injury kept him off the team. The next highest Ruskie is D-man Dmitry Orlov, who is suiting up in Camrose. I thought Orlov, who is listed at 5.11 and 176 pounds played a decent game Tuesday night. For a small player, he is above average on the physical side, and didn't make it fun to park in front of the net for Canadian players. He's a good skater, but does paint himself into a corner sometimes when carrying the puck out of his own end, by either making one to many moves, or waiting to long to make a pass. The only other Russian ranked in the top 30 Europeans is Georgy Berkyukov, who I didn't notice at all Tuesday night.

However, keep your eye on Mother Russia for 2010 as there could be a boatload drafted in the first round. The leader of the pack is Kirill Kabanov, as guy talked about earlier this week. While he does have a wicked shot, he's also very emotional, and that could scare teams in the top 3 away. Some have compared him to Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin, and yet some say he's better than those two at his age which is 16 right now. I was really impressed Tuesday night with Maxim Kitsin, who will turn 17 in December and is already 6.03 and almost 180 pounds. He played in every situation, and for me was Russia's most dangerous player. Vladamir Tarasenko is another Russian getting a lot of hype in draft circles, as Guy pointed out in an earlier post, he did score a beauty of a goal, but seem to disappear as the game wore on and Canada became more physical. In fact the only time I noticed him after the first period was when Guy pointed him out to me.

We will be running a feature this Tuesday on Team Russia where we get more in depth about the countries draft prospects for the 2009 and 2010 draft.

We would have loved to speak to some of the Russians Tuesday night but were told - at first by Hockey Canada - that we weren't allowed to. Which is kind of like Edmonton Oilers PR man JJ Hebert telling the media that after a game against Minnesota we wouldn't be allowed to talk to Wild players. After some of us (Derek Van Diest of the Edmonton Sun, Cam Tait of the Edmonton Journal and myself) raised a bit of a fuss, Hockey Canada changed it's story and said it was the Russians that didn't want to speak, which was kind of funny since Hockey Canada member Jason Larose had earlier mentioned to me that he hadn't asked the Russians about it, and that it was his decision. I have no problem with a team saying they won't talk. I don't agree with it, but it is their decision. What I had a big problem with was Hockey Canada deciding that the Russians weren't talking, after a rough game in which Team Canada West received the benefit of some brutal officiating. The Russians embarrassed themselves with childish antics and obscene gestures ( Cam Tait has more on this story in his blog as well) and I think HC was hoping to avoid negative publicity. In this case mission failed. Eventually, a women who I think was the Russian translator told us "no comment" which we accepted.

Back to the team, I am really looking forward to seeing the Russian World Junior squad at the 2010 and 2011 tournaments as there will be some extremely exciting players to watch.

Top 5 Tuesday

Today we take a look at the top 5 players to keep your eye on for the 2009 NHL entry draft, should you head out to Camrose and take in the World Junior "A" Challenge.

5. David Pacan-Right Winger-Cumberland-CJHL-Canada East
The top prospect on an Team Canada East squad that has 19 draft eligible players and 2 who were snagged last year. At 6.03, 190 pounds David Pacan has vertical size that the scouts like, but will need to bulk up to make an impact down the road. Hoever Pacan doesn't shy away from rough play as evidenced by his 22 penalty minutes in 17 games, and he also seems to have a nose for the net with 19 points along the way, 9 of them on the power play. The word is Michigan State, Boston College and Clarkson are interested in the forward.

4. John Moore-Defence-Chicago-USHL-United StatesA former Sports Management World Wide, ISS, Hockey Now and TPS 2009 top prospect performer of the week, John Moore is hoping to parlay a solid start to the USHL season into a good showing with team U.S.A in Camrose. The biggest asset for the 6.03, 195 pound D-man is his feet, and how fast he is on them. A great skater, who makes smart passes, Moore is on pace for a 49 point season with Chicago, which would blow away his 15 point rookie campaign. Moore has verbally committed to Colorado College for next year, and scouts say is trying to play more physical this year, as he prepares for the college life.

3. Dmitry Orlov-Defence-Metallurg-RusDi-Russia
Right Winger Anton Burdasov would be the top draft eligible Russian to watch in Camrose, and was originally named to the squad, but an injury kept him out. So instead keep your eyes on defenceman Dmitry Orlov, as opposing forwards daring to cut across the middle will have to. Orlov was the Russian captain at the Ivan Hlinka tournament last spring, he's reportedly a good puck mover that plays a simple game, and despite being only 5.10 and 176 pounds, like to get physical. Right now Orlov is the 14th ranked European according to ISS, but a good showing in Camrose could move him up the ladder.

2. Dylan Olsen-Defence-Camrose Kodiaks-AJHL-Team Canada West
For the second straight year, a Camrose Kodiak could be taken in the first round, as Dylan Olsen is hoping to follow in the skate strides of former teammate, and current Denver Pioneer Joe Colborne. Colborne was drafted 16th overall by the Boston Bruins last June, and right now ISS has Olsen ranked 29th overall. The 6.02, 195 pound blueliner is the top rearguard for the Kodiaks, runs the PP and uses physical play to ensure his own end is taken care of. Olsen makes a great first pass, but the one aspect that could use improvement is his skating. He's not a bad skater, but could use more quickness.

1. Seth Helgeson-Defence-Sioux City-USHL-United States
At 6.04, 220 pounds it's not hard to imagine what kind of D-man Seth Helgeson is. The 2nd year Sioux City Musketeer is a powerful force in a shut down role, that isn't afraid to drop the gloves and persuade his opponents not to come near his net. But that's not all the Faribualt, Minnesota product can do. He has 5 points in 8 games this year, including a pair of power play goals. Helgeson has verbally committed to the Minnesota Golden Gophers for next year, and is currently ranked 25th overall by ISS for this June.