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 Entry Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow Ben Kerr, and Frederik Frandsen 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 Nikita Artamonov Scouting Report.
Almost every draft has that one guy who comes out of nowhere and impresses everyone. Someone who most hadn’t heard of, to suddenly be in the conversation to be a first-round pick after an explosive season. This year that player is Nikita Artamonov. The 18-year-old Russian has been spectacular with 23 points in 54 games in the KHL. Getting games as an 18-year-old in the KHL is incredibly difficult. Scoring and producing at that level is preposterous. To put it into perspective, his KHL season is only seven points away from Kirill Kaprizov‘s impressive first full season in the KHL. That’s how good his season was and why he’s in the first-round conversation.
Nikita Artamonov 2024 NHL Draft Scouting Report
Winger — Shoots Left
Born November 17th, 2005 — Nizhekamsk, RUS
Height 5’11″ — Weight 187 lbs [180 cm / 85 kg]
Skating
Nikita Artamonov is a fast skater, with a drive like no other. That is the first thing you notice from his game. He has so much power in his strides to give him strong acceleration. His edges are good, but he can look quite stiff, due to his posture being off balance. It’s far too clunky and he needs to work on this to truly become a nifty forward, able to win battles for the puck while in stride.
However, if he can fix that and his balance, he has the tools to be a magnificent skater. Especially due to his great off-the-puck movement. He reads the game exceptionally well and can find space on the ice. With his high motor and ability to never stop working, this means he gets to a lot of pucks and finds room for outlet passes. This is especially handy during transition where his speed and movement allow him to get open and and help turn things around.
Offensive Game
If there is a slight downside to Nikita Artamonov, it’s that he doesn’t have the biggest offensive upside when compared to other top forwards in the draft. While his shot is decent, it is underused. He is not exactly a risk taker and will often favour a safe pass over the creative option. This is a shame because just like his shot, his passing has a lot to like. It’s accurate and Artamonov reads the game at a level where he has a lot of potential to be a strong playmaking forward.
On the forecheck he will be a dog, fighting for everything and using his wild energy to create turnovers and chances simply by outworking players twice his age. Once the turnover is created, he is at his best as his playmaking and vision shine as he can make passes through lanes to a wide-open teammate. His off-the-puck movement also allows him to find the open ice. Therefore, he lets the puck come to him and combined with good positioning, this allows him to score most of his goals. With a bit more poise in front of the net, and his other strong abilities, the potential to be a good offensive player is there, but it needs refinement.
Defensive Game
The stereotype around Russian wingers is that defence often tends to be nonexistent or unpolished. A stereotype that Nikita Artamonov happily debunks. His work rates, just like in the offensive zone, is fantastic in his own zone. He is diligent and does his job in the defensive end without fail. His backchecking is as effective as his forecheck, and he plays each shift like it’s his last. Despite not being super physical, he never shies away from contact and will play down low if needed. Here his dog-like mentality wins the puck-battle, even against bigger players. This quality is most likely why he has been able to get sustained ice time in the KHL this season. While offensive upside is great, having a player willing to do everything asked of him, is what gets you more time and sooner in a pro league.
His stick work is also great as he consistently finds ways to be disruptive. He does this either by knocking the puck off the attacker, or getting into lanes of shots and passes. This is also where his hockey IQ comes into play as he sees the play developing before most, and jumps in to stop the final pass or shot. A quality that saved more than a few goals this season for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.
Projection and Comparison from Nikita Artamonov’s Scouting Report
Nikita Artamonov is one of the most NHL-ready players in the draft. While he will spend a few years in the KHL, his style and willingness to fight for everything will carry him far. Especially if the offence is developed correctly. It will need a lot of work, but with more creativity added to his game and proper coaching on his posture in his skating, it has the potential to make him a 60-point-per-season, two-way forward. However, even if his offensive potential is never truly fulfilled, his amazing work rate all over the ice and his hockey IQ should see him as an NHLer in the future.
As a stylistic comparison, he plays the game a lot like Ondrej Kase. A hardworking energy player, with a lot of heart and a healthy portion of skill. We at Last Word do believe the potential is there for Artamonov to be better offensively, but it will take him reaching that potential.
Main photo: David Gonzales-USA TODAY Sports
