For complicated geopolitical reasons, Russian players have the potential to fall in the upcoming NHL Draft, yet their skill level remains high. Some may fall and one such player we will look at because of it is Vladimir Grudinin, our latest Calgary Flames’ second round target.
Scouting report
A lot of scouts have the same praise for young Grudinin – a mobile defender on the back end who can use his quick feet to get himself out of trouble and close the gap off on attackers. When going laterally across the ice Grudinin moves effortlessly like he has been doing it his whole life (newsflash: he has).