With their second pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, No. 74th overall, the Los Angeles Kings selected 6-foot-4 forward Alexander Dergachyov from Russia. He played in the World Junior Championship tournament last winter. He also is one of the oldest first-time eligible players in this year’s Draft, as he missed the cut off last year by just 12 days.
From McKeen’s Draft Guide:
Gained in stature through the U20 Worlds culminating in some mem- orable battles with Team Canada’s Darnell Nurse in the gold-medal game (7-1-3-4) .. carried his momentum back to the MHL and emerged with a playoff-leading 11 goals to help SKA reach the finals (19-11- 7-18) .. hulking power winger is a smart and poised playmaker with good hand skills and vision .. solid skater, just average speed.
From Future Considerations Draft Guide:
#78 ALEXANDER DERGACHEV
POSITION: Center
SHOOTS: LeftTEAM: SKA‐1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) BORN: September 27, 1996
VITALS: 6’‐4” / 200 Lbs
STATS: 45 GP 10 G 29 A 39 PTS 52 PIM
SCOUTING REPORT: Dergachev is a large‐framed forward who is noticeable both with his size and the way he plays on the ice. He skates very well for his size, using a long stride to catapult himself into the play as well as a goodcenter of balance, allowing him to turn with precision. Plays a strong power game and is a beast on the puck when he gets control of it. Has strong puck handling skills and while not overly flashy, his possession and protection skills are excellent. He is a very strong man who can take on a defender with either physical or finesse. Has good passing skills and showed good cohesion with his teammates, seeing the ice well and choosing the best available pass option. Has a heavy shot, but needs to work at getting open more often to use it. He shows a good mind for his own end, committing himself to the finer details to ensure he helps in his own zone. He is excellent with his stick, taking away lanes in the d‐zone while also showing a willingness to hit his opponent regularly. Hard back checker and aggressive shot blocker, which makes him look more than the “stereotypical Russian” forward. Has some question about his offensive potential at the next level.
NHL POTENTIAL: Top‐Nine Power Center.
Videos:
MORE DRAFT CONTENT:
NHL Draft: Kings Select Erik Cernak in Second Round
Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com
Kopitar Out, Can Watch His Son Against Arizona
Per recent tradition, it will be the Kings and Coyotes in a pair of split-squad games to open up preseason on Tuesday night. LA captain Anze Kopitar will not suit up, but he will get a chance to watch his son … [Read More...]