[Sandman]

LHD Artyom Grushnikov,6'2"174lbs (Krasnaya Armiya Moskva,MHL): Hasn't played any hockey this season, as he was supposed to be joining the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs. In 2019-20, he put up 5pts in 29 games as a 16/17 year old in the MHL, a men's pro league in Russia. The fact that he was trusted in that league at that age, should tell you something about this kid. At this point, Grushnikov is known as a top-notch, very reliable defensive defenseman, who can also lead the rush out of the zone.

Grush has good size and 4-way skating ability. His edgework and agility are near-elite, he can change direction instantly. He has the straight-ahead speed to keep up with the smaller, speedier forwards. His stellar backwards skating allows him to push opponents towards the boards, and out of high-danger. Grushnikov's bread and butter is his defensive game, he's never out of position. He guards the crease, ties players up, and outmuscles attackers down low. Great at taking away the middle of the zone, breaks down passing lanes, and pushes opponents to the outside. He's exceptional when it comes to shot-blocking, be it with his body, or deflecting it with his stick. Best of all, he consistently makes smart decisions under pressure-he'll break down plays, retrieve the puck, and get the play going the other way, either by skating it out himself, or through one of his other specialties- his stretch pass, which he does as good, or better than anyone in this draft. He's also able to choke out rushes in transition. He's very physical-he doesn't hesitate to lay the body, or rough up an attacker.

Grushnikov is an excellent distributor of the puck, not only by the aforementioned stretch-pass-he can thread the needle in any zone. His passes are often hard and crisp, and he's the master of the slap-pass. On the PP, he walks the line and scans for open lanes, and he gets good velocity on his slapshot. He can jump into the rush, and lead the attack. He's excellent in transition, and can enter or exit zones with his feet, or his tape-to-tape pass. If a team can harness and develop his offense further, you will have a top-pairing defenseman- and he has the skills. His speed, shot and passing are all there. He could use work on his shooting, as he gets blocked, deflected, or misses the net-he needs to learn the same patience he wields in the defensive zone, and select the right time to shoot. His skating could use work in acceleration, and top speed- the mechanics are already there, and his edges and agility are fantastic. This is a very safe pick, as he's sure to develop into a second pairing D, at worst. He would be the ideal player to play with a more offensive-minded partner. Lots to like about this kid. Look for him to go in the 2nd/3rd round.