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The 5th Overall Pick: Anton Silayev |
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Hello again Habs enthusiasts, or NHL Draft fans in general. The draft pick speculation continues today as we explore another blue chip potential prospect in Anton Silayev of the KHL's Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.
The NHL Central Scouting team has decided that Silayev is their #1 ranked International Skater for the 2024 NHL Draft, pushing the highly skilled Ivan Demidov to #2 and the versatile Konsta Helenius to #3. I'll just take this moment to say that this ranking, and the consistent mock drafts putting Silayev in the top 3, is not due to potential offensive/PP prowess. I'm not saying that Silayev won't put up big point numbers, it took Zdeno Chara until he was 25 and on his 2nd NHL team to begin his torrid offensive production, but nothing in his stat history suggests he's a dominant offensive force from the back end. His draft hype is because he is what some call a "unicorn" in the hockey world. A 6'7", 200+ pound, left shot defenseman who can skate exceptionally well for his size that MAY have offensive potential to unlock.
Silayev burst out of the gates hot amassing 6 points (1G, 5A) in his first 6 KHL games to start the season while also playing around 18 minutes a game as a 17 year old. This is when the hype train took off from the station and started barreling down the line. From there on out it was a mixed bag for the towering blue liner as he managed to put up 2G and 3A (-9) in the remaining 57 games while seeing his ice time trend downward towards the 11-15 min per game mark. However, in the post season Anton was able to put up 2A in 5 games with ice time as high as 24 mins per game and as low as 12 mins per game. After this he was sent to the MHL's Chaika Nizhny Novgorod for their playoff run where he produced 3A in 10 games while playing 20-27 mins per game. Over 15 playoff games for the two teams he produced 5A and a +2 rating.
As most hockey prospect enthusiasts know, a 17/18 year old playing top half minutes in the KHL is virtually unheard of but that is just was Silayev was able to do and with that he took his draft stock to the next level as people wonder if the NHL has it's next Z. Chara-type player. I think the reasonable expectation for Silayev is to be a rangy, quick, and strong defenseman who intimidates his opponents with stature and strength as he fills out his frame over the next 5 years. This type of player is so incredibly rare that I think Chicago or Anaheim could take him at 2/3 overall to bring more balance to their rebuild efforts.
I ran a comparison on Elite Prospects (my fav hockey info site) to big Z but it's not really comparable as Chara played in Slovakia's U18 + U20 teams compared to Silayev's KHL season and looking at what is likely ahead for Silayev (more KHL time) we probably won't be able to properly compare them for 2-3 more seasons. But, the team that takes Silayev will definitely be working with a very raw prospect that they will work hard into developing into a top pair, all around D man.
"But Smiles... The Habs are loaded at D, why take another one? Bergevin is gone after all..." I totally understand and agree with this take, to an extent. With the likes of Guhle, Hutson, Mailloux, Reinbacher, Harris, Struble, and Barron all needing ice time some may think that the Habs might be using one of these prospects as trade bait. I think that is a possibility as well, but the chance to have Guhle, Reinbacher, and Silayev out there with Hutson and Mailloux sounds like one of the highest potential D groups out there. A group that can not only move the puck up ice but stop other teams for the future Habs goaltender (Fowler?). There is a definite case to made for taking the big D man to solidify the D group for a decade +.
I think Silayev doesn't make it past Chicago or Anaheim, personally for the same reasons I mentioned above but if he is available don't be surprised if the Habs pick him up at #5 and start talking about having the best D prospect pool in the NHL. With the likes of Demidov, Lindstrom, Parekh, and Levshunov available after Celebrini I won't be shocked to see him putting on the CH either. One way or another, the Habs are getting a great blue chip prospect in a great draft year where they will have a lot of options (like trading back a few places?). I won't blame the Habs if they trade down 2-8 spots, pick up a solid prospect/player in the trade, and draft someone like Iginla, Catton, Yakemchuk, Helenius, Eiserman (Cole to Cole to goal!), Hage, Sennecke, or Kivijarju. I think all of those players are blue chip calibre. This draft combine is going to be one of the most interesting in years.
See you in a few days with another prospect chat!
X: @B_Smillie_HKYBZ
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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