Russia’s third round at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft

The third round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft plucked most of the players from the former Soviet Republics who were projected to be selected on the first day of the ceremony, but were still available.  The surprising absentees from this group were forward Alexander Naurov and defenseman Denis Ezhov, who both had to wait until early the next day to hear their names early in the fourth round. 

Dmitri Kosmachev

Third Round, 71^st Overall

NHL Club: Columbus Blue Jackets

om/articles/kosmachev.jpg” width=”245″ height=”340″> Dmitri Kosmachev at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. (Photo By: Yevgeniy (Eugene) Belashchenko

The first Russian picked up in the third round was the hulking, but surprisingly agile defenseman, Dmitri Kosmachev.  The Columbus Blue Jackets once again raided HC CSKA, picking Nikolai Zherdev’s teammate with their 71^st overall pick.  Well liked by Coach Viktor Tikhonov, Kosmachev saw significant with Russian Super League’s CSKA Moscow.  Already developed well physically, Kosmachev has had quite an impact on Russia’s U18 squad, where he skated on the team’s top defensive pairing with Denis Ezhov.  His role was primarily defensive, though the young blueliner is clearly try to refine his shot and develop his game in the offensive zone.  Though he didn’t convert on the chance, it’s hard to forget Kosmachev’s dash during the semifinals game against Slovakia, when he took the puck and carried all the way to the offensive zone, before releasing a shot at the Slovak goalie.  The talented blueliner seemed to be a bit tired at the draft, since due to visa processing delays at the US embassy, he was only able to arrive at the draft on Thursday night prior to the draft. 

Outlook: Dmitri will remain with CSKA Moscow for the coming season, and will likely take on additional responsibility.  Again, Tikhonov likes this player and it’s up to Kosmachev to take advantage of the opportunity he is being given by the legendary coach.  The large defenseman is well developed physically, but would benefit greatly from another couple of seasons in Russia’s Super League.

Mikhail Zhukov

Third Round, 72^nd Overall

NHL Club: Edmonton Oilers

With the very next pick in the third round, the Edmonton Oilers selected a big Russian 18-year-old forward from…the Swedish elite club Aborga!  Mikhail Zhukov moved with his father to Sweden at just 11, when his father took an assistant coaching position with a Swedish hockey club.  The young man grew up able to speak fluently in both Swedish and Russian, also possessing a strong grasp of the English language. The talented forward impressed the media, speaking almost fluent English, and shared with them that he was glad to be drafted by a club with such deep traditions and respect for European players.  

Outlook: Zhukov will return to Aborga and attempt to establish himself on the Swedish Elite League club. The young forward has the size and skill, and definitely the bloodlines to be a capable hockey player.

Dmitri Pestunov

Third Round, 80th Overall

NHL Club: Phoenix Coyotes

The Phoenix Coyotes used their second pick in the draft to select Dmitri Pestunov from Metallurg Magnitagorsk.  The young center was one Russia’s best in his age group for most of the season. He earned a spot on Metallurg’s main roster, though; only saw limited action on the fourth line.  Pestunov also competed for Metallurg’s second team at the junior tournament, where he was one of the leading overall scorers.  Towards the end of the season, the talented center hardly caught a break, but still managed to be effective at the April’s U18 tournament, where he developed impressive chemistry with his linemates, Dmitri Chernykh and Konstantin Makarov.  Phoenix was very happy that Pestunov was still available by the middle of the third round, since he was wild card prospect picked to go as high as early second round, though was only ranked 36^th amongst the Europeans by the Central Scouting Bureau.   

Outlook: Pestunov will remain with Metallurg Magnitagorsk for the 2002-03 season and will attempt to gain a more substantial role, likely on the third line of the Super League club.  Look for the young center to also continue to contribute on Russia’s U20 national team, where he will likely once again be a top four center, along with Shevjev, Kazionov and possibly Malkin. 

Konstantin Barulin

Third Round, 84th Overall

NHL Club: St. Louis Blues

The top rated European goaltender eligible for the 2003 NHL Entry Draft had to wait until the 84^th overall pick to hear his name called, but as expected was still the first European goaltender to be taken.  A team known for its goaltending woes, the St. Louis Blues picked Barulin, hoping to replenish their goaltending depth.  The young goalie, who came on the scene during the 2001-02 season, when he was the backup for Russia’s U18 squad, has had a strong 2002-03 campaign, displaying his impressive level of maturity and his ability to compete.  In the beginning of the season he beat two seasoned backstoppers to take over the starting role for his Upper League club, Gazovik Tumen. Barulin also took over the backup duties on Russia’s U20 squad, behind Calgary Flames prospect Andrei Medvedev.  During the warm up tournaments leading to the U20 World Junior Championships, Barulin took over the starting position for Medvedev and performed impressively in that role.  

Outlook: Barulin will likely continue to start for Upper League’s Gazovik Tyumen. Though because of politics, Gazovik will not likely ascend from the Upper League to the Super League, the young goaltender may want to consider trying to catch on with a Super League club.   The talented puck stopper will also take over the starting role on Russia’s U20 squad. After the 2003-04 season, if Barulin does not move up to the Super League, he should consider crossing the ocean to North America, as he will no longer be eligible to play on Russia’s U20 squad, and will have likely surpassed what the Upper League can offer him. 

Ivan Khomutov 

Third Round, 93rd Overall

NHL Club: New Jersey Devils

Known to make surprising decisions with their early picks, the New Jersey Devils picked a Russian dark horse, Ivan Khomutov with their 93^rd overall pick.  Projected at one point to go late in the first round, Khomutov dropped in the rankings after a mediocre season, which he split between Upper League’s Elemash Elekrostal and CSKA’s junior farm team.  Due to unfortunate political circumstances, the young center did not receive an invitation to compete for Russia’s U18 National Team.  He was unable to show his potential against his peers to the scouts, and as a result his ratings deflated.  The young forward was present at the draft and though he knew little about the NHL club, he was excited to be selected by the New Jersey Devils.  Interestingly, Khomutov was also picked up by the OHL’s London Knights in the CHL Import Draft, opening the door to the possibility that the talented center will make his way to North America this coming season.

Outlook: Ivan Khomutov will likely make his way to the OHL, centering London’s first or second line. The Knights also drafted Kraha from Belarus, who could complement Khomutov on and off the ice, easing the transition to North America.  The large, strong Khomutov with a soft pass, combined with the small, but speedy Kraha could become a versatile scoring duo.

Grigory Shafigullin

Third Round, 98th Overall

NHL Club: Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators raided Lokomotiv’s youth stock once more, picking Grigory Shafigullin with the club’s 98^th overall pick.  A two way forward who is not known for his scoring touch, Shafigullin plays a very different type of hockey when compared to his better known Yaroslavl, and future Nashville teammate, Konstantin Glazachev.  The young center played well in his limited role with Super League’s champions, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Unfortunately, while Shafigullin was not expected to produce points with the Super League club, he was with the U18 national squad, and this was the task at which he ultimately, for one reason or another, failed.  The main reason for this significant “bump” in the young center’s season was his recurring wrist injury he suffered during the Super League playoffs.  He attempted to play through the injury at the U18 WJC, but was unable to do so, missing all the games prior to the disappointing semifinal loss to Slovakia.  While he remained the seventh overall European skater in the Central Scouting Bureau’s ratings, his stock dropped further in the RussianProspects’ ratings to being 11^th amongst Russian skaters, and he was ultimately the 12^th player from the former Soviet Union selected at the draft.   It appeared that, despite some high praises from several scouts, the NHL clubs were unsure about his offensive upside.

Outlook: Shafigulin will return to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and likely earn additional ice time with the Super League club. He is not likely to earn an invitation to Russia’s U20 squad.   The young center will hopefully bulk up in the off-season and fill in his 6’3″ frame.

Konstantin Zakharov

Third Round, 101^st Overall

NHL Club: St. Louis Blues

The final third round selection from the former Soviet Union was Konstantin Zakharov, who has become a name that frequently circulated hockey circles, as he was Andrei Kostytsin’s linemate on the top line of Team Belarus.  The St. Louis Blues selected the young player with their 101^st overall pick.  Unlike Kostytsin, Zakharov remained in Belarus during the 2002-03 season and only had the international competition as a stage to showcase his skills.   Though the young player was very productive at the U18 WJC in Yaroslavl, some scouts believed that Zakharov’s success is largely due to playing on the same line with Andrei Kostytsin and being coached by his father.  However, though playing with a player of Kostytsin’s caliber definitely boosted the young right wing’s production, Zakharov did not look out of place and showcased his own skills and size.  Drafted by the QMJHL Moncton Wildcats in the CHL Import Draft, Zakharov will now have a chance to establish himself as a leader on the Moncton junior club. 

Outlook: Zakharov will play for Moncton this coming season. It would interesting, though unlikely, that Artukhin would return to the club as well.  Look for Zakharov to be an impact player of Yakubov’s caliber with the Wildcats.

As the first day of the 2003 NHL Entry draft wrapped up, most of those expected to be drafted high were already picked up, with only a couple names missing from the selection lists.  Surprisingly, clubs that tended to draft few Russian players in the past, such as St. Louis, Columbus and Nashville, picked up a couple of players each in the first three rounds, a couple of them selecting several more on the second day of the draft.  

Yevgeniy (Eugene) Belashchenko

http://www.hockeysfuture.com

http://www.russianprospects.com