Player's Profile
- Name: Sergei Gayduchenko
- Position: G
- Catches: Left
- Height: 6-5
- Weight: 222 lbs
- Birthdate: 1989-06-06
- Eligible for Draft: 2007
- Drafted: 2007
- Hometown: Yaroslav, Russia
- Acquired: 7th round (202nd overall), 2007
- Playing In: Europe
Sergei Gayduchenko
Prospect Grade: 5.5 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
2007-08: Spent the majority of the season with Lomotiv Yaroslavl's second team and made his Russian Super League debut in 11 games with Metallurg Novokuznetsk and was 3-3 with a 3.04 GAA.
2008-09: Gayduchenko appeared in three games with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL with a 1.62 GAA and .942 save percentage. Gayduchenko played with Russia in the Canada-Russia Junior Challenge prior to the WJC but was not on the roster for the tournament.
2009-10: Gayduchenko saw limited action in his second year with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Playing behind veteran netminder Georgi Gelashvili, Gayduchenko got an opportunity to play late in the season due to a hand injury to Gelashvili but had mixed success. Gayduchenko finished with a 2.42 GAA and .922 save percentage in 20 games.
2010-11: Gayduchenko split the season between CSKA Moscow (Red Army) and the CSKA Junior team in the MHL (U-22 league). In his first season with CSKA after spending two seasons with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, Gayduchenko shared the goaltending duties with one-time New York Rangers' backup Steve Valiquette. He played in 23 games with a 2.90 GAA and .893 save percentage as CSKA finished last in the KHL's Bobrov Division. The junior team was much more successful - capturing the MHL's Central Division in the regular season and the playoff championship - and Gayduchenko played a big part in that success. He played seven games with the junior team during the regular season and had 1 shutout with a 3.80 GAA and .898 save percentage. In 15 MHL playoff games he had a pair of shutouts with a 1.93 GAA and .927 save percentage.
Talent Analysis
Gayduchenko's greatest asset is his size, which he uses to fill the net and take away shooting angles. Though his size limits his mobility somewhat, he has quick reflexes is a well-conditioned athlete. He has been inconsistent, possibly due to a lack of technical training and a limited number of games played. At his best, Gayduchenko has looked spectacular but his play can be sub-par at other times.
Future
Gayduchenko was selected with the Panthers last pick in the 2007 draft based almost purely on his athletic ability and size. With a crowded goaltending picture in the Florida system, and the limited number of games he's played the past two seasons, he is at the bottom if the depth chart at this point. Gayduchenko is still young enough to become the goalie the Panthers envisioned, but he will have to play more games soon and his NHL opportunity may very well come with another organization.
Stats
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Profile Last Updated: October, 12th 2011
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