Getting to Know: Smilanic and Khusnutdinov

The tentative dates for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft have been set for Oct. 9-10.

Of course, as with everything - including the ongoing playoffs - that will depend on whether health experts deem it is safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The draft, originally set for June 26-27 in Montreal, will be done in a virtual environment.

The Detroit Red Wings have three second-round picks - their own, the Edmonton Oilers' pick (acquired in the trade that sent Andreas Athanasiou to Edmonton) and the Washington Capitals' pick (acquired in the trade that sent Nick Jensen to Washington).

For the next several weeks, DetroitRedWings.com will take a look at some of the players, one North American and one international each week, who are likely to be available.

This week there are two centers to examine, starting with the U.S. National Team Development Program's Ty Smilanic.

In 34 games this season, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound forward had seven goals and 15 assists.

NHL Central Scouting had Smilanic 24th among North American skaters in its final rankings, released April 8.

TSN's Craig Button had Smilanic 62nd on his final list and his colleague Bob McKenzie had him ranked 39th.

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler listed Smilanic 45th in his final draft list.

"Smilanic entered the year expected to lead this NTDP age group offensively," Wheeler said. "Unfortunately, a bout with mono, a high ankle sprain and a broken hand worked against some of those high hopes. After the BioSteel All-American Top Prospects Game, Smilanic spent the back half of the season with a cast on his top hand and the mitt of his glove cut out so that he could grip the knob. "Eventually, NHL Central Scouting sent out a note to inform teams that he was playing injured. I was told that among his four outside fingers, only the index wasn't in the cast. When he's on, he's got four-way quickness, standout puck protection skill and a knack for finishing plays around the net."

Wheeler's colleague at The Athletic, Corey Pronman, had Smilanic ranked similarly, at 48th.

"Smilanic played most of the season but had various injuries through the campaign that kept him out or that he was playing through," Pronman said. "When he was healthy, he had some good stretches and was a go-to player for the USNTDP but didn't post eye-popping numbers. His toolkit is very impressive. Smilanic is a high-end skater with excellent hands. He can blow past defenders off the rush and has excellent edge work to evade checks inside the zone. He has a hard shot and I've seen him pick corners from a distance, but he surprisingly ended with seven goals on the season. Some NHL scouts question how many plays he makes and his effort level, whereas others think injuries slowed him down and he's due for a big rebound."

Smilanic spoke to NHL.com last month about his injury-plagued year.

"I never really had a significant injury before this year, so I saved it all for my draft year I guess," Smilanic told NHL.com's Mike Morreale. "You can treat it two ways. You can be negative about it and think the world is against you, or think positive, and I've tried to be as positive as I can and use it as motivation.

"I'd rather face it at this point in my life than later on, and you can always try to do something to get better. That's what I'm trying to do."

Dobber Hockey said, "A smooth-skating undersized forward with a good shot. He has a good set of hands on him with the ability to dangle defenders through the neutral zone with regularity. Smilanic shows the intelligence in the offensive zone of a pace pushing playmaking. Threading the needle with passes through traffic, Smilanic always has his head up. He excels in transition and although he doesn't have the best top-speed, he is agile and elusive on his edges. The young American projects as a scoring middle-six forward."

Red Line Report made a comparison that Red Wings fans will find interesting, comparing Smilanic to former Wing Andreas Athanasiou.

Red Line Report had Smilanic 41st in its 2020 Draft Guide, saying, "Pro-style forward with first-round talent saw his development stunted by injuries for much of the season. Has a great skill set and impressive speed. Outstanding first step quickness in the small areas and dynamic in open ice with a breakaway separation gear at the top end. Backs defenders off the blue line and gains the zone easily. More of a north-south winger; puts the blinders on and barrels straight to the net hard. Adept passer who can also rip pucks and pick a corner from just about anywhere. When his stick heats up, watch out -- he's a threat on every shift. Still needs to prove that he can be a capable three-zone guy, and he's been dinged in the past with questions about his work habits and consistency of effort without the puck. The talent is certainly there, and much about his game suggests the translation to pro hockey will come with continued growth and maturity at the next level. "

Smilanic is set to play at Quinnipiac University this coming season, where Wings prospect Keith Petruzzelli (third round, 88th, 2017) will be entering his senior year.

In Russia, Marat Khusnutdinov had 13 goals and 25 assists in 44 games with SKA St. Petersburg.

NHL Central Scouting had the 5-foot-11, 176-pound forward ranked 12th among international skaters.

TSN's Button had Khusnutdinov 55th on his final Craig's List while McKenzie placed him 20 spots higher, at 35th.

The Athletic's writers were also a bit different in their evaluations of the Russian center.

Wheeler had him 49th in his final rankings.

"On a loaded team that didn't play him on the top line or power play unit for much of the season, Khusnutdinov put together an impressive rookie season in the MHL -- and did it while spending the entire year as a 17-year-old," Wheeler said. "Khusnutdinov makes plays all over the ice, he's a responsible three-zone player, he doesn't shy away from playing to the interior, he's got enough skill to make plays from the exterior and he tracks the play exceptionally well. That last tool helps him intercept pucks or find space in the offensive zone. He's a long-term project but I see a player who continues to maximize his skill set and makes the most out of his career."

Wheeler's colleague, Pronman, had Khusnutdinov much higher, 28th on his 2020 NHL Draft Board.

"Khusnutdinov has been a leader for Russia's 2002 age group for years and was very impressive with his junior club this season, which was the best in MHL," Pronman said. "He has high-end skill components to his game. He's able to make highly creative plays with the puck, improvise in tough situations and be very coordinated in small spaces. He sees the ice very well and can make tough dishes to teammates. He's a great skater too, using his speed to beat defenders wide and making hard plays to the net. He competes hard, frequently getting to the tough areas in the offensive zone and killing penalties well.

"Khusnutdinov isn't special at any one thing and he's undersized, but it's the combination of his skill, speed and very high compete level that equals a projected NHL player."

Dobber Hockey said, "Khusnutdinov is a small (5-9, 165) but very skilled playmaking center. He's a great skater with speed and quickness. His shot is not a strength but it's not weak, either, and he can finish plays close to the blue paint. He is also a reliable defensive player and shows good leadership and excellent competitiveness. Khusnutdinov played a somewhat limited role on a stacked SKA-1946 team this past season but still managed to put up some points. He's also played very well internationally. He might start the 2020-21 season back in junior but should at the very least earn a few games at the men's level, either in the KHL or VHL."

Khusnutdinov may be small but he is most definitely athletic.

Red Line Report is very high on Khusnutdinov, ranking him 17th overall: "Undersized center is super smart two-way pivot. Impacts games at both ends nearly every shift. Fabulous skater with instant acceleration and a top-end separation gear. Highly elusive with head feints and upper body. A terrifically skilled playmaker who's very tricky with the puck, and if given any space at all in the neutral zone will back defenders off the blue line with his speed and create dangerous chances off the rush. Makes sharp, uncannily accurate passes while looking off the defence. Dekes goalies in tight with blurry fast hands and lateral moves. Intercepts passes with anticipation. Terrific leader. Both their offence and PK run through him. Bodies bigger men off the puck along walls on the PK and gets it down ice to kill time. Competes his bag off and flies around the ice at full throttle all game long."