IGOR CHERNYSHOV

Left Wing
6’2/192
Right
Dynamo Moskva/KHL

Related: MICHAEL BRANDSEGG-NYGARD

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Igor Chernyshov is a big, powerful winger who skates well and has a lot of offensive creativity. He beats defenders routinely with his one-on-one plays, sees the ice well, and can create at the net. He can control play at even strength due to his variety of tools. He plays a straight-line game and has the individual skill and quick release to go at defenders and make plays off the rush, or finish from the slot with a quick, one-touch shot in zone. He’s a smooth skater, too, which complements his impressive rush game. For a nearly 200-pound winger, Chernyshov moves well, with and without the puck. Few European pro players Chernyshov’s age can beat defenders in 1-on-1 situations like he can. He attacks the game with pace and power. Competes hard hard on all areas of the ice. When he can’t out-muscle and out-speed his opponents, he has shown some glimpses of an off-puck game that helps him support his teammates’ routes. He tracks back, finds his check, and sticks to him. Chernyshov dominates the small area game and could develop into a top-six piece either at center or wing. The Russian factor could cause him to fall out of the top 20, despite him being an obvious top 15 pick.

Size/Strength Great
Skating Great
Shot/Scoring Good
Puckhandling Good
Physical Play Great
Offensive Play Great
Defensive Play Average
Hockey Sense Great
Competitiveness Great

Strengths

1. He’s a big, powerful winger who skates well and has a lot of offensive creativity; Smooth-skating playmaker with power-forward elements.
2. Has the individual skill and quick release to go at defenders and make plays off the rush, or finish from the slot with a quick, one-touch shot in zone. He’s a smooth skater, too, which complements his impressive rush game.
3. Attacks the game with pace and power. Competes hard hard on all areas of the ice.

Areas of Improvement

1. The Russian Factor could severely impact the draft stock.
2. Dominates at the MHL level, but has yet to carry that success over the KHL.
3. Needs to develop his raw toolkit.

Scouting Report

Igor Chernyshov’s MHL tape is just unfair. He bullies opponents along the boards, easily strips them of possession, and makes small-area passes to open teammates with ease and accuracy that leaves his opponents scrambling to keep up. Once in open ice, especially after three of his large strides, he can’t be caught. Igor is a big, powerful winger who skates well and has a lot of offensive creativity. He beats defenders routinely with his one-on-one plays, sees the ice well, and can create at the net. He can control play at even strength due to his variety of tools. He’s big and isn’t afraid to land hits. For a nearly 200-pound winger, Chernyshov moves well, with and without the puck. Few European pro players Chernyshov’s age can beat defenders in 1-on-1 situations like he can. In the KHL, much of the same remains, but he has also shown a whole lot of adaptability despite the limited ice time. When he can’t out-muscle and out-speed his opponents, he has shown some glimpses of an off-puck game that helps him support his teammates’ routes. He tracks back, finds his check, and sticks to him. He’s still fairly raw, with a toolkit that sees him use a lot of his individual tools in a not-yet-cohesive way, but the top-six upside is evident. My NHL Comparison for Igor Chernyshov is Valeri Nischushkin, who is a very solid power forward playing on the Colorado Avalanche right now; Nischukin was drafted 13th
overall in his draft year by the Dallas Stars but he didn’t blossom into an NHL-caliber player until he got to Colorado. I could see a similar path with Chernyshov, but fortunately for him, the Russian factor might actually help him land on a team that will know how to develop him properly. If Developed properly, Igor Chernyshov could develop into a top-six piece either at center or wing, but most likely he will play the wing in the NHL.

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Skill: Smooth-skating playmaker with power-forward elements and dominates the small-area game

NHL Comparable: Valeri Nichushkin

NHL Potential: Top 6 Winger

Season	Team	League	GP	G	PTS
2022-23	Dynamo Moskva	KHL	5	0	1
	MHK Dynamo Moskva	MHL	38	18	38
2023-24	Dynamo Moskva	KHL	33	3	4
	MHK Dynamo Moskva	MHL	18	10	24

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