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.