Wednesday 2 July 2014

Canes Select Two Russian Forwards at Import Draft

The Lethbridge Hurricanes had a pair of picks in today’s CHL Import Draft and used both to pick a pair of forwards, Nikita Milekhin and Pavel Skumatov.

The Hurricanes used their 3rd overall pick to select Milekhin, a 1997-born right winger who played for Moscow Dynamo last season. In 26 games, Milekhin tallied 21 points, including 13 goals and added 12 PIM’s. He followed that up with 6G, 1A in 15 playoff games. The scouting report on Milekhin is that he is a very good skater, with good quickness, speed and skill. He stands out with good hockey sense and vision. He also reads the play well and his game is moving ahead as his progress has been excellent.

Lethbridge Hurricanes General Manager Brad Robson adds “he’s a good sized, strong player with skill that comes from the Moscow Dynamo program. He comes from a good family background and his father also coaches in Russia.”

In the second round (63rd overall) the Hurricanes added left winger Skumatov who is 6’0 and 165 pounds. As one of the youngest players on his team where he played in the MHL (U20 Vityazi Chekhov), he had a pair of assists in 26 games. Scouts like his size, speed, skating ability, decision making, hockey sense and his reliability and well as his compete level.

Overall, General Manager Brad Robson is pleased to get both kids they had listed in their top five. “Both players have good skill and will give us some secondary scoring; we expect both of them to be top 9 players. In addition, both players have a desire to come to the CHL and play for the Hurricanes.” 

(From Esther Madziya, Hurricanes Media Relations)

Thanks,
Pat

6 comments:

  1. I sure hope that last sentence is true!

    canesrock

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  2. Enough of the "secondary scoring". How about players that are going to put up big numbers and excite the fans. Canesrock is right. Will they report, sign and play here?

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  3. Don't get it? Robson tells Lethbridge media he's going after a Euro D man and then gets fleeced by McCrimmon again, Provorov was the best Euro Dman in the draft, Robson leaves him on the table for a small forward??? Gotta wonder about the scouting ability of the Canes right now???

    LBJ

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  4. Actually no LBJ. If you read my Euro draft preview Robson said his intention was to draft two forwards. Not defence at all.

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  5. Kingsmith tweeted 6 days ago that Robson was "targeting a Dman" with the second pick with the outright release of Khenkel? Would be nice if they could get some of their drafted prospects signed? Lots will depend on how they start this season, hopefully Anholt provides some strong leadership from his experience in this league...

    LBJ

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  6. From the article.......As one of the youngest players on his team where he played in the MHL (U20 Vityazi Chekhov), he had a pair of assists in 26 games. Scouts like his size, speed, skating ability, decision making, hockey sense and his reliability and well as his compete level.

    I will admit I don't know shite about the MHL (U20 blah blah blah league) but 2 assists in 26 games. I could get 2 assists in 26 games and I can hardly skate.

    canesrock

    ReplyDelete