[devo22]

Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing

I have not seen anyone anywhere state his ceiling is a 6/7 dman.

I’d love to read that, so can you please post the link?

Scott Wheeler mentioned it in his assessment.

10. Artyom Grushnikov, LHD, 20 (Texas Stars)

Grushnikov is a fascinating case study in that despite a statistical profile that virtually never translates to the NHL, he has always had some believers because of his skating, length and ability to defend. He’s got balanced posture and control in his skating, which he uses effectively gapping up. He’s an excellent backward skater. He’s got a disruptive stick and an ability to track and then close out physically (which hasn’t always been part of his game but has developed over time).

He’s got a pro build at 6-1 and a playing weight in the 190s. He has just enough poise and vision with the puck to advance play and occasionally involve himself (he started to activate more late in his junior career, and while that hasn’t continued in his rookie season in the AHL, I do think there are more opportunities for him to use his smooth skating and influence play than he realizes). He has defended well for a 20-year-old rookie in the AHL. Time will tell if his defending is high-end enough to carry him into a No. 6/7 role, but the Stars clearly have belief in him or they wouldn’t have drafted him in the second round, signed him and bypassed the ECHL for the AHL.