Draft Thoughts (Arson Edition):
RHD Arsen Taimazov was given the rank of "B" at the beginning of the season to denote a potential 2nd, or 3rd round pick- but it would be hard to discern why if you're only looking at his stats. The 6'4",215lb Russian managed only 14 points in 40 games, with 31 penalty-minutes for MHK Dynamo Moskva of the MHL- the same team as Flames' prospect G Yegor Yegorov, in Russia's highest junior league. This kid is a natural athlete, being the son of famous Russian Olympic wrestler Artur Taimazov, and if you look him up on YouTube you will see that he too, was a beast.
The reason for Taimazov recieving such a high rating is twofold: firstly- he's a stalwart defensively, and secondly- he's an exceptional skater, especially for someone built like he is. While he might not be quite as blazingly fast as Simashev or Silayev, he's close, with a long and powerful stride that enables him to cut off huge swaths of ice when combined with his extra-long wingspan. He's uncommonly agile, with the ability to stop and start in a flash, and turn on a dime to elude checkers. He's fast in all four directions, and is always in motion with his feet moving. At this point, he lacks any offensive upside and doesn't contribute much in this regard to his team now. He doesn't hold on to the puck for any length of time, and keeps his passes short and risk-free. He is always the last man to enter the offensive zone, and once there he keeps pucks alive and sends them in deep. He distributes well from the line, but once again, he keeps things simple. The "wow" factor comes in the form of his long breakout passes, that he can really stretch the ice with, and they are usually crisp and accurate. Using his speed and his smooth stickhandling, he can carry the puck from end to end if he sees the opportunity. You might say that while he contributes very minimally in one zone, he's very valuable in the other two.
Taimazov anchors his team's blueline with a highly developed, mature game in his own zone. He's a stalwart defensively, elite for his age group, and very aggressive. He's a reliable minute-muncher, and spends a lot of his time on the ice killing penalties, and playing in important defensive situations. For this side of the game, he owns keen anticipation and high-end IQ, making good reads to kill entries, and racking up stops against the rush. With his size, speed, and enormous wingspan, he's an intimidating force and a daunting opponent to go up against- add to that his physicality, and you can see how he earned that "B" grade from Central Scouting. Taimazov keeps a tight gap, and will angle opponents to the boards where they are stripped of the puck with poke checks, or levelled physically. He stays in front of attackers, matching their footwork and striking at the right moment- it's almost impossible to shake him off. He protects his net well, and boxes opponents out from the crease. Taimazov may not have the highest ceiling, but he's a safe bet to make the NHL someday as a bottom-three stay-at-home defenseman. Look for him in round 3 or 4.
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