Tristen Robins, C/RW, Saskatoon Blades, WHL, 5’11”, 183lbs, 2nd round.
Tristen Robins is a November-born forward who produced 33 goals and 73 points in 62 WHL games this past season. Most outlets project him to be selected between picks 51 and 63. This means that Marc Bergevin may have three opportunities to pick him in the second round, as the Canadiens possess picks 47, 48 and 56, but Robins will likely be off the board by the time pick 77 (Montreal’s third-round selection) comes around.
Robins is a high-energy player with a very refined offensive mind, great anticipation and good stickhandling. This stickhandling is enhanced by his deceptive abilities, though his slight lack of speed limits this particular area of his game. Robins can shoot too, with a versatile release, he can score from even awkward positions. He is a capable distributor as well, with good vision and while his playmaking abilities are not elite, he picks his passes carefully and makes them count, often setting up teammates in prime scoring positions.
What makes Robins so intriguing to me, however, is that he has a Brendan Gallagher-esque nose for the net. He loves to get to the dirty areas and bang in rebounds and be an all-around nuisance for opposing goaltenders and defenders. While Robins may not be a perennial 30-goal scorer in the NHL like Gallagher, he has the potential to become a dual-threat scorer in the top-6 of an NHL team someday, maybe maxing out at 25 goals and 35 assists in a season while being an absolute pest for opposing players.
At this stage of the draft, that kind of potential, that actually has a decent chance of being fulfilled, is very enticing.
Daniil Gushchin, RW, Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL, 5’8″, 161 lbs, 2nd to 3rd round.
Daniil Gushchin possesses a rare combination, he is a diminutive winger who is highly skilled but also has a very high work rate and is really good defensively. A combination that is sure to catch the eye. Let us start with his offensive abilities.
Gushchin produced 22 goals and 47 points in 42 USHL games. He possesses a very powerful shot that lacks accuracy, but if this can be refined by the development team that drafts him, he could become a potent goalscorer. While he does have a nice playmaking skill-set, it is his stick-handling that steals the show. He is patient, smart and deceptive on the puck and can maneuver his way through very tight situations all while maintaining control of the puck. This skill can take control of a game and create very dangerous scoring opportunities both for himself and for his teammates.
This offensive toolkit is not necessarily a rarity amongst Russian wingers, but when you throw in his defensive play and his embracement of physical play despite his small stature, you have an intriguing prospect. Gushchin is a fearless forechecker and this ferocity is quite often rewarded with offensive zone turnovers. He is also a committed back checker.
What I find so alluring about Gushchin is that he is a rare high-ceiling, high-floor prospect projected to be available beyond the first round (in the 40 to 65 range, to be precise). While his high-end skill and powerful shot could make him a reliable top-6 RW in the future, even if the necessary development for that to occur does not, Gushchin has the ability to become a high-end third-liner who has a positive impact at both ends of the ice. Gushchin will play this upcoming season in the OHL with the Niagara Ice Dogs, where he will likely pile up a ridiculous amount of points.