#19 OA Evgeny Svechnikov

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Red Wings 19th overall pick. I think it's a good one and the fact they say he is pro ready is realgud.

Can't wait for training camp this year to see how these kids perform.

Evgeny Svechnikov has good size at 6’3″ and shows off an outstanding wrist shot and release. He also has an impressive snap shot and a very hard one-timer. When it comes to his shooting arsenal, Svechnikov has pro-ready skills. However, he is not just a one-trick pony as Svechnikov also has excellent vision and passing ability. He shows high-end offensive hockey IQ, making very smart plays with the puck on his stick and finding openings in the defence without it. He has tremendous skill and the stickhandling ability to protect the puck and to get by defenders. He also shows the willingness to play a power game when necessary, getting in hard on the forecheck, and battling hard in the corners and in front of the net. He pressures defenders and has been known to throw a big hit.

Evgeny Svechnikov is a strong skater with very good speed and acceleration. He loves to drive the net and can finish in close when he gets there. He shows great versatility on the rush as he has the speed to take a defender wide, the agility and strong stickhandling to beat them with his lateral movement, or by fooling them with changing speeds. He could add some lower body strength and be a bit stronger and more balanced on the puck.

Evgeny Svechnikov needs a lot of work in his defensive game. He tries to help out in his own end and uses his size to battle for pucks, but the other areas of his game are weak. He gets himself out of position and leaves the opposing team with passing lanes on a regular basis. He seems to try hard, but needs to really be coached on what he needs to do when he doesn’t have the puck. Svechnikov could improve with time, but right now his defensive game looks weak.

Evgeny Svechnikov has all the offensive skill to be a top line NHL forward if he meets his potential. There are some questions about his defensive game though, and he has a number of things he can learn from another year in junior and maybe a short AHL stint to follow that. Svechnikov’s style is reminiscent of Ilya Kovalchuk, but this is a stylistic comparison only and not a talent comparison with the former Thrashers/Devils star.

http://lastwordonsports.com/2015/04/21/2015-nhl-draft-profile-21-evgeny-svechnikov/

“Svechnikov may give some teams pause because of his Russian citizenship, but his upside should convince them he’s worth the risk. We’ve always thought he’d be more useful playing center and, halfway through Cape Breton’s 2014-15 season, that change was made — with phenomenal results. Svechnikov creates offense with his soft hands, size and strength and when his team doesn’t have the puck, he’s shown a decent commitment to making sure it stays out of his net. He had an excellent year with the Screaming Eagles and always maintained he came to North America to get ready for the NHL. That should make the team that selects him quite happy as big, offensive centers with an ability to defend are hard to find.”

Edited June 27, 2015 by darkmanx

[Wings_Toledo 233]

So one report says he can't defend and the other says he does it well enough? I think he has the skill and work ethic to fix any issues he might have. I like this pick. Imagine a future 1st line of Svechnikov-Larkin-Mantha (if they all reach their potentials).

[rick zombo 3,739]

I've said it in the draft thread. Love this pick.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

I wonder how long it will be till we find out if the red wings want him at center or wing.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

The red wings twitter feed calls him a center, so I'm guessing that's where hell play.

[krsmith17 7,191]

I didn't want us to take a winger in the first round, but there isn't much question this kid was the right choice at 19. I was hoping Conner was going to drop to us (he almost did) but when I seen them going to the stage, indicating they were making the pick at 19, he was one of the top guys on my list. I still would have liked to move back and take Roy and Spencer but I'm quite okay with taking Svechnikov. I think he will be a really good player. I'm even more excited after reading he could potentially play center... Larkin, Svechnikov, Sheahan and Glendening down the middle sounds pretty good to me.

[blgillett 48]

No doubt a great pick I don't expect to see him in Detroit before 4 years knowing how we handle young guys

[VM1138 1,921]

So is the general consensus that this kid is the only pick this year to really get excited about? The others seem okay but nothing special. Could work out but no special reason to think they will, sort of thing?

[Wingsfan2015 2]

Red Wings 19th overall pick. I think it's a good one and the fact they say he is pro ready is realgud.

Can't wait for training camp this year to see how these kids perform.

He's very talented. He will be great for the Wings for years to come.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

I didn't want us to take a winger in the first round, but there isn't much question this kid was the right choice at 19. I was hoping Conner was going to drop to us (he almost did) but when I seen them going to the stage, indicating they were making the pick at 19, he was one of the top guys on my list. I still would have liked to move back and take Roy and Spencer but I'm quite okay with taking Svechnikov. I think he will be a really good player. I'm even more excited after reading he could potentially play center... Larkin, Svechnikov, Sheahan and Glendening down the middle sounds pretty good to me.

I agree I wanted Connor but he was taken just before we could get him. I wonder what this means for Helm, we don't need him at center anymore and his contract is coming up and probably will be looking for a pay day.

No doubt a great pick I don't expect to see him in Detroit before 4 years knowing how we handle young guys

I am not sure the WIngs are going that route anymore. They realize they need to get these kids in the NHL before long, and we have noticed quite the change the last couple of years. His game is "Pro ready" as most scouts are saying so I don't think its out of the question that he plays one year in the AHL and then is given a serious look.

[krsmith17 7,191]

I've always liked Helm on the wing, I think his speed makes him much more dangerous offensively on the boards than it does down the middle. For the same reason, I think Athanasiou would be much more effective as a winger at the NHL level. Both players are huge assets because of their speed and versatility. I don't think Helm should be going anywhere.

I doubt it will take Svechnikov 4 years to crack the Red Wings lineup, but I don't think it will be a year either. My guess would be 2-3 years. He's not eligible to play in the AHL next season, so he will be sent back to the Q for another year. I would guess he will play at least one season in Grand Rapids the following year, then possibly make the Red Wings in the 2017-18 season.

I think the '17-18 season is going to be a good one. New Arena for all these stud kids we're going to have coming up over the next few seasons...

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

That's a good video about him. He sounds like a hard worker off the ice and they talk about his good personality/attitude. Put into a new situation/country/language/workload and was able to take on the challenge and do well. That says a lot to me.

Also, it's been too long since we've had an "ov" on our team!! Like the pick - I'm on board!

Edited June 28, 2015 by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

That's a good video about him. He sounds like a hard worker off the ice and they talk about his good personality/personality. Put into a new situation/country/language/workload and was able to take on the challenge and do well. That says a lot to me.

Also, it's been too long since we've had an "ov" on our team!! Like the pick - I'm on board!

I am also very excited for this.

I'm thinking they're going to want to develop svech at center, all the twitter updates, and reports I seen had him listed as a center.

Which will be cool, we need another Russian center to get here soon.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

https://mobile.twitter.com/KyleWIIM/status/614609302943350784

This whole posting tweets thing annoys me.

Edited June 28, 2015 by jimmyemeryhunter

[Euro_Twins 4,485]

https://mobile.twitter.com/KyleWIIM/status/614609302943350784

This whole posting tweets thing annoys me.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

https://mobile.twitter.com/KyleWIIM/status/614609302943350784

This whole posting tweets thing annoys me.

Haha.

Jimmy's jimmies are rustled.

In a bad way for the tweet commenting, and in a good way for another Russian center.

Ha

Nothings better than a good ole good jimmys jimmie rustlin Russian.

Edited June 28, 2015 by jimmyemeryhunter

[Euro_Twins 4,485]

Haha.

Jimmy's jimmies are rustled.

In a bad way for the tweet commenting, and in a good way for another Russian center.

Ha

Nothings better than a good ole good jimmys jimmie rustlin Russian.

Lmao thought you'd like that buddy

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Lmao thought you'd like that buddy

It was a little ray of sunshine on a long rainy day.

So what do you think of our new Russian?

[Euro_Twins 4,485]

It was a little ray of sunshine on a long rainy day.

So what do you think of our new Russian?

I love the thick accent and the fact that his English is as good as datsyuks English is. I'm very excited for him after watching some of his highlights. He could be a force in the nhl in a few years, young big power forward

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

I love the thick accent and the fact that his English is as good as datsyuks English is. I'm very excited for him after watching some of his highlights. He could be a force in the nhl in a few years, young big power forward

Ha its kind of shocking that he just started learning English, and already speaks more English than datsyuk supposedly does.

Dats has to be fibbing about his knowledge of the English language, maybe he doesn't like dealing with the media or something..

But this years camp is gonna be fun, with all these high end kids coming in.

And ken Holland said Larkin, mantha, and svech are all going to be given chances to make the team out of camp, and he seemed more committed to the youth movement than in years past...

It has me wondering if babs was the one who pushed for more veteran laden rosters, and if blash will change all that.

It would be awesome to see one of the three on the big club next season, I wanna Calder trophy winner.

[marcaractac 3,963]

Ha its kind of shocking that he just started learning English, and already speaks more English than datsyuk supposedly does.

Dats has to be fibbing about his knowledge of the English language, maybe he doesn't like dealing with the media or something..

But this years camp is gonna be fun, with all these high end kids coming in.

And ken Holland said Larkin, mantha, and svech are all going to be given chances to make the team out of camp, and he seemed more committed to the youth movement than in years past...

It has me wondering if babs was the one who pushed for more veteran laden rosters, and if blash will change all that.

It would be awesome to see one of the three on the big club next season, I wanna Calder trophy winner.

I really do think Larkin just might make the team. If not at the start, definitely before the season is out. Sadly as far as the Calder goes, he'd have to noticeably set himself apart from McDavid and Eichel, as you know those who vote will be itching to give it to either of those two. But I'd rather see Larkin contribute come playoff time than to see him win the Calder. Something that either of the other two won't even have a shot of doing this season.

[wingsfan4795 552]

Ha its kind of shocking that he just started learning English, and already speaks more English than datsyuk supposedly does.

Dats has to be fibbing about his knowledge of the English language, maybe he doesn't like dealing with the media or something..

But this years camp is gonna be fun, with all these high end kids coming in.

And ken Holland said Larkin, mantha, and svech are all going to be given chances to make the team out of camp, and he seemed more committed to the youth movement than in years past...

It has me wondering if babs was the one who pushed for more veteran laden rosters, and if blash will change all that.

It would be awesome to see one of the three on the big club next season, I wanna Calder trophy winner.

Any red wing winning the Calder next year would be a stretch with mcdavid and Eichel coming up. Maybe we should hold them back one more year so they can go for the award in 2017

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Any red wing winning the Calder next year would be a stretch with mcdavid and Eichel coming up. Maybe we should hold them back one more year so they can go for the award in 2017

all it would take is outscoring them, so no.

I want them to win out because they scored more then Mcdavid and eichel.

It would tickle my jimmies pink.

PINK!

I really do think Larkin just might make the team. If not at the start, definitely before the season is out. Sadly as far as the Calder goes, he'd have to noticeably set himself apart from McDavid and Eichel, as you know those who vote will be itching to give it to either of those two. But I'd rather see Larkin contribute come playoff time than to see him win the Calder. Something that either of the other two won't even have a shot of doing this season.

If blashill is as high on Larkin as it seems like he is, I could see him winning a job out of camp.

He was scoring a ppg during the playoffs in grand rapids, while playing great defensive hockey.

He's got a good chance, especially if helm stays on the wing, and if Franzen can't return.

[krsmith17 7,191]

I really doubt any of the kids (Larkin, Mantha, Athanasiou, Svechnikov) will crack the Wings lineup next season, and I'm quite okay with that... We have Pulkkinen that will be up full time, and that's more than we'll have room for. We'll have 15 forwards on our roster, not including Franzen (LTIR) or Cleary (GR), once all of our RFA's are re-signed and assuming there are no trades and/or free agent signings. I still believe that these kids should and will be brought along slowly. There's no rush to get them in the lineup this season. I think even if we were to trade away a few players, we would be more likely to sign a free agent than bring one of the kids up too early. Give them another full season in Grand Rapids, or in Svechnikov's case, in Cape Breton...

[Helmethead 235]

I love this pick by Kenny. All he has to do is round out his defensive game and he'll be ready in a year or two. Grand Rapids is the perfect place for this kid.