Player Introduction
Position: LW/C
D.O.B: April 5, 2003
Birthplace: Togliatti, Russia
Nationality: Russian
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 179 lbs
Shoots: Left
Team: Lada Togliatti
Fyodor Svechkov is a defensively gifted forward who split his time between the MHL and VHL for Lada Togliatti this season. He comes equipped with a defensive tool box and intelligence primed and ready for the NHL. Although he needs to continue to work on his offense, he possesses a strong base set of skills to build off of. Flying somewhat under the radar, Svechkov may be the best Russian player from this draft class.
Hockey IQ & Vision
Svechkov possesses great hockey IQ and vision. Although it’s apparent on both ends of the ice, his high-level intelligence and vision really shines through in the defensive aspects of the game. Svechkov processes the game quickly and reads an opponent’s next move in time to disrupt any sort of high-quality execution. Not the most offensively flashy forward, anything Svechkov may lack in that area, is easily compensated with his elite-level understanding of the game.
Skating & Puck Skills
Svechkov’s skating won’t blow anybody away. At the same time, it is not incredibly flawed either. He isn’t incredibly fast but can shift into another gear when in space offensively or closing in on an opponent defensively. Svechkov’s puck skills are quietly good. He rarely resorts to highlight reel plays but can keep the puck on his stick, even through high traffic areas. His ability to hold onto the puck allows his teammates an opportunity to set up and get into position for quality scoring chances. Again, his passing is disciplined and accurate. However, some may view it as safe or routine. At the end of the day, Svechkov’s skating and puck skills work well with the style of game he plays. There are not any major flaws, allowing him to improve on an already solid base of skills.
Svechkov cannot be separated from the puck on this play. Even when he is taken to the ice, he maintains possession with his long stick, gets himself back up, and skates to the top of the zone allowing everyone to reset.
Scoring
Svechkov’s scoring success is rooted in his continuous effort and awareness of high-quality times to shoot the puck. He has a way of getting into the right areas and times his shots just right. He allows opponents to get close enough to possibly obstruct a goalie’s vision but never close enough to disrupt the shot. Svechkov understands the importance of positioning himself in front of the net and capitalizes on various opportunities from that area. Like every other aspect of his game, Svechkov is a smart scorer, which will only enhance his development and increase his ceiling.
On this scoring opportunity, Svechkov flies into the offensive zone, receiving the pass in a perfect place to shoot. Even when he obtains possession, he waits for the perfect time to shoot. Once he does, he places perfectly over the goalie’s blocker into the back of the net.
Another example of Svechkov getting into perfect positioning to receive the puck and waiting for the perfect opportunity to fire the puck. Once again, he lets off a strong shot that results in a goal.
In this case, we see Svechkov’s commitment to following a play through pay off. He never loses focus and continues to go after the puck. In this case, it results in an unsavable shot in front of the net.
Physicality
Svechkov does not shy away from the physical side of the game and he does not hesitate getting into the dirty areas. However, his decision to be physical is very methodical and responsible. He does not allow physicality to result in poor decision making or penalties. Instead he uses it to either obtain or maintain possession, and apply pressure on the opponent. He does not throw his body around carelessly. Instead he finds a way to use his body or stick to disrupt plays while keeping him very much in the flow of the possession.
Defense
Svechkov may be the best defensive forward of the 2021 draft class. He possesses a level of maturity defensively atypical for 17-year-old MHL products. Svechkov’s awareness and anticipation in his zone are unmatched. He positions himself in advantageous areas, able to eliminate opportunities by simply asserting knowledge of his surroundings. Svechkov rarely leaves someone unaccounted for and quickly closes in on opponents with the puck. He also knows how to use both his body and stick to disrupt a play. Even at such a young age, Svechkov possesses the necessary skills, IQ, and poise to be a high-end shutdown forward at the NHL level.
This sequence is a prime example of Svechkov’s defensive commitment. His a prime read on the play but waits for the right time to commit. Once he commits to the puck behind the net, he doesn’t leave it, causing two quality disruptions.
Rankings
#37 – Recruit Scouting
#17 – Elite Prospects
Conclusion
Svechkov’s current set of skills put him in the position to be the Russian with the most NHL upside of this draft class. He is already an excellent defender that understands and processes the game at a mature level. Although his offensive skills lack in overall flash, he still has a solid base to build off of. Svechkov possesses quality two-way forward potential, making an at-minimum middle-six forward that can contribute to the penalty kill. Not quite receiving the fanfare of Chibrikov or Chayka, he may turn into a later first-round steal for an already thriving franchise.
Copyright: All images/logos/resources property of their respective owners.