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Igor Chernyshov Scouting Report: 2024 NHL Draft #21

Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day our LWOS Prospects Writers will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2024 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow Ben Kerr and Frederik Frandson on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey Prospects is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! Today we bring you our Igor Chernyshov Scouting Report.

Igor Chernyshov spent his draft year splitting time playing for Dynamo Moscow in the KHL and playing for their MHL team, in the Under-20 Russian League. The 18-year-old forward struggled to get ice time playing against men and his numbers were a little light as a result. He scored just three goals and an assist for four points in 34 games. He was also held pointless in the KHL playoffs. However, Chernyshov showed his talent playing at the Under-20 level. He scored 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points in 22 games. He is signed with Dynamo Moscow through the end of the 2024-25 season according to EliteProspects.

Chernyshov made his KHL debut in 2022-23. He played five games and scored his first goal in the league. He also played 38 games at the MHL level, scoring a point per game with 18 goals and 20 assists. At the Under-18 level, he played for the Russian National Team. Unfortunately, international games have been limited due to the IIHF banning Russia from events due to the war in Ukraine.

Chernyshov has always been playing ahead of his age group, helping Dynamo Moscow to second and third in the Under-17 and Under-18 leagues in 2021-22.

Igor Chernyshov 2024 NHL Draft Scouting Report

Left Wing — shoots Right
Born November 30th, 2005 — Penza, Russia
Height 6’2″ — Weight 196 lbs [188 cm/89 kg]

Skating

Chernyshov is a strong skater for his size. He has a low centre of gravity, and a powerful stride. He has a good first step and very good acceleration. His top-end speed is also very good. Chernyshov can keep up with the play and stretch the defence. His edgework and agility are also very strong. He is able to weave in and out of traffic, both with and without the puck. This allows Chernyshov to find open ice and get away from defenders.

Chernyshov has good balance and is strong on his skates. It is tough to knock him off the puck. As a result he is able to drive the net and control the puck down low in the dirty areas of the ice. He is able to win battles on the boards and in front of the net. As he continues to add muscle to his frame, these areas of his game should improve.

Offensive Game

Chernyshov has the skills to be a power forward. He is willing to drive the net and play in the dirty areas of the ice. His soft hands allow him to deke defenders. They also help him to score goals in tight, beating goalies, pouncing on rebounds and getting deflections. From further out he has a strong wrist shot and a quick release that can fool goalies. Chernyshov knows how to get open without the puck. Finding open ice and being ready to take a pass and one time the puck on the net.

While his playmaking can improve, it isn’t a weakness at this point. His ability to control the puck down low and win battles on the boards helps his team to maintain possession. By increasing offensive zone time, he helps his team to create more scoring chances. Chernyshov combines his good skating with excellent stickhandling and this allows him to carry the puck through the neutral zone and create effective zone entries. His vision and passing skills are good, but he’s not the most creative forward in this area. He settles for the quick short passes to keep the puck moving and maintain possession. Chernyshov is not afraid to use his body and play physical at both ends of the ice.

Defensive Game

Chernyshov has an advanced defensive game for a teenager. He reads the play extremely well and is often in the right position to break up plays and create turnovers. The young forward is not afraid to use his size to help the defence down low and defend against the cycle game. Once a turnover is created, Chernyshov is quick to move the puck up the ice and transition to offence. He is also good at using his stick to cut down passing lanes. He is not afraid to block shots as well.

Projection and Comparison

Igor Chernyshov is signed with Dynamo Moscow for at least one more season. As with many Russian players, due to political factors and the lack of a transfer agreement between the NHL and KHL, there can be questions of when he will come over. In this case, a year or two in the KHL could be beneficial, especially if Chernyshov is able to continue to get stronger and earn more ice time. He could be two or three years away from being NHL ready and may also need some AHL time.

Overall, he has the package of speed, size, power, and defensive game that NHL scouts, GMs, and coaches love. As with many teenagers, he needs to continue to round out his game and keep improving, but if he reaches his potential, he would be a valuable top six forward capable of playing in all situations. Chernyshov’s game is reminiscent of Brady Tkachuk. This is a stylistic comparison only though and not one based on skill or ability.

Highlights

The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of  Igor Chernyshov that are available on YouTube and Twitter.

Check back later for our latest 2024 NHL Draft Article.

Main photo by: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Ben Kerr

Ben Kerr

Ben is a credentialed sports writer from just outside Toronto, Canada. A lawyer, he has a highly analytical approach to writing. Ben is the COO of Last Word On Sports INC. Most of his writing can be found in the hockey department, though he follows and writes on other sports as well.

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