Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of www.russianprospects.com
- Name: Denis Ezhov
- Position: D
- Shoots: Left
- Height: 5-11
- Weight: 200 lbs
- Birthdate: 1985-02-28
- Eligible for Draft: 2003
- Drafted:
- Hometown: Togliatti, Russia
- Acquired: 4th Round (114th overall), 2003 NHL Draft
- Playing In: Europe
Denis Ezhov
Prospect Grade: 5.0 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
Entering the 2003 NHL Draft, Denis Ezhov (also spelled Yezhov) was the fifth ranked Russian, and 25th ranked European skater. When he was sitting there at the 114th position in Round 4, the Buffalo Sabres were delighted to snatch up the steady defender.
A product of the Lada Togliatti program, Ezhov has been a mainstay on the Russian National Team for his age group since his teens. In 2001-2002, he was a mid-season call up to Lada’s top club in the Russian Super League, and remained there for the rest of the season. The 2002-2003 year saw him spend a majority of time with CSK VVS of the Upper League after starting out with Lada’s top farm club, Lada2. Ezhov returned to CSK VVS to start the 2003-2004 campaign, spending most of the year there. He was loaned to Metallurg Novokuznet of the Super League during the season where he had trouble cracking the regular lineup, garnering one assist in 18 regular season and playoff contests. He appeared in six games as a member of Team Russia at the 2003 World Junior Championships.
Talent Analysis
A superbly conditioned athlete, Ezhov is regarded as a safe, responsible defender. Resembling more of a finesse player than a physical force, he relies much on top-shelf speed and solid positioning in his own end, often using his wide body and stick to tie up opponents. He isn’t big and bulky, but he does carry an impressive physique nonetheless. Despite excellent strength that makes him difficult to knock off the puck, Ezhov doesn’t participate much offensively. He is cool and calm under pressure, electing to look for an open teammate for the pass rather than just dumping the puck. He displays traits of a smart, stay-at-home defender, leaving flashiness and big play opportunities behind.
Future
Feeling as if they got a steal at 114th overall, Buffalo was hoping for Ezhov to progress at a quicker pace in the Russian Leagues than a usual 4th round selection. However, he seemed to taper off a bit since his drafting. It is unclear whether he will ever make the jump to North America to adjust to the NHL style of play.
Stats
| Year | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2003-04 | Mettalurg | RSL | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2004-05 | Mettalurg | RSL | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2005-06 | Khimik | RSL | 24 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
Profile Last Updated: March, 26th 2008
HF Quick Navigation
