Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 1, 2024 9:44:47 GMT -5
My take: The Habs went to Russia for another skilled firward with one of the last picks of the draft. He has talent and actually put up the best ppg of any U20 player in the VHL (second men’s league) last year with Dynamo St Petersburg. I actually saw some highlights of his earlier as McCagg actually featured him on one of his Recrutes Draft Sick Podcasts this season. He looks pretty skilled, but I think he will need to get stronger (and hopefully that also gets his skating to be more dynamic) and learn to play more than a perimeter game, as that won’t cut it in the NA pro game if he ever comes over. Bobrov said they followed him all season and he was a “Demidov-Light” (way to overhype a kid, Nick 😆), and he also mentioned this was a boom or bust pick which is something they are comfortable doing this late in the draft.
The reports:
The Habs made their second selection out of the Russian lower levels, although he spent most of his year outside of the junior ranks. Khanin is the second player selected by Montreal that was previously draft-eligible.
Bio
Right Wing
Shoots: Right
DOB: Mar. 17, 2005 – Salavat, Russia
Height: 6’0
Weight: 161 lbs
Scouting Reports
McKeens: Khanin, an overager for this year’s draft, enjoyed a fantastic offensive season as an 18-year-old playing in Russia’s second tier men’s league, the VHL. Khanin is a skilled winger able to generate offense for himself and his teammates thanks to his great vision, creativity and anticipation. He really thrives when his team has sustained offensive zone pressure, and he is able to slow the game down and pick his spots. He loves the perimeter of the ice and a lot of the offense he generates comes from there, whether that be a very strong one-time shot, a well-placed shot for a rebound or a seeing eye shot that fools goalies. We don’t know just how much upside he has, since the skating will need some work but what he did as an 18-year-old in the VHL is very impressive.
The reports:
The Habs made their second selection out of the Russian lower levels, although he spent most of his year outside of the junior ranks. Khanin is the second player selected by Montreal that was previously draft-eligible.
Bio
Right Wing
Shoots: Right
DOB: Mar. 17, 2005 – Salavat, Russia
Height: 6’0
Weight: 161 lbs
Scouting Reports
McKeens: Khanin, an overager for this year’s draft, enjoyed a fantastic offensive season as an 18-year-old playing in Russia’s second tier men’s league, the VHL. Khanin is a skilled winger able to generate offense for himself and his teammates thanks to his great vision, creativity and anticipation. He really thrives when his team has sustained offensive zone pressure, and he is able to slow the game down and pick his spots. He loves the perimeter of the ice and a lot of the offense he generates comes from there, whether that be a very strong one-time shot, a well-placed shot for a rebound or a seeing eye shot that fools goalies. We don’t know just how much upside he has, since the skating will need some work but what he did as an 18-year-old in the VHL is very impressive.