[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Russian Edition, Vol. 2):

LD Makar Fomin (5'11",165lbs)
Almaz Cherepovets (MHL): 32gp/ 6g/ 14a/ 20pts, +22, 14 PIM
Severstal Cherepovets (KHL): 12gp/ 0g/ 0a/ 0pts, -6, 2 PIM

Lefty Makar Fomin (ranked #30 for EU Skaters) is, at the time of this writing, the 8th all-time leading scorer in the MHL for defenseman 18-and-under, and 6th all-time in ppg for D in that age bracket. He's a touch older by draft standards, with a December 17th birthday, but he's a dynamic, play-driving rearguard who electrifies with the puck, and contributes all over the ice. He's a fantastic skater, though maybe a notch below elite in straight-ahead speed, with superb agility to sidestep checks- he's elusive and slippery, and very hard to pin down. He wins more than his fair share of puck-races, and shows enormous value in his ability to push the pace as a transitional driver; his passing talent is elite, and he's a high-end puck-mover. Fomin's hands might be even smoother and quicker than his feet, as his puck-control is one of his best assets. He's an impressive stickhandler and doesn't often give pucks away, with an extensive arsenal of deception, using feints and look-offs, as well as deft cut-backs and delays, to make himself room to move.

Fomin owns well-developed passing skill, with high-end vision and IQ. His passes are on the tape, and can find their way cross-ice through the smallest of holes, putting teammates in favorable positions. He exploits space with quick touches, finds seams to pass through on the fly, and will join the rush as an extra attacker, sometimes soaring all the way to the end boards. Fomin walks the line intelligently and effectively to manipulate defenders, funnelling pucks to the low-slot, and makes quick reads to time his activations advantageously. He pinches in to the play frequently and aggressively to support the cycle, keep the play alive, and to create high-danger opportunities. Defensively, he gets involved, but he needs plenty of work and must be used judiciously at this point- this is a much bigger problem against men in the KHL, than against junior competition. He seems to be working hard in his own zone, and stays active, but looks out of position and a bit lost most of the time in his call-ups to the pros. He does have a high number of takeaways at the MHL level, mostly because of his active stick and keen anticipation, but his gaps are too loose and he seems mistake-prone with the puck. On retrievals, he usually looks smooth and controlled, shaking off pressure with his deft stickhandling and evasive footwork to complete composed breakouts that usually connect with crispness and accuracy. He looks poised and calm, and contributes to controlled exits and entries. Off the puck, he is active and energetic, and makes himself a constant playable option for his teammates.

Fomin's shot lacks power, and he needs to develop more deception in his release, but he uses it more as a playmaking device right now to serve up second-chance opportunities for his teammates. In addition, he needs better shot-selection, as he gets blocked a lot and misses the net frequently. He doesn't shy away from contact, but he isn't a physical player, and struggles to win 50/50 puck battles because of his lack of size and strength. At times, he is too much of an individual, and needs to use his teammates better- he tries to do too much on his own, and often looks like he's doing his own thing outside of his team's structure. This, as well as deficiencies in his defensive game and his size, have led to questions as to whether or not his game is NHL-projectable. There's tons of potential here, but he may need more runway than most. I could see him being picked as early as the second-round, but I think it's more likely he gets taken in the 3rd, or 4th-round.