Genertic Road to Draft

AGE:18
COUNTRY:Russia
HEIGHT:5-10
WEIGHT:150 lbs
POSITION:Left Wing
SHOOTS:Left
DRAFT YEAR PRODUCTION:MHK Dynamo (MHL) 61GP, 36G, 37A, 73P
RANKING: 7th, European Skaters - Central Scouting

CUT TO THE CHASE

How many times have you heard before with prospects that size was their biggest issue?
And lately, how many times has that proven to be a non-issue?
The NHL game is getting faster and more skilled by the day it seems. Small players with gifted athletism and offensive talent have a place in the league now, and scouting them has become important because you don't want to miss out on the next Alex DeBrincat or Cole Caufield, those being just two recent examples.
Yes, Kisakov is undersized. While he is taller than the two aforementioned players, he weighs just 150 lbs. The good news is weight can be gained in an NHL offseason training program, offensive talent is not as easy to cultivate.
"If you look at the kid in a vacuum, he's got everything except size," said one scout, according to The Hockey News. "He's an elite offensive talent. Everything I see tells me this kid is an elite player."
Kisakov finished second in goal scoring in the MHL with 36 tallies this past season and he added the sixth-most assists with 37. NHL Central Scouting's 7th-ranked European Skater has the tools to make it in the NHL but he's a bit of a wild card. The team that picks him is betting on elite offensive upside with work to do to round out his game and add some muscle to his frame.
Quick, creative, and skilled, Kisakov could be a big-time hit. But he'll need to be able to physically hold up in the NHL which may throw some scouts off his scent. But, should he work out in the NHL he's just another name added to the list of 'undersized' talents making their impact on the League.
Kisakov is likely a second-round choice, but in a year with fewer in-person viewings due to the pandemic, it's really anyone's guess where these players will ultimately land.

DID YOU KNOW?

TSN's Bob McKenzie is often thought of as the go-to rankings source, as he talks with GMs and scouts around the League before crafting his lists. Bob lists Kisakov as his 35th best player overall in the mid-season rankings, placing him just outside the first round.