Hockey's Future - The #1 Online Prospects Resource

 

1. Yuri Alexandrov, D

Height: 6'1
Weight: 172 lb
Shoots: Left
Born: 1988-06-24
Birthplace: Cherepovets, Russia

 

Alexandrov delivered a strong performance for U18 Team Russia and was hands down the squad's top defenseman. His experience in the Super League, combined with his international performance places him right at the top of the RussianProspects’ Final ratings. When comparing him to Russia's recent top defensive prospects, Alexandrov reminds of Volchenkov, but skates better and is more maneuverable than the latter. Alexandrov still needs to bulk up and learn to better play physical hockey to continue his development into a top defensive prospect.

 

 

 

2. Semen Varlamov, G

Height: 6'1
Weight: 174 lb
Catches: Left
Born: 1988-04-27
Birthplace: Yaroslavl, Russia

 

Semen Varlamov is the best goaltender to come out of Russia since Ilya Bryzgalov. He has already been Russia's U18 squad's starter for two seasons and will inherit the starting role on the U20 squad for the next two years. He has yet to earn any professional experience in the Super League, but Varlamov has proven his worth on the international arena. One area for improvement for Varlamov is positioning. He moves very quickly in the crease and possesses a quick butterfly. Additionally, he possesses a very strong work ethic. The biggest concern regarding Varlamov's development into a blue chip netminder is the lack of an established hockey school in Yaroslavl and on the Russian national team. While his Yaroslavl counterpart Kasutin went to Finland to be schooled, Varlamov is completely "home grown" thus far.

 

 

 

3. Andrei Popov, RW

Height: 6'1
Weight: 187 lb
Shoots: Left
Born: 1988-07-15
Birthplace: Chelyabinsk, Russia

 

Popov remains the forward with the most potential to come out of Russia in 2006. The young winger is already performing well at the professional adult level in the High League (Russia 2) with Traktor. While he did not enjoy a very successful showing at the U18 World Junior Championships, a lot of it had to do with not having a consistent line, with his center Mamin constantly being moved back to defense due to Russia's defensive vows. Popov possesses impressive size and skill to go along with a developed ability to play in traffic and use his size. However, to continue his development, Popov needs to use his linemates better and to become more aggressive.

 

 

 

4. Nikolai Kulemin, LW

Height: 6'0
Weight: 200 lb
Shoots: Left
Born: 1986-07-14
Birthplace: Magnitogorsk, Russia

 

Nikolai Kulemin's stock has skyrocketed this season due to his success with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, as well as his performance on Russia's national team at the U20 WJC. Kulemin is an able third line workhorse who works hard for every inch of the ice surface. He brings a physical edge to his team and a strong work ethic. He has shown a scoring touch, especially on the national team, but his scoring success will largely depend on his linemates. Remember, even NHL tough guy Chris Simon was a scoring threat with the Washington Capitals when paired with a capable center. His style will transfer well to the NHL and considering Kulemin's achievements on the international arena, including the World Championships squad in Latvia, he is one of the top Russian players eligible for the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

 

 

 

5. Alexander Bumagin, RW

Height: 6'0
Weight: 165 lb
Shoots: Left
Born: 1987-03-01
Birthplace: Togliatti, Russia

 

Alexander Bumagin was one of the top 10 Russians eligible for the 2005 NHL Entry Draft but due to the lack of a transfer agreement between the NHL and Russian professional hockey's governing body, he went overlooked through seven rounds. Since the draft, Bumagin established himself as one of the most gifted up and coming young Russian players to make an impact in the Super League. At just 19, the young forward became Lada's leader not only in scoring with 23 points in 40 games, but also with his presence on the ice. Making this achievement even more impressive, he started making an impact even before the club's financial implosion and the subsequent departure of numerous NHL players. Bumagin's game is mature beyond his age and he makes up for his lack of size with skill and vision. At this point Bumagin may not be as "polished" of a forward prospect as Popov or Vasyunov, but he has already proven himself in the Super League and possesses a solid foundation for further development under the supervision of a capable coach. If not for the size difference and the physical edge, Bumagin may even be above Kulemin in the rankings.

 

 

 

6. Artem Anisimov, C

Height: 6'4
Weight: 191 lb
Shoots: Left
Born: 1988-05-24
Birthplace: Yaroslavl, Russia

 

Artem Anisimov finished his draft year off with an average performance at the U18 WJC. The young center did not deliver a consistent performance, impressing in the game against the Czechs, but failing to make a significant impact in the games either against Canada or the US. He understands the game well and has an impressive vision of the ice. Additionally, he possesses a very impressive wrist shot which is one of his main weapons. Still, besides the strengths, Anisimov needs to bulk up and improve his physical presence, as the young prospect hardly ever competes next to the boards. His lack of mass has also hurt him at the faceoff circle, as he just doesn't yet have the upper body strength. Still, while Anisimov is more raw than some of the other prospects, he has shown a wealth of potential at the international tournaments and even found himself making his Super League debut this season for Lokomotiv.

 

 

 

7. Alexander Vasyunov, LW

Height: 6'0
Weight: 185 lb
Shoots: Left
Born: 1988-04-22
Birthplace: Yaroslavl, Russia

 

Alexander Vasyunov was largely expected to move up in the rankings after the 2006 U18 WJC, but his disappointing performance there has kept the young prospect in seventh place. The Vasyunov-Anisimov combination was supposed to be Russia's most productive unit, but instead Vasyunov scored just two goals and those two came in the 8-0 trouncing of the lowly Belarus squad during Russia's first game of the tournament. Vasyunov is probably one of the top pure snipers available in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft from anywhere in the world. He has dominated at the Russian junior hockey level with Lokomotiv 2, performing far above any of his counterparts. He played two games for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv and was held scoreless.

 

However, the widely accepted concern is how well will he be able to adapt to professional hockey and will he continue to develop and grow? Currently he reminds of a young Buffalo Sabres forward Maxim Afinogenov and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Alexander Suglobov. Like those players at the same age, he is very active on the ice, fighting hard against the boards and skating hard everywhere. Unfortunately, as was the case with Suglobov and Afinogenov, there isn't much thought behind his effort and often nothing comes of it.