Pension Plan Puppets · Nov 27, 2016
Nikita Korostelev intent to prove naysayers wrong, earn an NHL contract
When physical Russian winger Nikita Korostelev was taken in the seventh round, 185th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, it was a pick that was widely heralded as a risk worth taking.
Some final rankings for the 2015 class had Korostelev ranked well above the seventh round. Some, even, had the then-OHL rookie standout as a top 60 prospect. My final ranking with McKeen’s Hockey that year had the powerful shooter ranked 34th overall.
But there was one thing that was holding him back — his skating — and he knew it.