[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Russian Edition, Vol. 16):

RW Alexander Pershakov (6'0",176lbs)
Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL): 33gp/ 21g/ 17a/ 38pts, +13, 10 PIM
Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL): 13gp/ 0g/ 1g/ 1pt, +1, 0 PIM

Left-handed RW Alexander Pershakov (unranked) is a bit older, with an Oct.19, 2006 birthday, and has already appeared in 13 games in the KHL (albeit with very little ice-time), but has been scratched for 27 other games. The bulk of his minutes this season have been with the MHL's Sbirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk, the "Siberian Snipers", where he wears an "A", and is 6th in points-per-game for players 18-and-under. Pershakov is a shoot-first winger, and an opportunistic scorer who feeds off of his linemates. I've read plenty of criticism regarding his skating, but he's obviously done a lot of work on it, as he can outskate many of his peers in the MHL, and keeps up just fine against men in the KHL. His stride looks a bit short and choppy at times, but his speed is above-average and he's light on his feet, with solid agility to make quick turns. He needs a bit of work on his mechanics, an increase in lower-body strength, and better explosiveness and top speed.

Pershakov is mostly an opportunistic scorer, and while he's not much of a play-driver, he does possess good offensive awareness with the capability of making some nice passing plays at times, showing a modicum of playmaking vision, and flashes of high-end passing skill. He can link together plays in the offensive zone and in transition, and can get the puck to teammates in high-danger, but he isn't a dynamic creator, or a high-end playmaker. He does appear to have become adept at making plays to the slot from below the goal-line, and he has the intelligence to be an off-puck threat. Pershakov possesses a hard and heavy shot with a deceptive release that is nearly NHL-caliber, and has a shooter's instincts in sniffing out space in the slot to dip in-and-out of, timing his appearance to coincide with the puck's arrival. He plays well around the net, and isn't the least bit afraid to cut to the middle, or to crash the crease in search of an ugly goal. His hand-eye coordination is unreal, and he can knock down pucks out of the air, right to his wheelhouse. His handling isn't anything special though, as he seems to mishandle and overskate the puck unforced more than usual. There's no problem with his work-ethic, as he's a high-effort player with an excellent motor, and he exerts a fairly physical game.

Pershakov's defensive game is a bit more difficult to define in my opinion, as his performances differ in his showings in the MHL, to his appearances in the KHL (as one would expect). He plays both special teams in junior, but he looks more passive in the d-zone when he's playing with the Snipers; his positioning is there, but he's far less active, and has a diminished impact. He stays a bit higher up in the zone to await the breakout, and departs the zone a little early- none of this is a big surprise when it comes to Russian junior players. In the KHL, he appears much more focused and engaged, as well as more mobile, intense, and disruptive. He goes from pressuring the point to force uncontrolled plays, to supporting his D down low, to guarding the net, and he even blocks shots willingly. In both leagues, he employs an active, well-timed stick, positions himself to take away the middle from attackers, and makes himself a playable option for the breakout. I'm not sure how translatable NHL scouts will see his game as being, and his age definitely works against him. Though he is very opportunistic, and relies on his teammates quite a bit, he still possesses a fairly well-rounded game- at least in junior. If he is selected in the upcoming draft, he will have to wait until the later rounds.