Related Topics: Ilya Nikolayev, Calgary Flames, Russia, Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, Yaroslavl, NHL Entry Draft, European Figure Skating Championships, Minor Hockey League, Pat Quinn
The 2019 NHL Draft is going to be a busy one for Europeans, particularly for Russians. Several strong Russian prospects are up for grabs and could factor into the first round. Ilya Nikolayev is a bit raw, but he may have teams betting on his immense potential.
Nikolayev is a left shot center who’s spent pretty much his entire hockey-playing life in Yaroslavl working his way up through the club’s system. He’s a June birthday who’s so young that he doesn’t turn 18 until the week after the 2019 NHL Draft.
While he’s spent much of his time in Russia playing in the local leagues, scouts have gotten a look at him outside of that fishbowl in major international events such as the Under-17 Hockey Challenge, the Under-18 Worlds, the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the World Junior A Championship.