Since NHL general managers and most scouts are unable to enter Russia to evaluate certain draft prospects with their own eyes, then player agent Daniel Milstein figured he should invite them to North America.
That’s what happened earlier this month, when Milstein and several other agents who have young Russian clients rolled out the red carpet for an assessment camp in Florida. This would have attracted 31 of the 32 teams on the Bettman circuit. He had of course organized a few camps before the draft, but this one was the first to be accessible to all NHL clubs.
“It was a full house,” Milstein told the Associated Press, declining to specify the identity of the only club that abstained. From a talent standpoint, and you can quote me: I’m not sure there was less talent here than at the actual NHL prospect camp. »
That may be a bit of an exaggeration, considering that the annual prospect camp in Buffalo, New York, attracted nearly 100 players two weeks earlier, including the All-Star from Boston University Macklin Celebrini. He should be the first pick in the next draft, which means that the San Jose Sharks should say his name first on the stage set up in “The Sphere” in Las Vegas on Friday night.
Face to face
What’s often forgotten is how important it is for NHL scouts to meet Russian prospects in person — a task made complicated by travel restrictions in Vladimir Putin’s country, not to mention exclusion of Russia from all international competitions following the invasion of Ukraine.
Among the most coveted Russian prospects is forward Ivan Demidov, who ranks second among NHL Central Scouting international prospects and is expected to be selected in the top five. Should we remind here that as of Tuesday, the Montreal Canadiens have the fifth choice in this year’s auction?
Milstein’s “Gold Star” camp, named after his agency, included on-ice practices as well as simulated games, which is not the case at the NHL prospect evaluation camp. Additionally, Milstein has been helping clients learn English for the past year, hoping to make acclimation to North America easier.
Without going into detail, Milstein also mentioned that his agency had identified a way to speed up the visa process for its Russian clients to play in North America.
“Young people come here and express themselves very well in interviews. They are in good shape. They excel during testing, Milstein said. And since the camps take place in North America, they demonstrate to the entire planet that, indeed, they came here to do business. We are here because we want to play. »
The Russian peril
Several NHL executives nevertheless remain hesitant to select a Russian prospect. First, because they have no control over the development and playing time of their prospect in Russia, then because they do not know when he will make the jump to North America.
“It’s obviously a gamble right now,” admitted an NHL executive to the AP, who requested anonymity because it is a delicate issue. You are at the mercy of his team there. »
The director of the NHL Central Scouting, Dan Marr, noted that some players who leave Russia fear returning there.
“It’s a very difficult situation,” Marr agreed. And remember, we’re talking about teenagers here. These are very real life dilemmas. »
Milstein acknowledged that the risk is higher when a team selects a Russian prospect. This is what motivated him to organize this camp, to allow NHL leaders to meet these prospects in person to discuss their future plans.
Documented problems
The Philadelphia Flyers had to wait nine years to welcome goaltender Ivan Fedotov, following a complex journey, and only after CSKA Moscow terminated his KHL contract. After signing his contract with the Flyers in May 2022, the 2015 prospect was transported by Russian authorities to a military base beyond the Arctic Circle for his military service.
The Flyers received encouraging news on Sunday about their prospect Matvei Michkov, who is no longer under contract in the KHL and who could therefore join them for the next campaign.
At least 19 Russian players have been selected in each of the seven rounds of the NHL draft since 2017. Twenty-nine were even chosen in the 2021 draft, the highest since 2003, when the draft had nine rounds.