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Montreal Canadiens Make Unique Choices Late In NHL Draft

By Ken MacMillan

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 23: Marc Bergevin of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 23: Marc Bergevin of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA FEBRUARY 18, 2019: Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsks Arsen Khisamutdinov (Photo by Donat SorokinTASS via Getty Images)
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA FEBRUARY 18, 2019: Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsks Arsen Khisamutdinov (Photo by Donat SorokinTASS via Getty Images) /

170: Center, Arsen Khisamutdinov

Well, if you think his last name is hard to pronounce, I will add that he suits up for the Reaktor Nizhnekamsk. That is a mouthful. Khisamutdinov used to play for the Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk when he was Under-18 over in Russia.

Anyway, Khisamutdinov seems to be able to play some hockey. Khisamutdinov played the past two seasons in the MHL, which is basically the Junior league for the KHL. Khisamutdinov has been hovering around the tenth best scorer in the league for the past two seasons.

Khisamutdinov scored 55 points in 41 games for his club team this season. A year ago, Khisamutdinov piled up 63 points in 59 games for the same team. Khisamutdinov was called up to the KHL for a nine game stint this season and scored a pair of goals to go with three assists. That’s quite impressive in a very short stint for a Junior in the KHL. Junior aged players tend to sit on the bench a fair amount when called up to Russia’s top league.

Related Story. Habs Go Off The Board With Khisamutdinov. light

The interesting thing about this pick is that Khisamutdinov is already 21 years old. Most people drafted this year are 18 years old. In fact, there would be more 17 year olds who will soon turn 18 than 21 year old taken in any given draft. The Montreal Canadiens have not made a habit out of drafting overaged players in the past, but they made an exception for Khisamutdinov (okay, I just like forcing you to try and pronounce Khisamutdinov, I’ll start using pronouns now).

He is a big center at 6’3″ tall and would be an intriguing prospect if the Montreal Canadiens can get him signed and bring him to training camp next season. Sixth round picks almost never play in the NHL the next season, and the odds are long for this guy to be able to do that. However, sixth round picks are usually 18 years old, not 21 and don’t come with pro hockey experience, albeit just nine games.

Any way you slice it, the Canadiens took an overaged player who you won’t find on any draft boards or mock drafts. That is an interesting selection if you ask me.

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