On talent alone, that is certainly not the case with the Maple Leafs seventh round pick from this past June, Nikita Korostelev. Ranked 69th by Bob McKenzie on his final list, Korostelev plummeted dramatically on draft day to the point that the Leafs front office must have been stunned he was still available with their final pick. It’s not a new phenomenon: the “Russian Factor” has resulted in many players dropping in the draft, as the allure of playing for huge money back home in the KHL could tempt young players and cost NHL teams their draft pick.
Nikita Korostelev – Toronto Maple Leafs OHL Prospect Preview
