The NHL Rookie Draft begins on July 7 in Montreal. The most valuable Russian player, apparently, will be Danila Yurov from Magnitogorsk. Despite all the problems, he will receive a high draft number.

Russians do not favor in the NHL draft

This year, Russian hockey players will have a hard time in the NHL draft. They don’t have the best reputation in North America anyway: by tradition, it is believed that Russian players often prefer to stay at home and play in the KHL, instead of making their way in the overseas league.

It is for this reason that Kirill Kaprizov, who is now breaking the charts of the NHL’s top scorers, was selected only in the fifth round of the draft. By the way, Kaprizov spent 5 years to get to Minnesota, which nevertheless spent his draft pick on him, confirming this reputation.

Photo: © REUTERS / Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

For the same reason, many Russians who later became stars in the NHL were assessed in the draft far below their real abilities and talent. For example, Andrei Vasilevsky, who has been supporting the reputation of one of the best goalkeepers in the league for several years, “went under the hammer” in 2012 only 19th. In the modern version of that draft, The Athletic gave him the first draft unconditionally.

And now they don’t even complain

This season the situation has worsened. Managers do not hide the fact that the situation in Russia will negatively affect the choice of Russians in the draft.

“The uncertainty that has developed in Russia, along with the uncertainty about whether this or that player will be able to come to the NHL, adds doubts to the possibility of drafting Russian hockey players,” admitted Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman.

Once upon a time, it was he who caught the current Tampa Bay stars Vasilevsky and Nikita Kucherov, who was selected in the second round, in the draft. Would Yzerman make the same choice this year?

Ivan Fedotov / Photo: © KHL / Andrey Golovanov

Doubts are added by the situation with the goalkeeper of the Russian national team Ivan Fedotov, who allegedly evaded the draft, which alarmed not only Russian, but also North American hockey. Now managers cannot even count on those players from Russia who are eager to play in the NHL.

The Russians will still be selected in the first round

But even in the current difficult conditions, according to the ratings of experts, three Russians at once get into the top of the first round. And forward Danila Yurov from Magnitogorsk is in the top ten of the best juniors.

He rivets points in the MHL and even gets into the base of Metallurg, although he did not score points in the KHL this season. But in the junior team of Russia, Yurov flashed brightly, though it was at last year’s World Championships. He scored 11 points in 7 matches, and even against the backdrop of the brilliant Matvey Michkov, he looked quite confident. In the shadow of his talent, Yurov, by the way, feels very comfortable and, it seems, this even helps him to open up better on the ice.

Danila Yurov / Photo: © KHL / Yury Kuzmin

Experts note his game intelligence, creativity, high speed and tenacity. In the NHL, he is able to gain a foothold in the top two triples.

The choice in the first draft is also tipped to Omsk Ivan Miroshnichenko from Omsk Wings. Although the player was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma this year, it does not pose a threat to his playing career and is treatable. Also among the best Russians is shooting guard Pavel Mintyukov, who plays in the OHL. Some experts even rate him higher than Yurov: a popular role (like Cale Makar, who took the MVP of the playoffs) and North American performance experience play an important role here.

Apparently, despite the tension of the situation, the NHL draft will not do without Russian players: the league will not refuse skilled hockey players even with the current problems. In addition to Yurov, Miroshnichenko and Mintyukov, at least 6 more hockey players from Russia entered the top 100 most powerful juniors in the world.