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After joining the Barrie Colts, right-wing Andrei Svechnikov took the OHL by storm. He started the season with 10 goals in his first 10 games. Unfortunately, he broke his hand in late October and was out for a couple of months. Svechnikov returned in time to play in the World Junior Championships, and while he scored five points in seven games, he clearly wasn’t himself. Those five points were all assists as he wasn’t the sniper most were accustomed to seeing. Svechnikov would find his game back in Barrie though, finishing the season with 40 goals and 72 points in 44 games. Discipline was an issue though, he was given a game misconduct for a hit to the head in the Colts final regular season game. The hit also earned him a suspension for the Colts first four playoff games.
His brother, Evgeni Svechnikov, is a prospect and former first-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings.
Andrei Svechnikov Scouting Report
Right Wing — shoots Left
Born March 26th, 2000 — Barnaul, Russia
Height 6’3″ — Weight 187 lbs [191 cm / 85 kg]
Skating
Svechnikov is an outstanding skater. He has elite level speed and very good acceleration. He can beat his defender to the outside and cut back to the net. Svechnikov also has sublime edgework and agility, making him very hard to defend in one-on-one situations. He has very good balance and power in his skating stride. This skating ability allows him to play a skilled offensive game, as well as to be a power winger. He has the power to fight through checks and win battles on the boards, as well as to beat defenders with slick moves. He’s not a big hitter, but it is very difficult to knock Svechnikov off the puck.
Offensive Game
Svechnikov has every offensive skill one would want in a player. He has a fantastic wrist shot with a bullet-quick release. He also has an excellent snapshot and a great one-timer. His shooting arsenal is elite, and NHL ready. His backhand is elite. A pure sniper, he can also tip-in pucks, and has the quick hands to finish on rebounds, or on dekes close to the net.
Svechnikov can stick handle in a phone booth, beating defenders one-on-one, and in close to the net. He protects the puck well and has the power to control it down low and create in the cycle game. While he is best known as a sniper, he has excellent vision and passing skills as well. In the cycle game, he can play the role of playmaker for his linemates. Svechnikov is a smart and creative player, who is often one step ahead of the competition.
Defensive Game
The defensive game is very much a work in progress. He needs to show a stronger commitment to play in his own end of the ice. Even when he does commit to coming back, positioning and zone coverage are a challenge. He has a tendency to puck watch instead of covering his man away from the play. When his team gets the puck, he is quick to fly the zone looking for a long breakaway pass.
Projection and Comparison
Andrei Svechnikov is an elite level sniper. He may not be NHL ready right away, and could possibly use another year of development, but he should still be an elite sniper at the next level. Svechnikov should be a first-line, franchise-defining goal scorer. In terms of style (but not necessarily talent), his game is similar to Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues.
Highlights
The following is a compilation of some of the many highlight packages of Svechnikov that are available on youtube.
Check back tomorrow for the next prospect on our draft board.
Main Photo: MISSISSAUGA, ON – JANUARY 19: Andrei Svechnikov #14 of the Barrie Colts skates up ice against the Mississauga Steelheads during game action on January 19, 2018 at Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
