NHL Draft Profile- Igor Chernyshov

The 2024 NHL Draft will be here before you know it, and Draft 412 will preview some of the prospects who will be probable first round picks. Draft 412 will review the strengths and weaknesses of each prospect, and where they should land in the NHL Draft.

Name- Igor Chernysov

Pos- LW

Team- Dynamo Moscow (KHL)

HT/WT- 6’2” 192 lbs

Born- 11/30/2005

Home – Periza, Russia

Igor Chernyshov was born in Penza, Russia and played with the Dynamo Moscow in the MHL since the 2021-2022 season. In his first season he played 18 games and tallied 7 goals and 4 assists.

In 2022-2023, Chernyshov led the MHC Dynamo Moscow in scoring with 18 goals and 20 assists in 38 games. He is one of a small number of Junior Hockey Players to record a point-per-game pace in a year before their draft-eligible season. He also got to play 5 games professionally for the Dynamo Moscow in the KHL and scored 1 goal. 

This season he has split his time between the junior and professional teams. For the MHC Dynamo Moscow he played 22 games and scored 13 goals and 15 assists in 22 games. For the KHL Dynamo Moscow he played in 34 games and tallied 3 goals and 1 assist.

Igor Chernyshov is a big, powerful winger who moves well and is a creative player. When creating, he has very strong hockey sense and understands how to find space and has a feel for how plays should develop. Many times Chernyshov make passes to areas before his player is even aware and his vision has a chance to be on the elite side in the pros. Chernyshov is a strong skater who plays the game hard and fast and has a non-stop motor. His power and skating ability helps him succeed in board battles and he excels as a front net presence. He has a frame that many project to grow to around 215-220 lbs, giving him a chance to be a power forward with a ceiling of 30 plus goals a year. 

Strengths

• Creativity
• Vision
• Size
• Powerful Skater

On the downside, Chernyshov is very raw and will need to polish and learn his skill set. There is not doubt that he has the tools and the ability but he needs to bring everything together. He dominated juniors but there was a lot of uncertainty with the way he played in the KHL. He needs to play more confident and once he grows into his frame and adds muscle he should be able to produce on a consistent basis.

Physicality will hopefully come with time and more playing time, but for now Chenryshov does not use his size and power to his advantage and plays a lot like a smaller forward. The Russian contract factor is always a red flag as well. He is signed through 2024-2025, so teams will see if he is ready to come over to North America in 2025 or if he will re-sign in the KHL.

Weaknesses

• Strength
• Physicality
• Raw

Draft Nation believes Igor Chernyshov could grow into a player that can produce like Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov. Svechnikov was a lot more NHL ready than Chernyshov is but has been able to use his 6'2" frame to be a consistent goal scorer in Carolina. In his 6 seasons he has scored 20 or more goals 4 times, while hitting 30 once. Chernyshov has the frame and build to play at 210-215 lbs and should be able to consider Svechnikov's type production as his ceiling. 

Igor Chernyshov is a top 20 talent, but he is more on the raw side when it comes to being compared to other top prospects. He does have a high ceiling and if he can add the weight and learn the game better, he should be a top 6 power forward who can score some goals in the NHL. Draft Nation expects him to go around pick 15-25 in round one.

Draft Nation Draft Projection- Top 20 pick