Dmitri Ovchinnikov // Scouting Report #8
This is a picture of Dmitri Ovchinnikov suited up in a 2020 Russian junior league (MHL) game against the Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk hockey club, and the Snezhnye Barsy hockey club.
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 161lbs.
D.O.B.: 8/19/02
Stats: 24 Goals, 31 Assists, 55 Points, 54 games played
Team: Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk, MHL
Position: Center
Blue line to Blue line time: 1.53
Most outstanding stat: 22 Points in last 14 games played
Letter, (A-F)=Consistency, A being most consistent
Number, (1-5)=tier of talent, 1 being highest
Rank
121st by EliteProspects.com
172nd by Future Considerations
160th by McKeens Hockey
36th by Dr. Tee Scouting
Scouting report:
What’s up guys? And today we have one of the most exciting players to watch in this year's draft class in my opinion Dmitri Ovchinnikov, and ever since I started doing these scouting reports I’ve been wanting to do him because I think that it’s very interesting why NHL central scouting, and other main ranking areas don’t have him ranked, and I have him in my 2nd round because I don’t see why he isn’t a 2nd round player, so without further to do let’s figure out why people have him ranked so low if anything at all.
Move - 1B
Ovchinnikov is probably one of the best natural skaters in the 2020 NHL draft.
The overall raw speed that Ovchinnikov possesses is just silly. When you compare him to other players like Lucas Raymond, Alexander Pashin, and Seth Jarvis you can’t just say that they're better players, let alone skaters because of the fact that there ranked ahead of him, Dmitri Ovchinnikov has everything going for him in this department of his game. The ability that he has to turn on a dime, and then blow past defenders is very similar to Mat Barzal where he can make a quick shoulder drop that looks to be almost in slow motion, and then blow past an opposing player. This skill is something that you rarely find in projected 4th to 7th round picks. The reason that I do have Ovchinnikov is my 2nd round though is because he has every skill already maximized at a very high rate. Ovchinnikov has the ability to skate freely up the ice with possession of the puck and make some amazing moves with his hands to get himself in a relatively decent area to pass, or shoot the puck. He can spin off defenders to create time and space for himself in the offensive, and defensive zones, and when Ovchinnikov is at his best he can be very consistent as well. There are some bad things incorporated in this though, as his strength can really let him down when he’s going up in a 1 on 2 or 3 situation. He can get easily knocked off pucks when he’s not at full speed and bigger players can skate with him, but it’s really not all that bad. If Ovchinnikov can figure out how to control his speed a little better and more consistently under pressure, and in those tougher situations around the ice there is a very good profile to work with here and the possibilities with Ovchinnikov’s skating are off the charts.
Dangle - 2C
Ovchinnikov has some of the better hands in this draft class, but the main thing with him is not being a “some of the time” player.
Ovchinnikov has a ton of potential in this area of his game. He has elite puck moving ability and pretty soft, and slick hands that help him to make some great moves at high pace when his feet are moving most of the time, he can use his hands to maneuver away from defenders and into open ice to find a teammate or try to get a high percentage shot off himself. He’s able to stickhandle through many players occasionally and when he really does everything right in his stickhandling, but he usually prefers to make a safer pass, or put the puck on net. They can sometimes blend in with his speed almost to make people think that he has elite hands, I wouldn't call them elite just yet but definitely above average. Although some inconsistencies can be shown here and there especially when he played a few games in the KHL as an undersized player where he was easily knocked off of pucks, and shoved around pretty harshly. With added strength to his frame in the coming years I think his luck protection will be a lot better, therefore he has a bigger body to back up his skill when facing much bigger opponents especially in the KHL, and AHL, and NHL if he ever decides to play there.
Snipe - 2B
Let me just say that Dmitri Ovchinnikov has an exceptionally good shot in high and medium danger areas on the ice. Scouch tracked him with 85% of his shots being shot from high or medium danger areas which is just insane!
He has a good quick release in tight close to the, as well as from the slot, and faceoff circles. I also found that his shot could be pretty accurate at times, and the overall ability that he has to always know when the right time is to shoot is pretty crazy. Even when he played in the KHL, like his stickhandling department of his game, he didn’t do the craziest things, but what do you expect from an undersized player, that’s one of the youngest in the draft, and who was getting a limited role. Most of his weaknesses were exposed there from the better competition but this guy started off the season in the Russia U18 league! Back to his shot though. The fact that he usually doesn’t shoot until he knows that he has a good shot opening is a very impressive skill to see in someone as raw as Dmitri Ovchinnikov. He can unleash his shot at will and out wait defenders with his patients until he sees a danger shot, or passing opportunity open up. Even though Ovchinnikov isn’t exactly the smartest player, you can feel at times when he has the puck he is a bit of a high hockey IQ player. The only reason why people may be a downer on his shot is similar to the feeling that you, or at least I feel when Connor McDavid shoots the puck. You kind of feel like, “that was a little weird, because I’m so used to thinking that he’s going to break someone’s ankles.” The combination that Ovchinnikov has with his skating, puck control, vision, and his shot in high danger areas makes for a lethal dual threat puck moving center. His shot will definitely improve as he gets older, and more mature, therefore he’ll be able to get his hot off quicker, and shoot from farther out.
Defensive mindset - 2C
Ovchinnikov isn’t the best defender right now overall, but there’s still potential in his game for this to be at least compatible.
Ovchinnikov, like Alexander Pashin brings this sort of presence in the defensive zone with his work ethic, and aggression that makes him very noticeable which is not really a bad thing. He makes himself a force at times, supporting his teammates in transition when the play is driving wide, and his speed is deeply to thank for that. He can back check with momentum although when Sibirskie Snaipery was using him as a winger they would shoot him up way out of the defensive zone looking for that deep breakaway, or offensive pass. I do think that’s something that can be coached out of him if he’s going to play wing, but I also do think that he does have the potential to be at least a reliable center down the road, and he does show great flashes of that. Looking towards really what he’ll need to improve on though is how raw he is really as a player. He’s not the best away from the puck especially positionally, and can tend to puck watch and stop skating. Similar to Jean-Luc Foudy if he wants to be effective in the defensive zone as a center, at least right now he’ll need to continually move his feet and play a more smart game away from the puck if he wants to play the style of play he is right now. He can be not very responsible really at all, and abandon his linemates in board battles when he should be supporting his teammates. Despite the down side in this, I think the pros do outweigh cons. He possesses high end speed that does help him get back on defensive rushes, and he can be pretty supportive at times, even as a smaller player.
Overall - 1D
Overall, Ovchinnikov is definitely one of my favorite players in this year's draft because he’s so fun to watch, and the raw skill that he possesses is 2nd to none. He plays a high pace game, with high end vision, and good puck control, and shot. He’s a dual threat as an undersized player which I like a lot about him. If he improves on his defensive game then I believe there could be a very good, skilled, 1st line center here that is extremely fun to watch.
Fun to watch, dual threat center/wing
Player Comparison: Teuvo Teräväinen
They are both very fast, highly skilled skaters that are fun to watch and fly under the radar with their small, and elusive playing styles. They make their presence in the defensive zone, and have the ability to back check hard with their mobility, agility, and speed. They move swiftly in the neutral, and offensive zone and attack high danger areas around the ice consistently, in a dual threat fashion.
More reports: Scouching, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmr0SiXKJnk
Draft dynasty, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QFU_S5T16wk